Rkpoet of Boaed of Genekal Managers. 131 



officers. The famous Old Gruard of New York decided to attend 

 and were a distinctive feature of the parade. 



The day dawned gloomy and sullen, but towards noon the sun broke 

 through, and the skies cleared brightly for the ceremonies. In the 

 early part of the season the attendance would have been considered 

 enormous, but coming so soon after Chicago day, with its unprecedented 

 crowd of 750,000 people, the 300,000 present was somewhat disappoint- 

 ing to the exposition authorities who had confidently expected, and 

 widely advertised that the half-million mark would be reached. The 

 failure was probably due to this very cause, barring a few thousands 

 who may have been kept at home by the gloomy morning. No one 

 who had experienced Chicago day, its mass of densely packed humaaiity, 

 the utter futility of sight-seeing and the tedious waits for transporta- 

 tion could be expected to deliterately subject themselves to the possi- 

 bility of another such ©(ccasion. Consequently Chicago people wisely 

 staid at home, the visitors within her .gates came. Still, with the excep- 

 tion of Chicago day and the three days immediately following during 

 which the influx of visitors for Chicago day remained, Manhattan day 

 was signalized by .the largest attendance of the season. It is impossible 

 to estimate the number of New Yorkers present. Seventy-five thou- 

 sand badges were distributed from the State 'building to New York cit- 

 izens or those affiliated with the State, and a conservative estimate 

 placed the number in attendance from New York city at 25,000 ; a 

 very large number certainly for a city one thousand miles away, and 

 indicative of the interest taken in the fair. 



The programme for the day passed off smoothly and was full of inter- 

 est. The various civic and military organizations entered the grounds 

 during the forenoon, and at one o'clock the literary exercises at Festival 

 Hall were begun. At their close the " Manhattan day " parade was 

 formed in the south end of th« grounds. It was led by the Elgin Band 

 and the Chicago Hussars, under command of Captain E. L. Brand. 

 Following came the First Illinois Eegiment National Guard, with 

 band ; the Old Guard Band ; the Old iGuard ; carriages containing 

 civic dignitaries ; and the Sons of New York, 600 strong, under com- 

 mand of Captain Miles. The procession moved to the north end o^ 

 the grounds and was reviewed at the New York State Building by 

 Mayors Harrison and Gilroy and Major-General Nelson A. Miles IT. S. 

 A. In the evening a brilliant display of fireworks took place on the 

 lake front. 



