New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 Part 12

III

An hundred years have pa.s.sed--what wonders wrought Along the Mississippi's mighty stream!

The changes time's transforming wand hath brought Seem but the unreal visions of a dream!

Where stretched in vast expanse to western sea The pathless forest and the trackless plain, Great States and teeming millions soon should be, And orchards fair and fields of waving grain And every art of peace through that broad land should reign.

IV

Hail to the Statesman whose far-seeing eyes Saw in the germ the nation that should be, Saw how a mighty empire should arise And span the continent from sea to sea, And building for the future, led the way With prescience and high courage, daring fate, An emperor's domain in a single day Bought for a purse of gold! a vast estate, From Europe's despot gained--to Freedom consecrate!

V

Conquest of Peace! on thy triumphal day No mourning captives, chained to victor's car, Nor spoil of war, nor bloodshed marked thy way, Nor hate, nor wrong did thy escutcheon mar!

No throng of armed hosts thy mountains crossed.

Thy forests echoed to no battle cry, No glory gained with nation's honor lost, Nor victor's plaudit, echoed with a sigh.

Louisiana won--nor any doomed to die!

VI

Conquest of Peace! No Alsace here doth kneel, And Lorraine, scarred with unforgotten scar; No riven Poland, 'neath the warrior's heel, Spoil of the victor from the field of war.

The sun that shines thy boundless plains along Lights not the smallest hamlet but is free; The winds that sweep thy mountains bear no song Save that the patriot sings--where Liberty And Peace and Law now are, and evermore shall be!

VII

So be it ever, through the coming age Our nation's destiny shall be fulfilled, Not by the tears that greed or pa.s.sion wage, Not by the blood of foes or brethren spilled!

But in the wiser and the n.o.bler way The patriot Statesman taught us, when of yore His victory of Peace in one brief day Won glory greater than a year of war!

So may it be, dear land, with thee for evermore!

At the conclusion of the exercises the benediction was p.r.o.nounced by the Reverend Doctor Wintner, of Brooklyn, New York, in the following words:

"May the Lord our G.o.d, Creator of the universe and Father of mankind, bless all those in our home city afar off, and also those near here, and may He look down upon you in His kindness and grace, and grant you peace forevermore. Amen."

THE LUNCHEON

Immediately after the formal exercises, the delegation were guests of the State Commission at luncheon, at which Commissioner William Berri presided. Covers were laid for about 200. At the conclusion of the luncheon toasts were responded to by several. The program of remarks follows:

"A Welcome to the Fair,"

Honorable David R. Francis, President of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition

"The Old Brooklynites,"

Ex-Senator Stephen M. Griswold "'Tis the sunset of life gives us mystical lore."

"Brooklyn of the Future"

Dr. Henry Sanger Snow "There is a fascination in recollections of the past and hopes for the future."

"Brooklyn Women"

Judge Hiram R. Steele "Woman! Blest partner of our joys and woes."

THE COMMITTEES

The local Brooklyn committee was as follows: President, Martin W.

Littleton; Secretary, John B. Creighton.

Executive Committee: Herbert F. Gunnison, Robert W. Haff, Timothy L.

Woodruff, Julian D. Fairchild, J. Edward Swanstrom, S.F. Rothschild, James J. McCabe, Frank E. O'Reilly, John N. Harman and Thomas P. Peters.

Entertainment Committee: Thomas P. Peters, James J. McCabe, James McLeer, Robert W. Haff and Timothy L. Woodruff.

Program Committee: J. Edward Swanstrom, Julian D. Fairchild and S.F.

Rothschild.

Transportation Committee: Herbert F. Gunnison, Frank E. O'Reilly and William Berri.

THE EVENING RECEPTION

The New York City building on the Model street, in which the evening reception was held, was elaborately decorated with colored lights, the word "Brooklyn" appearing in fairy lamps over the main doorway. Within a wealth of palms and smilax was used.

The reception took place between eight and ten and was attended by the Brooklyn delegation, Exposition officials, State and national representatives and many invited guests. An orchestra furnished music and throughout the evening a buffet luncheon was served. The receiving line consisted of Thomas W. Hynes, Commissioner for New York city, and Mrs. Hynes; Vice-President Berri, of the State Commission, and Mrs.

Berri; Colonel William Hester; Mr. and Mrs. J. Edward Swanstrom; Mr. and Mrs. R.W. Haff; Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Peters; Mr. John B. Creighton; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence W. Seamans; Dr. and Mrs. Henry Sanger Snow; Mr.

and Mrs. Hiram R. Steele; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen M. Griswold; Mr. and Mrs.

J. Adolph Mollenhauer; Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Raymond; Mr. Herbert F.

Gunnison.

The exercises of the day were marked by an enthusiasm which invariably characterizes the undertakings of Brooklynites, and the large delegation which had journeyed all the way from home to spend four short days at the Fair felt more than repaid for the journey.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CYNGALESE STICK DANCERS]

CHAPTER VIII

Thanksgiving Day

[Ill.u.s.tration]

The fact that the Exposition did not close until December first compelled all employees to remain in St. Louis Thanksgiving Day; that day which, of all others, generally marks a family gathering. The Commission thoughtfully extended an invitation to all of its employees and their families in St. Louis to be their guests at Thanksgiving dinner in the State building. The number included about sixty-five people, every attache who was in town accepting the invitation.

The official colony of the Empire State at the great Exposition a.s.sembled at the State building at one o'clock. All were cordially greeted by Vice-President Berri, Mrs. Berri and Mrs. Norman E. Mack.

Before sitting down to dinner a group picture was taken on the front steps of the building, a copy of which was subsequently presented by the Commission to each employee.

The table was set in the grand hall and was heavily laden with products of the State of New York. Owing to the approaching close of the Exposition, the agricultural and horticultural exhibits were heavily drawn upon. Great heaps of New York's superlative fruit and prize vegetables were used in decorating the table. Messrs. Bayno & Pindat served a tempting menu, features of which were those dishes always a.s.sociated with Thanksgiving Day--roast turkey and pumpkin pie. A spirit of hearty good fellowship pervaded the entire occasion, and each one vied with his neighbor in adding to the total of the entertainment.

Remarks were made between the courses, and early in the event Vice-President Berri, who presided, arose and, after complimenting every one present on behalf of the Commission for the part they had taken in contributing to New York's success at the Fair, proceeded in a most happy vein and said in part, as follows: