Palestine daily herald. [volume] (Palestine, Tex.) 1902-1949, 1904-12-03
ENDING OF The
BIG EXPOSITION
Worlds Fair at Missouri Metropolis
Is Now Over.
EIGHTEEN MILLIONS.
Attendance During the Seven Monbhs
Exceeded by Eight Hundred Thou
sand These Figures and q
Snail Cash Balance.

st. Louis, Dec. 3.-The Louisiana
Purchase exposition ended Thursday.
The stupendous and magnificent expo
sition, the interest OF which has ex-
tended into every portion of the civil
ICED world, has run its course. and now
passes into history as probably having
comprised the most representative col
lection of industries. art, peoples and
customs of the world ever assembled.
From the inception Of the project to
hold the exposition until the gates we're
thrown open and the world was invited
TO enter occupied a period of seven
years. The duration of the exposI-
ton has been seven months. and during
that time nothing has occurred to
throw a dampening effect on the inter-
est or to detract from the exposition
in any way. st. Louis has proffered
her most gracious hospitality. and IT
has been accepted.
The man probably most prominently
known In connection with the Worlds
fair is the president. David r. Francis.
and 1t was deemed fitting that the
final day should be designated as
Francis day. in his honor
This exposition has been the work
Of my life." said President Francis.
ut has consumed my time for the
past four years. but every hour has
been an hour OF pleasure to me. have
exhausted my stock OF adjectives in
trying to describe this fair. II is as diff
ficult to do IL Justice as II is to paint
the lily"
The closing exercises were held at
the base OF the Louisiana purchase
monument in the Plaza of st. Louis.
where were held seven months ago
the exercises that formally opened the
gates to the world.
The principal speeches were deliver
ed. by Governor Dockery of Missouri
and President Francis. The latter was
presented with a beautiful silver SER
vice by the exposition management and
5imilar gift given Treasurer Thomp-
son.
Promptly at o'clock all the great
exhibit palaces were closed and visit
ors were excluded. In the Palace OF
Agriculture ons.aughts were made on
some Of the exhibits where the sittings
were composed Of fragile material and
for time a general demolishment was
threatened. but prompt als,ion "A e.
fecting general ejectn1ent put stop
20 the threatened turmoil.
= tse sil.tt l sEs., ,. sbs x,.,.
for the last time the rnarnificenf eiec-
trio illumination One solid stream OF
swept through the pike from
end TO end. The spirit of reveiry was
there. Never since the opening had |
more enlivenment been shown at night |
on the grounds.
Steadily the white electric bulbs sill
houetted the exhibit palaces aeains,
the night. Periodically the iliurnina
ton of the Terrace of States. sur
Festival hall. changed fro
white TO red. then 10 green. and then
back TO white. over on Agricultural
knoll the great floral clock clicked off
me minutes OF the departing pageant.
And on the night rang out the tones
of the massive bell as the midnight
hour was tolled of by the great clock.
Instantly hush seemed to pervade the
entire grounds. The glowing electric
1ulbs slowly began dimmIng. the null
'ations Of the great engines that drive
he cascades gradually died down. The
light faded steadily. diminishing until
nut faint glow was perceptible. Sud
ienly there was darkness. and the Lou
siana. Purchase exposition had passed
nto the chronicles OF history