WORLD'S COLUMBIAN KXI'OSI TloN. 



761 



The picture came and paled and passed away, 



And then he said to I'in/oii, in the gloom : 



' N..w, Martin, to thy waiting helm again. 



Haste to the 1'inta; westward keep her prow, 



For 1 have had a vision full of light. 



Keep her prow westward, in the sunset's wake, 



From this hour hence, and let no man look back." 



After the overt nre from " Kicny.i" had been ren- 

 dered by the orchestra, the director-general, 

 George It. Davis, told the history of 



the growth and development of the 

 exposition, closing with 



The grand concerted illustration of 

 modern progress which is here present- 

 ed ciicouragcmcEt of art, of science, of 

 commerce has necessitated an expendi- 

 ture, including the outlay of our exhibit- 

 ors, largely in excess of $1 00,000,000. We 

 have given it our constant thought, our 

 most dc\ote.l service, our best energy, 

 mi. I now, in this central city of this great 

 republic, on the continent discovered by 

 ('olumbus, whose distinguished descend 

 anls arc present as the honored guests 

 of our nation, it only remains for you, 

 Mr. President, if in your opinion the ex- 

 jK>sition here presented is commensurate 

 in dignity with what the world should 

 expect of our great country, to direct 

 that it shall be opened to the public, 

 and when you toucn this magic key the 

 ponderous machinery will start in ite 

 revolutions, and the activities of the ex- 

 position will begin. 



Mr. Cleveland's remarks were 

 brief. He said : 



I am here to join my fellow-citizens 

 in the congratulations which beflt this 

 occasion. Surrounded by the stupendous 

 results of American enterprise and ac- 

 tivity, and in view of magnificent evi- 

 dences of American skill and intelli- 

 gence, we need not fear that these con- 

 gratulations will be exaggerated. We 

 stand to-day in the presence of the 

 oldest nations of the world and point 

 to the great achievements we here ex- 

 hibit, asking no allowance on the score 

 of youth. 



It is an exalted mission in which we 

 and our guests from other lands are en- 

 gaged as we co-operate in the inaugura- 

 tion of an enterprise devoted t human 

 enlightenment; and in the undertaking we here enter 

 upon we exemplify in the noblest sense the brother- 

 hood of nations. 



Let us hold fast to the meaning that underlies this 

 ceremony, and let us not lose the imprei\en.-s of 

 this moment. As by a touch the machinery that 

 gives life to this vast exposition is now set in motion, 

 so at the same instant let our hopes and aspirations 

 awaken forces which in all time to come shall influ- 

 ence the welfare, the dignity, and the freedom of 

 mankind. 



As the applause that greeted this address died 

 away a moment of breathless silence ensued, dur- 

 ing which the President touched the electric but- 

 ton that set in motion the machinery that was 

 distributed throughout the fair. As the wheel of 

 the great engine that furnished the power to 

 the exposition began to revolve, the audience 

 burst into a loud cheer. The electric fountains 

 sent their streams of water skyward, and the 

 beautiful MacMonnies fountain became alive with 

 pulsating motion as the floods from many open- 



VOL. xxxni. 50 A 



ings rushed to and fro about its basin, net-king 

 their way to the Court of Honor, where the great 

 stat ne of the Republic slowly emerged from its 

 drapery, revealing all the stately majesty of its 

 pure golden beauty, while from the lake beyond 

 came loud sounds of cannon fired by the United 

 States vessels, and the buildings answered the 

 iclincs by flashing back the thousands of bril- 

 liant-colored flags and streamers that had been 



STATUE OF COLUMBUS. 



unfurled. Then the sun came out and cast a 

 warm influence over all the beauty of the scene. 

 The " Hallelujah Chorus " of the orchestra gave 

 way to "America," and the great World's Colum- 

 bian Kxposition begun its actual existence. 



A luncheon followed in the Administration 

 Building, after which the President and his party 

 were taken to the Manufactures and Liberal 

 Arts Building, where they were received by the 

 commissioners of the various foreign govern- 

 ments. The electric launches carried the party 

 over the water ways, while gayly decorated gon- 

 dolas served as escorts. A moment was spent at 

 the Woman's Building, and finally a landing was 

 made at the Agricultural Building, then a drive 

 along the esplanade beside the lake to the Art 

 Building, which was hastily inspected, and then 

 by a special train away and back to Washington. 



Of almost equal interest were the opening ex- 

 ercises of the Woman's Building. These began 

 shortly before 3 o'clock in the afternoon with 



