WORLD'S FAIR MISCELLANY
--- back to the Navel Review and other celebrations ---
Certain it is that if advertising and discussion assure success, the great show cannot prove a failure; for never before was any international performance so talked about and written about by the thousands who entered the unfinished buildings during the dedication services, and in the months that still intervened before the opening day. With the scaffolding not yet removed, and an army of workmen toiling day and night at their task, it was felt that never before had American genius been so worthily presented.
It was not the extended proportions of the site, nor that on this site were being reared the largest structures in the world; it was rather the beauty of combination, the harmony of scenic, artistic, and architectural effect that impressed the beholder. Never before had been seen such universality of scope and design; for this was no focal or sectional enterprise, one neither of the west nor east, but one in which were represented every quarter of the republic, every nation of Europe, of the Orient, and of antipodean regions, all contributing of the best which human art and ingenuity have thus far given to the world. On the evening of the day that witnessed the dedication services, were held at the Auditorium hotel, in the presence of some three thousand invited guests, the inaugural ceremonies of the World's Congress Auxiliarv. On the right of the chairman, Charles C. Bonney, president of the Auxiliary, was Rutherford B. Hayes, ex-president of the United States; on his left Mrs. Potter Palmer, president of the Woman's branch, and Archbishop Ireland. Among those on the platform were William R. Hayes and J. H. Barrows, seated next to the ex-president, and near them, Cardinal Gibbons, Bishop Fowler, and the postmaster-general; there were also several eminent divines, professors, and professional men, with governors of states, World's Fair commissioners, and other prominent men and women. After the rendering of the festival overture, followed with prayer by Doctor Barrows, a few words of welcome were spoken by the chairman and by the president of the Woman's branch; then by Mrs. Charles Henrotin, its vice-president, was delivered a brief salutation in honor of Queen Isabella. The oration of Archbishop Ireland followed, and to his eloquent address all listened with wrapt attention. The singing of "America" by the entire audience, and the benediction by Doctor Harper, of the University of Chicago, concluded the services. At the review in Washington park on the 21st there were more than 10,000 troops of all arms and at least 150,000 spectators. Only regulars and national guardsmen were in line except for the Cleveland Grays, whose earkskin shakos and handsome uniforms, with their perfect marching formed a prominent feature in the parade. In their ranks were not a few of the wealthiest of Cleveland's citizens, among others a man worth $10,000,000, probably the richest private soldier in the world.
Soon after nightfall, at a signal from the flash-light on the Manufactures building, a display of fireworks was held simultaneously, and with programmes almost identical in Washington, Garfield, and Lincoln parks, the spectacle being thus divided between different sections of the city to avoid overcrowding. In all there were probably 200,000 people present, the largest gathering being at Lincoln park, on the northern side of the city. The opening piece was a flight of a hundred balloons, from which were discharged in mid-air flights of rockets, their colors changing from silver to red, from red to green, and from green to gold. Most of the pieces were aerial, among them being one representing the American flag; but the set pieces were most appreciated. One portrayed in fires of various hue the landing of Columbus; another the Santa Maria, a third the Pinta and Nina, faithfully depicting the quaint architecture of the galleons. "Chicago Welcomes the Nations" was a pleasing device; but the masterpiece of all was Niagara falls, represented by a framework of fire a hundred feet high, and in most realistic fashion.
At the time when the milkmen were making their rounds, on the dark cold frosty morning of the 20th, thousands of people assembled in the neighborhood of the reviewing stand and there remained until the close of the procession. Only two hours and forty-five minutes were required by this army of 80,000 men to pass a given point, a feat, said generals Miles and Schofield, that broke all previous records, and one that was almost marvellous considering the time required for evolutions and other unavoidable delays. Seated in either wing of one of the stands were 1,500 school children, with caps of red, white or blue, and so arranged as to represent the American flag. All of them carried banners, which they began to wave as the vice-president drew near, accompanied with singing and cheering. As his hat was raised in response to this salutation, another cheer arose, and still a third as again his silver-gray head was uncovered in answer to their greeting.
No injuries occurred in the crush of October 20th, except for the fainting of a few women caused by the surging of the crowd as the vice-president entered the stand. For a time this mass of humanity waved to and fro like a field of grain before the wind; but a line of policemen forming on the street set their backs against the throng, and bracing their heels on the cobblestones, held them back by main force. Inspector Lewis said it was the largest crowd he had ever seen, and yet one easy to handle, for all save the roughs were disposed to assist the officers, who controlled the multitude without recourse to violence, though some were ejected in a fashion more expeditious than graceful.
On the 19th of October the Columbian anniversary was celebrated in the schools, not only of Chicago but of the United States, by exercises of which a programme had been prepared by the National Association of superintendents. There were essays, addresses, readings, declamations, and patriotic songs, and. among the Catholic schools of Chicago a children's parade reviewed by Archbishop Feehan. In many of the assembly rooms was read an appropriate address styled "The Meaning of the Four Centuries," and also an ode by Edna Dean Proctor, entitled "Columbia's Banner."
On the evening of the 19th a reception, followed by a banquet and ball, was given by the citizens of Chicago, at the Auditorium hotel, in honor of vice-president Morton, visiting officials, the representatives of foreign powers, army and navy officers, and other persons of note. At the ball there were several thousand invited guests, and by envoys and ambassadors it was pronounced to be on a par with the grandest of European court balls. As few others among the assemblage had ever been present at a court ball, this was a safe remark, although as true as diplomatic.
On the evening of the 20th a military reception and ball were held at the First Regiment armory, Henry L. Turner acting as host. In addition to the vice-president and his party, I find among the names of the more distinguished guests, those of sixteen governors, generals and colonels by the score, with here and there a judge or senator, and several of the more prominent officials of the Exposition. At the Fellowship club, on the same night, a dinner was given to the most eminent among the many thousands of visitors assembled to witness or take part in the dedication ceremonies, and in the personnel of the company was betokened, as never before, the universal interest displayed in the great World's Fair.
During the dedication ceremonies no fees were charged; but admission to the grounds was only by invitation or complimentary ticket; to admit the general public would have imperilled the safety of invited guests. In the hall of Manufactures and Liberal Arts seats were provided for about 75,000 people, with 2,500 reserved for the more distinguished personages, and 15,000 for those specially invited. All others were permitted to choose their seats in the order of arrival.
In some other cities the anniversary was celebrated with parades, exercises, or other demonstrations, each city and town selecting for itself the kind of celebration that suited its taste. In New York it was held on October 12th, and took the form of a military pageant, 50,000 men passing the reviewing stand in Madison Square, with a million or more of spectators lining the sidewalks of Broadway and Fifth Avenue. At night there was a civic procession to Central park, where was unveiled the statue of Columbus presented by Italy to the United States. That the New York celebration was held on the 12th was due to the fact that, according to the Julian calendar, this was the day of the month on which the great discovery was made. If the same event had occurred after the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the date would have been the 21st of October, or the one on which the occasion was generally observed. At Brooklyn there was a civic and military procession, a feature of which was a division composed of 10,000 school boys, marching with cadenced step and with the precision of veterans. At Boston the ringing of church bells and firing of national salutes at break of day was followed by suitable exercises, by the unveiling of a statue of Columbus on the cathedral grounds, and by a parade. At Philadelphia the exercises were held at the university of Pennsylvania. At Cincinnati there was a procession of some 30,000 civilians, and on the river a realistic imitation of the voyage and landing of Columbus from vessels built after the fashion of his caravels.
On the day before the departure of the fleet from Hampton roads, the caravels, escorted by Spanish war vessels sailed for New York, where they arrived and were hauled to their station on the night of the 24th, after being driven by stress of weather into Chesapeake bay. Thus were the Santa Maria, Pinta, and Nina spared the ignominy of being towed like floating baby-carriages, in company with these mammoth squadrons and astern of some naval leviathan, into the river which Verazzano discovered less than a score of years after the death of Columbus. Thus also was avoided a ludicrous aspect in the arrival and initial maneuvers of the fleet.
The forenoon of the 27th was the time appointed for the naval review; but on account of rain this was postponed for two or three hours by order of President Cleveland. His reasons were that a fair afternoon was predicted by the Signal Service bureau and that the secretary of the navy, by whom he would be accompanied, was in such feeble health that exposure meant risk of life.
By all it was conceded that apart from the drawbacks mentioned, both review and parade were well managed. At the former the passage was kept clear by tugs and torpedo boats, in conformity with the special powers conferred by congress. Yet such were the tact and discretion displayed by those in command, that none had cause for complaint.
On board the thirty-five vessels of the Columbian fleet there were more than 10,000 officers, seamen and marines, the Russian flagship Dimitri Donskoi, having the largest company, 570 in number, and next, the British cruiser Blake. The latter was, as I have said, the most powerful ship in the fleet; but among those of the United States, there were splendid specimens of naval power and naval architecture. The Argentinian vessel Neuve de Julio was accredited with the highest rate of speed, reaching 22.7 knots an hour. Next were the Blake, with 22 knots, the Kaiserin Augusta, with 20.7, and the Spanish ship Reina Regente with 20.6. Among the United States contingent there were several which approximated and one or two that exceeded a speed of 20 knots under a forced blast.
Of the many interesting features of the land parade, there were none that excited more curiosity than the pet of the Tartar's crew, marching with solemn gait at the head of the British column---a goat bedecked with a mantle of gold-laced scarlet silk.
A banquet at the New York Chamber of commerce closed a series of
entertainments and ceremonies lasting for the greater part of a week.