The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1904-07-07
The "Hefmitage" Opened.
BY Frank EbeDle


Hermitage" building Wednesday af-
ternoon made Tennessee the center OF
attraction at the Worlds Fair. The
event called out several hundred Ten
nesseans who are visitors in st. Louis,
and after the dedication ceremonies an
informal reception followed, at which
refreshments were served with true
Southern hospitality.
The dedication exercises began with
au invocation by Bishop William Crane
Gray. Major L. b. Stahlman, presi-
dent of the Tennessee Worlds Fair
association, then gave detailed histo
ry of the work of the organization
which erected this splendid building
at the Fair, replica of the historic old
Hermitage" the home of Andrew
Jackson, Tennessee's most distin-
guished citizen. Major Stahlman told
how the public-spirited people of Ten
nessee had raised large fund for
building that would do credit to their
grand old state.
President Francis, of the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Exposition, de-
livered an address congratulating the
Tennessee society upon the work it
had accomplished and the fine showing
made by Tennessee in its various ex-
hibits at the Worlds Fair. He was
followed by Hon. B. A. Enloe, direc-
tor of The Tennessee exhibits, who
syoke of the great achievements his
state had made in history.
Governor James B. Frazier deliver
ed the closing address. After depre-
eating the fact that his state had made
no appropriation large enough for both
exhibits and building, he congratulat-
ed the public-spirited Tennesseans
who had raised a liberal fund and
erected the Tennessee building. He
said:
Tennessee raises as fine corn as
Nebraska, as fine cotton as Mississip.
pi, as fine tobacco as Virginia, as fine
mules as Missouri, as fine horses as
Kentucky and produces as fine marble
as Vermont, and the prettiest women
in all the world"
Gov. Frazier concluded his address
by presenting handsome gold badge
to Hon. B. A. Enloe, and then invited
everybody to enter the Hermitage
and partake of refreshments.
Mrs. Rachael Jackson Lawrence, a
grand daug ghteI of Andrew Jackson,
was introduced to the audience as the
hostess of the Hermitage" Several
thousand people entered and viewed
the Hermitage" with the historic fur
niture which was brought from the old
Hermitage in Tennessee. Among the
furniture is the bed on which Andrew
Jackson died and many other old arti-
cles which that distinguished soldier
and statesman used. The old cauopi
ed bedsteads were objects of special in
terest to the visitors as connecting
links between the present and the pas
The building was handsomely deco
rated with palms, ferns and flowers
During the ceremonies music was fur
nished by the Haskell Indian band.
5 Many distinguished Tennessean
were present at the dedication. Be
sides the Governor the president 0
he Worlds Fair Association and tn
director of Tennessee exhibits ther
= were present Adjutaht General Harve
Hannah, Commissioners of Agricultur
Ogilvie, the Governors private secre
tary, 7. B. Carroll, Superintendent c
Public instruction S. A. Mynders
Judge Allison and many others {
!. prominence
The Hermitage" cost $4,000
which was raised by private subscriI
ton, the states appropriation havin
81 been devoted to the various splendi
exhibits which Tennessee has at I'll
Fair, consisting of an exhibit in Il
t Agriculture Palace, in the Palace
Education and Social Economy, Fo
estry, Fish und Game building, Min,
and Metallurgy : building, AnthropC
2 logical building, Mining Gulch and
special tobacco exhibit.
The "Hesmitage" is one of the mo
attractive state buildings at the Fai
to During the coming five months it W
be the scene of many brilliant and i
t. teresting gatherings.