Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 September 1893 — ILLINOIS’ GREAT DAY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ILLINOIS’ GREAT DAY.

MYRIADS OF HER CITIZENS AT THE FAIR. Hush'd by the Train Toad from All Sections of the State—Formalities Are Dlspouted With and a Whoop-La Time Is Enjoyed. Jackson Park Was Crowded. Illinois day, Thursday, at the World’s Fair, was a revolation. While everyone expected that the attendance would surpass that of any day exoopt the opening, no one ventured to predict the crowd that was present. Tho Prairie State did herself proud. All day Wednesday the regular incoming trains wore crowded; and on Thursday, whon the half-rate trains were running, both rogular and excursion trains —the latter in three to five sections of ten to twelve cars each—were literally packed like sar—suckers. They camo from from all sections of tho State. There was the husky farmer, the prosperous business mail, and tho brawny artisan from tho northern and central portions, and the man with whiskers like a gout from Egypt, and all brought their families. Linos of transportation to the grounds swarmed with human beings like an apple tree

with bees. The boats were fairly buried; and at the entrances to the grounds tho silver streamed in as it had noVor done before, and the turnstiles clicked and registered as if tho crowd would never cease. Inside, the boasted elbow-room was at a premium, especially at points of iutorest. Everybody was out for a time; and if he didn’t have it, ho will at least nover come so close to it again, There was no tiresome oratory, but there was lots of circus. Every few rods in any direction a brass band crashed and blared. Here and there, till everybody thought that the whole standing army was on the grounds, squads of the Illinois National Guard of 6,000 wore marching to their rendezvous. Tho different parados of the day wero forming, and people of every nation on earth scurried hither and thither until it must have seemed to some of tho visitors that the millennium had dawned. The formal program began with the march of tho people from Midway Plaisance. The State militia led at 9 a. m., and as they passed tho natives from each village filed in on their camels, donkeys and Arabian horses. But there was no parading by those through the grounds. So far as tho Pluisanoe crowd was concerned, it simply marched to the Illinois Building and back. The concessionaires would )not lose two or three hours of business in the middle of the day. Promptly at 11 o’clock there was a grand parado of the “Congress of Rough Riders,” from Buffalo Bill’s. This was headed by tho Cowboy band. Tho parade Cf the Illinois troops returnod to the State building at 12, noaded by Gov. Altgold in his capacity as Commander-in-chief. Here the Governor pausod to review the troops. Tho festivities with the millitary department continued until late in the aftornoor, and included an exhibition drill bv Company C of the Third and tho Springfield Cadets. At 2 o’clock an informal reception was held by the Governor. But the evening furnished tho greatest sight. JThere was a fine display of firework* from the lako east of Manufacture* Building, the electric fountains were running, the search lights going. Wooded Island was illuninated, ana gayly lighted craft floated about the waters of the lagoons. In the fireworks display in addition to the numerous novel effects furnished there were two special set pieces, one showing the facado of tho Illinois State Building. 60 by '4O feet in size, containing <12,00(1 separate, burning pieces, and the Lincoln Monument at Springfield, 40 by 4C feet, with 10,000 burning lances. “Old Glory” and the American eagle burned in the eastern sky. It was a fitting culmination to a grand day—one long to be remembered by the hosts of proud Illinoisans nresent.

ILLINOIS STATE BUILDING.