The Republican journal., 1915-03-25
The Panama. Pacific EXPOSE
ton.

Thinking q letter from San Francisco
might be interesting to the many read
ers of The Journal will give you few
impressions. Well, the great Panama
Pacific International Exposition is an ac-
complished fact. 1t opened with great
flourish of trumpets at daybreak of the
opening day. All the big guns in the
forts doomed forth on the morning air,
all the bells of the city rang and whistles
sounded for an hour. All the steamers,
tugs and ferry boats, shrieked steadily
with no let up. Bands of music and fife
and drum corps marched through the
city waking up the people. The cars
kept their bells constantly ringing.
The police had orders to keep their
whistles blowing, and last, but not least,
the small boy had orders to ring every
ones doorbell. So take 1t that all around
the people began to sit up and take no.
tice and to think that something was 60
ing on. Then there was grand rush
for the Exposition Grounds, which have
about three miles of frontage on the
beautiful bay of San Francisco and ex-
tend over half mile back. A Few years
ago this was low, swampy mud fiat,
but is now one one of the most beautiful
and attractive places in the world, COW
cred with wonderful palaces and magni-
fcent buildings, monuments, statuary
and other works of art, with sparkling
fountains playing, charming lakes and
lagoons with beautiful fish swimming
around, graceful palm trees. orange and
lemon trees laden with their golden fruit.
large beds filled with fragrant, rare and
beautiful flowers.
Palm Avenue, extending as far as you
can see, is a dream of beauty with its
stately palm trees, flowers, rare shrubs,
green lawns and the singing of many
beautiful birds. Among the large and
magnificent buildings is the Tower of
Jewels, 435 feet tall, its sparkling jewels
cleaning and glistening in the sunlight
or scintiIIatlng in all their beauty and
splendor in the bright electric light.
Looking across the bay charming pan.
Drama of loneliness is spread out before
us. Sausalito, with its green hills and
valleys, beautiful villages, and Mt. Ia
malpais, in all it's beauty, make scene
of exquisite loneliness hard to be equal
led.
There was an immense crowd on the
opening day. 1t seemed as though every
body from everywhere had come to par
ticipate in it. 1t was said there were
more people present than had ever at
tended the opening of any other large
fair-away ahead of Chicago or St.
Louis. There was parade of the people
as they came marching in at the gates
by the hundreds of thousands headed by
the mayor of the city and the gov
ernor of the State on foot, with the
Philippine Constabulary Band of 100
pieces, the Exposition Band of 80 pieces,
the celebrated Italian Band of 60 pieces,
and several other famous bands from all
over the country and the world.
The ceremonies were held in front of
the Tower of Jewels. The opening pray
er was by Jewish Rabbi, the reading
of the Scripturesby Protestant and clos
ing by Catholic, so as not to show any
partially. After speaking by the may
or. governor and president of the fair,
Franklin Lane, Secretary of the Interior
and personal representative of President
Wilson, made an eloquent speech and
read telegram that he had just receiv-
ed from the President. A large choir of
several hundred voices sang the opening
ode. The band played America, then
President Wilson in Washington press
ed button. The Fountain of Energy
began to pour forth its sparkling waters,
the wheels in Machinery Hall began to
move, and the fair In all its glory was de-
clared open to the public. At that
moment Beachey, who was flying over
head in his airship, let loose number OF
doveswhich f1uttered down on the grounds
while he went through his dare devil
performances for the entertainment of
the crowd.
1t Is said that it would take several
, years to look over everything thorough
ly IN the many vast buildings, with a
walk of forty-seven miles through all
the aisles of exhibits. Several of the
buildings cover four or five acres each.
= Uncertainty is grand exposition and is
said to be the largest and most complete
exhibit of any fair ever held in the
world. 1t certainly is bewildering in its
size and beauty. Words fail to describe
its many charms, there Is so much to see
and hear.
The third largest organ in the world is
in Festival Hall, where recitals are given
daily by celebrated organist from Eu-
rope. torty-three different States and
forty-one nations are represented here,
making wonderful display. OF course
California leads all the other States
with it's wonderful exhibits it's large
State building built in the old mis-
ion style. Massachusetts has a