| 42"GUINEA DAY."
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Opening of the American Exibition-The Queen's Visit to the "West Wild."
LONDON, May 14th, 1887.--The event of the week has been the opening of the much-talked-of American Exibition, which occured on Monday last. Invitations had been sent to all the nobility, including the members of several clubs, amongst them the "Savage," the Press and Garrick, the members of the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the members of the Council of Welcome and all the prominent Americans in London to the number of nearly 15,000. No admission was given under a guinea, and notwithstandning this the turnstiles registered the admission of nearly 30,000 people.
Literary Luncheon.
The time of beginning the exercises was set for 3:30, and for nearly two hours before that time all the omnibuses and underground rail-way trains were packed with fasionable, well dressed and good natured people struggling for places-the cub ranks in the West End were entirely deserted-the private carriages completely blocked every street leading to the Lillie road and for some distance each side (of) the main entrance. At 2 o'clock two hundred members of the press at down to luncheon in the room of the Art Gallery. Mr. John Gilmer Speed, an old journalist and secretary of the excibition, presided, and amongst the company was George Augustus Salam Lewis J. Jennings, the correspondents of the American newspapers, and a representative of every important paper in Great Britain.
The lunch was quite informal, with the exception of the fact that the chairman spoke a few words of welcome, and Mr Townsend Peroy, on behalf of the Executive Council and himself personally. In a brief and pointed speech, expressed his thanks to the gentlemen present for the kindness, courtesy and hospitality with which the American Excibition had been treated by the English press. At 3:30 o'clock promptly, the members of the Executive Council and of the Executive Staff assembled on the platform eracled (?) outside of the main entrance to the art gallery, fronting the bridge leading to the Wild West and the open space in the vicinity, which afforded sitting and standing room to a mass of people. | 42 "GUINEA DAY."
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Opening of the American Exhibitions - The
Queen's Visit to the "Wild West."
London, May 14, 1887. - The event of the
week has been the opening of the much-talked-
of American Exibition, which occurred on
Monday last. Invitations had been sent to all
the nobility, including the members of serveral
clubs, amongst them the "Savage," the Press
and Garrick, the members of the House of
Lords and the House of Commons, the mem-
bers of the Council of Welcome and all the
prominent Americans in London to the num-
ber of nearly 15,000. No admission was given
under a guinea, and nothwithstanding this
the turnstiles registered the admission of
nearly 30,000 people.
Literary Luncheon.
The time of beginning the excercises was set
for 3:30, and for nearly two hours before that
time all the omnibuses and underground rail-
way trains were packed with fashionable, well
dressed and good natured people struggling
for places - the cub ranks in the West End were
entirely deserted - the private carriages com-
pletely blocked every street leading to the
Lillie road and for some distance each side
the main entrance. At 2 o'clock two hundred
members of the press sat down to luncheon in
its room of the Art Gallery. Mr. John Gilmer
Speed, an old journalist and secretary of the
exhibition, presided, and amongst the com-
pany was George Augustus Sala, Lewis J.Jen-
nings, the correspondents of the American
newspapers, and a representative of every im-
portant paper in Great Britain.
The lunch was quite informal, with the ex
ception of the fact that the chairman spoke
a few words of welcome, and Mr Townsend
Peroy, on behalf of the Executive Council and
himself personnally. In a brief and pointed
speech, expressed his thanks to the gentlemen
present for the kindness, courtesy and hospi-
tailty with which the American Exhibition
had been treated by the English press. At
3 30 o'clock promptly, the members of the
Executive Council and of the Executive Staff
assembled on the platform erected outside of
the main entrance to the Art Gallery, fronting
the bridge loading to the Wild West and the
open space in the vicinity, which afforded sit-
ting and standing room to a mass of people.
"Yankee Doodle."
The sight, as I emerged on the platform,
was a most extraordinary one. It was a fine
day and the bright colors of the ladies toilets
made the enormous gallery look like a bound-
less parterre of flowers. It was literally a sea
of heads, and the subdued hum of conversa-
tion, which never was still during any part of
the ceremonies, was like the distant roar of
the era. To the left of the platform was sta-
tioned Dan Godfrey and the band of the
Grenadier Guards, who opened the ceremo-
nies by playing "Yankee Doodle," then the
Very Rev. Canon I'arrar, Archdeacon of West
minster, who was selected not only on account
of his eminence in his profession, but on ac-
count of his partidity for America and Ameri-
cans, proceeded to ask a blessing upon the en-
terprise about to be inaugurated.
Lord Ronald Gower, brother to the Duke of
Sutherland, then delivered a brief address of
welcome on behalf of the Council of English-
men formed to give practical expression to
their hospitable desire towards the American
guests. This was replied to by Colonel Henry
Russell, president of the Exhibition, and he
was followed by Mr. John Robinson Whitley,
director general, in an address in which he
detailed the history of the enterprise. In the
intervals during those speeches the band
played "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixey." Ma-
dame Nordica electrified the audience by her
rendering of the "Star Spangled Banner" and
"Rule Britannia." In fact, it was remarkable
the ease with which, when she took her top
notes, she filled the enormous structure known
as the main building.
A Mishap.
Colonel Russell then in a few words declared
the Exhibition open. It had been arranged
that he should start the machinery which had
been attached to the shafting at the lower part
of the building, the huge engine brought from
American being in perfect order: but at the last
moment the boilers, the contract for which had
been given to an English firm, broke down,
and it was only by word, and not by deed,that
the opening was accomplished. As soon as
the exercises were over the crowd surged
across the bridge leading to the grand stand
of the Wild West; this enormous structure has
a seating capacity of over 20,000 persons and
standing for half as many more, and the whole
place was densely packed. To attempt to tell
you what was there would be an impossibility,
almost as much so as to tell you was was not
there. All the beauty of brains, title, money
and position that London could furnish were
distributed over the vast amphitheatre.
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