The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-05-31
q eTELLA g. MORGAN.

NJ - aHLE
= Some OF the biggest men in the
country spoke yesterday afternoon
u the bridge opening ceremonies.
Their addresses one and all were
soIeidt indeed, interspersed though
they were with Jokes and interjec.
lions These men came a. long
way, many OF them, to see Fair
mont dedicate her brand new
4hridge on Memorial day. They
one and all struck the same key
Tote in their speeches, declaring
that the massive, elegant structure
spanning q beautiful river bet1esh
the hills, was a monument % the
love and honor and civic pride OF
Fairtnont citizens. They declared
the bridge would stand for many,
Sgnany years at the realization OF d
dream and a vision, as the ever
tengible proof OF Fairmont's
breadth OF Heart aud soul. Some
Of these men read their addresses,
pme spoke them as from a full,
heart, some were very long,
others were all too short. But one
and all were glad to be present,
dad to- speak III high compliment
90 the men who made the magnlti.
cent new bridge possible, In tense.
gtiek gloFy to the many citizens
Wao pledged time and money and
influence toward making real the
Glorious. finished structure \on
whicisthey stood during the heat.
II was we'll beyond two o'clock
Yesterday afternoon when the
peechmaking got u good start and
rom this time until close to six
the extreme end OF the new bridge
on the East side remained packed
with people who stood In the hot
Jun seemingly unconscious Of the
heats
I seemed a pity that so few
SEATS. could be provided. The re-
Hewing stand was beautifully
draped with red, white and blue
tissuegpaper and glorious big flags.
aniplifier,a new experiment in
Fafrf1ont-a c~ontrivance enabling
those farthest away to hear plain
Nv. consisting Of a hand piece re.
senibllng a telephone into which
the speaker talked and n large
megaphone on the roof OF the stand
from which came the speakers
NotcA Ia uucauuy loudness, was
pfpminently exhibited Attached TO
long cord, on a table on the
4peaker's stage. The ~"lnfernal con-
Taption" SO called by several OF
the speakers themselves, was the
source Of much amusement. One
or TWO on the program frankly re-
ltfsedt to be worried with the thing.
others took 1t in the right hand all
f4ghtab but in the course OF an en-.
thhsiastic period, soon forgot all
about it and the amplifIer fell In
disgust to the side Of the speaker,
entirely forgotten-until perchance
some one from the audience yelled:
sra1k in the tube!"
One or two who had speeches to
read couldn't manage the affair at
a1Iso that part Of the time their
words were audible only to those
standing within voice hearing dis
lance Several times a speaker
wanted to use gestures and on &c
2 count OF the instrument in the right
hand. found himself unable TO do
Enthusiastically. 1t became a huge
jolte after awhile to see how soon
tiies speaker forgot TO talk into the
receiver and instead turned to his
hearers-the amplifier waving
Wildly N mldair on the right
Many in the dense crowd dissolved
fncouspicuously as supper time
drew near, SO that 1t finally be
came unnecessary for a speaker Ia
force his voice to the outskirts Of
the smaller throng,
wide seq Of faces upturned TO
ward the reviewing stand! A daz-
ssling sun and no slightest bit Of
MADE! And in the distance, at the
rest side entrance to the magnifl
cent new M~onongahela bridge there
came the sound of band music
shrili. tense. piercing, At once the
6Towd parted In the middle and al
were turned to the paradeES
who had marched a long way II
the heat OF the day. Faces among
them missed the patriotic colors BY
lust once. There were white ones
!, mighty red ones and the Others
were black instead of blue, the last
With Precipitation running dowr
AhefnYin streams while enthusiastic
Eolered folk marked time, heads
eyes straight ahead. The Rec
women dressed in white wore
efo Jun hats. The soldiers dollet
I MP in high coat collars and heavy
wash.pan hats were far from cool
fat when the reviewing stand wat
Eeached all was forgotten and with
stirring MUSIC such as Fatrmont