Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-05-01
jamestown Opens with Elaborate
and Stately Ceremonial

representatives. from the big powers
of the world, and in the presence
of q multitude of peo-!e 7
every part of the Union, Tue
jamestown Exposition, marking
the three hnndredth anniversary
of the founding of the first Eng
ish.speaking colony in America,
was formally thrown open last
Friday at noon.
The formal opening ceremonies
were simple, but very impressive,
and while there were only two ad'
dresses they lasted more than two
hours. These exercises were held
upon the great rectangular review
ing stand south of the Auditorium
Building, and were witnessed oY
about Is, 600 persons. Many visi'
tors missed the opening exercises
entirely through various KINDS OF
delay experienced in reaching the
Exposition grounds.
About 5000 guests of the Expo
alton company occupied the stand
A semi circular extension under
an awning jutted from the front
of the Pile torn for use by the
principal participants. President
Roosevelt sat near the center OF
the extension in the shade with
his head barred. Immediately
aiound him sat President Harry
St. George Tucker, president OF
the Exposition company; Admiral
"Bob" Evans, Gen. Frederick
Dent Grant, Chairman S. Brooks
johnson of the Exposition board,
and Secretary Loeb. Not far from
the President sat Justice William
H. Moody, of the United States
Supreme Court; Mrs. Roosevelt
and Miss Ethel Roosevelt.
1t was an inspiring spectacle,
and the opening was accomplished
in a way to thrill the throngs that
gathered and to make the day a
notable one in the history OF the
country. 1t was not that the Elk
position itself is greater or more
remark able than others which
have preceded it, nor was 1t the
mere presence of the President
that rendered the events there
worth travelling across an ocean to
witness, but the gathering OF the
greatest feet of war vessels ever
seen in airy land and the mingLng
of the soldiers and sailors from
widely separated climes formed d
feature which has never been
paralleled. -,
I he formal program began with
an overture by the banos-
jamestown Dixie" which was
composed especially for the &C.
ca sion-followed by selection by
the Exposition chorus of zoo
trained voices and prayer by 1t
Rev. Alfred Magill Randolph
Bishop of the Diocese of Southern
Virginia. After the chorus hao
sung TIE official opening hymns
beautiful and appropriate WORK
the words by Major William M
Pegram and music by Wherefore
6. Owst, both of Baltimore-Presl
dent Tucker faced the multitude
A spontaneous outburst Of cheer
ing greeted him as testimonia
of approval by the pecp'e to tbs
gigantic work that Rad been don'
in celebration of one CT the uos'
important events in the history Of
tie nation as we'll as of Virginia
Mr.. fuckers address was OF hls
torical and chronological character
and at Its conclusion he intro
duced President Roosevelt.
After paying a beautiful tribute
to the late General Fitzhugh Lee
the former president CT the Expo
sition company, Mr. Tucker laudet
George Washington as taking Par
in the most important events o
the early history of the country
He spoke in pert as follows:
STANDING upon an eminence OF thre
centuries OF achievements, the Amer
can republic pauses today to celebrate II
lifting manner, the teleentennial CT II
birth OH the banks of the tawny James
The steadiest head grows dizzy, tn
strongest nerve agitated, while Tn
pulse of the lion.hearted assumes tn
J IL otion OF the trip-hammer in the re
Prospect of the marvellous progress Q
three hundred years.
"Tbis day brings with it a two-fol
low. in that it marks the tercentennie
OF the birth, not only OF the Amer'ca
Republic, but also the birth OF Virginia
= the oldest American colony, both coli
cident and simultaneous. BY diviD
. presence, the infant Republic was firs
hidden in the bulrushes Of our Virgiul
Nile, and nurtured by its mother, VII
gina, the daughter of the king, whoI
= Providence had placed in waiting o
o the banks of the river, that she nigt
be the first to give to her offsprin
those impressions of infancy go nece
sary to high and noble character IN ln'
turity.
I'VE greet you therefore this day,M
4, President ard honored representative
e of the great powers Of the earth, at tt
u birthday party not only OF the Amer
e cen Republic, but CT Virginia also-tf
y first. the oldest Of the America