The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-12-02
WORLDS FAIR CLOSES
 IN A BLAZE OF GLORY
HARMLESS SPIRIT OF REVELRT
 ON THE PIKE.

Promptly at Four 0'ClOek-0n-
 sIaughts on Some of the Exhibits
 stopped by Quick Ejectment-Present
 to President Francis.
 St. Louis, Dec 1.-The Louisiana Purchase exposition has ended. The stupendous and magnificent exposition whose tendrils of interest have extend- ed into every portion of the civilized world and even into aboriginal recess es, bringing within the gates of St. Louis millions of visitors from through out the entire world, has run it's course and now passes into history as probab- ly having comprised the most repre- sentative collection of the resources, industries, art, peoples and customs of the world ever assembled. From the inception of a project to hold an ex- position to fitttingly commemorate the tooth anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana territory, until the por- tals were thrown open and the world was invited to enter and enjoy the completed exhibition of the worlds life, occupied a period of seven years. The duration of the exposition has been sev- en months, and during that time noth- ing has occurred to throw dampening effect on the interest or to detraet from the exposition in any way. The best order has been maintained throughout; there have been few fires, but all were of small moment, with the ex- ception of the destruction of the house of HOO Hoo, and the partial destruction of the Missouri building recently. The former was immediately rebuilt No loss of life has occurred during the ex-# position from accidents. St. Louis has proffered her most gracious hospitality to the world and it has been accepted.
 Throngs of visitors who poured in to attend the exposition have departed amazed and gratified. The opinion has been expressed at all times. on all sides and without reserve that the Louisiana Purchase exposition has been a success. Congratulatory messages were received in large numbers from all over the country and from abroad, conveying fe- licitations upon the success of the ex- position.
 The man probably most prominently known in connection with the worlds fair is the president, David R, Francis, former secretary of the interior and former governor of Missouri, and it was deemed fitting that the final day should be designated Francis day in his honor.
 This exposition has been the work of my life" said President Francis, it has consumed my entire time for the past four years, but every hour has been, an hour of pleasure to me. have exhausted my stock of adjectives in try ing to describe this fair It is as diffi- cult to do 1t justice as it is to paint the lily
 The closing exercises were held at the base of the Louisiana Purchase monr- ment in the Plaza of St. Louis, where were held seven months ago the exer- cises that formally opened the gates to the world. On the opening day the vast assemblage was bouyant in spirit and filled with an unanimous desire to give expression to good feeling; to-day depression prevailed generally because of the conclusion at hand, and it was rather a mournful assemblage that formed a solid phalanx around the tall monument and listened to the farewell addresses. There was cheering but it was the cheering of final leave taking, and not the spontaneous outburst of en- thusiasm The principal speeches de livered were by Governor Cookery of Missouri and President Francis.
 At the conclusion of President Fran cis' speech Festus J. Wade of St. Louis, member of the board of directors. presented to MT. Francis a beautiful sil- yer service as a token of esteem from the exposition management. A similar gift was presented to Treasurer Will liam H. Thompson. As MT. Francis was disposed at his home by illness Presi- dent Francis responded for him.
 Promptly at 4 o'clock all the, great ex- hibit palaces were closed and visitors were excluded. In the palace of agri- culture onslaughts were made on some of the exhibits where the settings were composed of straw and fragile material, and for time general demolition was threatened but prompt action in affect ing a general eJectment put stop to the threatened turmoil.
 As the night drew on the crowd con- gregated in the ground to view for the last time the great electric illunlina- ton. One solid streak of humanity swept through the pike from end to end. The spirit of revelry 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 against the night, periodically the illumination of the Terrace of States surmounting fes-, .tiyal hill changed from white to red, then to green, and then back to white. Over on Agricultural knoll the great floral clock ticked off the minutes of the departing pageant And in the night rang out the tones of the massive bell as the midnight hour was tolled by the great clock.
 Instantly a hush seemed to pervade the entire grounds. The glowing elec- trical bulbs slowly began dimming, the pulsations of the great engines that drove the cascades gradually died down. The light faded steadily, dimin- ishing until but feint glow was per- ceptible. Suddenly there was darkness, and the Louisiana purchase exposition had passed into the chronicles of his-