The Gainesville star. [volume] (Gainesville, Fla.) 1903-19??, 1904-05-06
FAIR GATES OPENED
ST. Louis Exposition Starts
Off AuSpiCiouSIy,.
PRESIDENT TOUCHES KEY
Great Throns Witnessed Launching Of
Greatest Show on Earth.
Enthuslasmat Highest
Pitch,

The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
was formally opened at ST. Louis Sat.
urday.
President Roosevelt touched an cleo.
trio button in Washington at 1:O4
o'clock p. m. AS he did 80, the report
OF a cannon was heard in the expo
sitlon city by the expectant multitude,
flags unfurled as If by magic, an ava
lanche of water poured down the cas-
cades, Il great engines In the ma
chinery palace and power houses start.
ed throbbing-and the great show was
open to the word. The opening cere-
monies we're so simple and so plain
that they were in perfect harmony
with tho methods Of President Fran.
els and his efficient aids, but they
were at the same time very impress.
slye, and made a fitting prelude to
one Of the most memorable events in
American history. The dedication
ceremonies. year ago, were attended
by military pageant that was sig.
nlfcant OF the nations progress, and
after the baptism OF arms comes the
sweet presence OF art and science,
| and the formal opening Saturday was
marked by the absence OF soldlory in
| unlform
Promptly at half past 10 the exer
l cises Of the day began There was IT..
, tie formality, hardly any display TO
/. attract the seekers of the picturesque,
a and still the programme was carried
, out amid surroundings and in man
, ner In all ways appropriate. The Ger.
emonies were opened with an lnvoca
tion by the Rev. Frank w. Gunsaulus,
, Of Chicago The Invocation was fol.
, lowed by the rendering of America"
by the bands, and an address by the
Hon. d. r. Francis, president OF the
exposition. President Francis was civ.
on great ovation.
After several addresses by the heads
OF various departments, Secretary Of
War Taft delivered the Grafton Of the
day.
AS Secretary Taft stopped forward
; 70 deliver his speech the volume Of
applause shook the. very armament,
and II was at once seen that the null
titude regarded the secretary of war
as tho central figure OF the days OK.
erclses. Secretary Taft's address was
brief and very characteristic Of The
man, who is known to be as modest
as he Is able.
When these formalltles we're con.
cluded there oame a scene that was
notable for its intense impresslveness.
President Francis stepped to the front
OF the stand and faced the multitude,
It was few minutes past the noon
, hour, and these words came from the
clearest Of voices:
Ladies' and Gentlemen: will now
dictate n telegram:
ITO the President OF the United
States OF America, Washington, D. c.
The representatives OF the nations
send greetings, and request that you
put In motion the machinery Of the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition"
A few feet away sat the telegraph
operator who sent every word as II fell
from the lips of the speaker,
After few moments of Intense sus.
pense the report Of cannon was
heard. the people Jumped, applauded,
shouted, frantically waved their hand
kerchlefs and gave every other indlca'
ton OF rare delight,
The band played, every one shook
hands with his neighbor with the not
ables present, and fairly nobbed Pres
ident Francis and the other officials
and directors who had made the scene
possible, Those who fingered about
the speakers stand read the kilograms
OF .congratulatlon exchanged between
President Roosevelt and President
Francis. The majority of the multi
tude, however, were up and gone,
eager to see what the great expedition
looked like now that it was really an
accomplished fact.