New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-04-27

IBy Telegraph TO The Tribune
Norfolk Va, April 26.-A new exposition BABY
born here to-day. It was named James
town in honor of the 3OOth anniversary of the
landing of the first English speaking immi-
grants and in anticipation of the interesting
event a distinguished throng of persOnages' in
cIuding the President of the United States I'd
many representatives of foreign nations, at
tended 10 usher the yOungster into the World
of shows with proper ceremony and enthusiasm
great many of the footsore and fretted VISIT
ors who struggled over the unfinished roaus 10
peer into the bare exhibition buildings ana theh
had the fight of their lives to get back to Nor
folk by the crippled car service or decrepl'
steamship accommodations were inclined TO
draw n rather gloomy horoscope for the new
exposition child.
1T will not live through the summer was
prediction sometimes heard at the railroad ter
mnaIs and steamboat landings, but then one
must make allowances for the feelings OF a man
who has been trying for two hours TO get MS
wife aboard a streetcar, and is being oit'eriS
upbraided by that fiustered and somewhat as
arranged better half for being fool enough
ever TO come to Norfolk" When the buildings
are completed. the exhibits in place, the walks
laid. the mess is cleaned up, the landscape gar
deners complete their work and the railroads
moving the crowds back and forth the same
day. the jamestown exposition will be all right
The President and the weather clerk certainly
nerformed their share Of to-day's opening cere-
monies with entire satisfaction to the com
lnunitv. The sun rose early and smiled benignly
a breeze Just strong enough II keep the visitors
comfortable came in from the bay just In the
nick of time and thousands Of anxious CLOUD
gazers breathed a sigh of tharkfulness as they
started for the grounds. That not more than
twelve thousand or fifteen thousand of them
managed to reach the exposition grounds In time
to see the opening ceremonies is no fault 1r
theirs Possibly twenty-five thousand or forty
thousand OF them reached TIE inclcsuTe before
dark and considering the brands Of car and
steamship service handed out 10y the transporta-
ton companies they should have considered
themselves lucky at that
As the President stepped ON tho pier at II: 10
a M from the launch which brought him from
the Mayhover one of the officials awaiting him
exclaimed
IT'S Roosevelt weather, Mr. President.
Yes" he agreed with hearty laugh and
hone il Will prove a good omen for the exposi-
tion"
"Old Virginia greets YOU. Mr.. President cried
Harry ST George Tucker. president Of the eN-
position company. And I'm mighty glad TO be
here to be welcomed Mr.. Roosevelt replied
as he grasped the hand Of the Vrginian-
From that moment until he returned to the
Mavnower. close To midnight, the President was
a busy man He made a notable address.
pressed the golden key that set the wheels OF
the exposition in motion, witnessed military
review. shook hands for an hour a a reception,
attended a luncheon and dinner saw some
thing Of the spring verdure between SeWeIls
Point and Norfolk. and acknowledged the
cheers and greetings of many thousands of his
admirers who strove to get within sound Of his
voice or sight Of his eye.
The hotels Of Norfolk. Portsmouth. Newport
News and old Point are "chOok-a-bloc and a
cot i'm the hall is about the best one can expect
il he happens To he a stranger coming i'm with
ont engaging a rooui in advance. Many OF the
hotels and boarding houses have ousted their
regular boarders to make room for the better
having strangers and loud and soulful remarks
may be heard from the "old boarders Even
the pevsbovs in the street, who sell their
napers for a cent In ordinary times have now
caught the money mania. and are eNacting
nickel each for their wares.
I'VE don't get eXpositions down here very
often. observed one of he young Napoleons OF
finance. "and you bet 1 amt er goin' ter be be-
hind de puTcessiOn.