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Show irish: exhibition peiscatees Last Saturday the grounds and buildings of the Irish Industrial Exhibition at tho Worlds Fair were thronged with crowds of people anxious, to participate in the demonstration which marked the opening of Ireland's first, exposition of her products pro-ducts in a foreign land. There was no pu'staking the national character of the project. Floating proud ly,. between the Stars and Stripes and 'the Louisianan colors, was the green banner of Erin emblazoned with the golden harp. It was not the usual Italian instrument n?en on. Irish flflags, cither. The harp was as truly Celtic as the genius which inspired it. No British ensign was there. Over the Irish house of parliament, St, Lawrence's gate. Blarney castle, and even better still, the immense im-mense building devoted to tho industries and arts, there was but one foreign banner,( tho Irish flag. The crowd was a representative one, Dignitaries Digni-taries of the church, United States senators, congressmen con-gressmen and eivic officials mingled with an assemblage assem-blage in which were Irishmen who held high place in the world of commeuee, and science. All were happy. Their motherland, was sending forth a display dis-play which made their heart? beat high with pride, and they were there to hail the dawn of a new -era in Irish national life. ' The dedication ceremonies were held in the theatre. Nearly 2,000 people were present. On the stage were his grace, the Most Rev. John J , Glennon, Archbishop of St. Louis, Hon. David R. Francis, president of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition; Ex-position; Hon. Rolla Wells, mayor of St. Louis; T. P. Gill, secretary of the department of agriculture and technical instruction for Ireland ; Rev. Timothy Dempsey, Thomas F. llanlcj', president of the Irish Exhibit company; Hon. Thomas Carter of Montana, president of the United States commission; Edward Hearn, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus; Co-lumbus; T, W. Rolleston and J.'CHborn HuTof Dublin, together with many prominent priests and laymen. ' -, - Mr. Edward Devoy opened the proceedings with a short address in which he reviewed the objects of the meeting, and he called upon Rev. Timothy Dempse- ttate chaplain of the A. 0. 1L, to invoke & blessing on the enterprise. The entire audience arose and a profound silence ensued during which Fathr Dempsey eloquently besought a blessing from the Most High on Ireland and hr industries. Ad-drc Ad-drc sses were then made by Hon. Rolla Wells and Hon. David R. Francis in which these' gentlemen paid high tribute to the Irish Exhibition and to Mr. Hanley, its promoter. Mr. Francis gaid he considered con-sidered the Louisiana Purchase Exposition tho most universal of any 'that had ever been held, inasmuch, in-asmuch, that it had the first distinctively Irish Industrial In-dustrial Exposition that had been-organized. .He was astoni?hed(at the richness and extent of tho varied industries here displayed, and felt that the Louisiana Purchase Exposition was 'under a debt of gratitude to Ireland for giving it an exhibit which was one of ' most interesting features of the grounds, ; . ; The "oration ..of the day was delivered by Arch-, bishop Glennoii of .$ Louia.;1 A3 he arose to gpeak the great assemblage arose, like a single person and the air. was rent by cheers and acclamations. Men flung, their hats in the air and'shouted themselves them-selves hoarse, while, women, unable to make themselves them-selves heard above the- din, were .content "to .wave, their hahdkrehiefs vigorously Itwss a reception' which attested the popularity "of tho Archbishop,1 and of which even a monarch might well bo proud. His grace responded in a happy vein. After several sev-eral remarks of a humorous nature which awoko heartyjaughtor from his hearers, he dealt with tho more seriou-i question in hand. He had been rather fclqw, he. said, to accept the invitation to visit the Irish Exhibition owing to severe criticisms which had b;ien passed upon . it, but he was glad to say they were' without foundation. The Archbishop praised in unmeasured terms theentire Irish Exhibition. He bad known Mr. Ifanley in Kansas City, he said, and held him in high esteem. He hoped . Mr. Hanley, who had gone deeply into his pocket to make the exhibition possible, pos-sible, would not qnly get his money back, but a good sum beside. The enterprise was a credit to the general gen-eral exhibition. As a St. Louisan, he was proud; as an American, heVus filled with joy; as an Irishman, he was beside himself. His grace then eulogized the( genius of the Irish race." "Take Ireland from the map, he aid, 'and you would remove from tho pulpit, its Burke, its Archbishop Ryan. Take Ireland Ire-land from the map and you would remove from the stage, the bar, from science generally the most shining shin-ing lights. Take Ireland from the map," he laughingly laugh-ingly added, "and England herself would be in a bad predicament. ' She would have trouble in finding find-ing men to lead her armies that is lead them to victory," The stone work of the. panels in the new Cathedral, Ca-thedral, the Archbishop promised, would be brought from Ireland. The vestments to be worn by the priests there and the ehaliccs would bo wrought by Irish hands, which were as acred as any hands in the world. He congratulated the exhibit company on the size of its audience, saying thathe had attended at-tended the most important congresses heldd in the exposition and none of them compared in pize and enthusiasm, with that .attending these dedication ceremonies. The splendid address o( the Archbishop made a profound impression on tho audience, which again gave vent to its. enthusiasm as the distinguished speaker took his seat. Mr. T. P. GUI. tho secretary of the Department of Agriculture and Technical Instruction for Ire laid, was the next speaker. Reviewing the jpdus trial situation in Ireland he rnado an eloquent ap peal for support. It was not contributions Ireland wanted, ha said, but capital for investment, American Ameri-can methods of exploitation, which were te hest in the world, were wanted. Ireland was now thoroughly thor-oughly awake to the importance of her industries. It was said that Irishmen governed every country but their own. He was hapnv to say that the time wa snot far distant when Irishmen would, govern their own country. 1 Mr. Hanley, the promoter, of the enterprise, and tho president of the Irish Exhibit company,' then came forward and received a wild, ovation which lasted several minutes. He made a ghort address ad-dress in which he assured the Irish people that no feature, except the most creditable, would be tolerated toler-ated in the theatre or any other portion of the exhibition," Irish, songs were sung by Miss Marie Narcelle, Mr. McCormack and other members of the Irish Theatre company. After the closing anthems, ''The Star-spangled Banner", and "Let Erin Remember tho Days of Old," a photograph was taken of the group that had been. sitting on the stage, and then they adjourned to a banquet, spread in the Irish house of parliament by President Hanley in honor o f the occasion. One hundred and fifty members of the uniformed uni-formed rank of the A. ,0. H. acted 3 a guard of honor, - - - .1 , . . ,-.,, . -' |