Thanksgiving Day
[Illustration]
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
assembled 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
associated 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:
REMARKS BY MR. BERRI
"We should be thankful way down deep in our hearts that we are citizens
of such a great country--the United States of America. When you think of
its wonderful struggle for years and know that to-day it is at the
forefront of progress among the nations of the earth should we not be
thankful that we are a part of it? We should be thankful that we have
such a great President--a man respected by all nations. Republicans
should be thankful that they won such a great victory at the polls, and
Democrats should be thankful that the Republicans give them such good
government.
"The married men here should be thankful that they have such good wives,
and the wives that they have such good husbands; the unmarried men that
they have in the future such a vista of happiness that is to come to
them, and the young ladies should be thankful that there are so many
young men around. There is no way to view this occasion but with a
thanksgiving spirit, and nothing pleases me more than to be with you
to-day. There has been no feature of our Fair at any time, in all of its
various functions we have had, that gives me such great pleasure as to
preside at this gathering. It is the first time we have been all brought
together, and, while the hours of the Fair are numbered, I am sure that
every one will go home never forgetting the pleasant days they have had
at the great Exposition at St. Louis in the year nineteen hundred and
four."
He then called upon Mrs. Norman E. Mack, the only other member of the
Commission present. Mrs. Mack was warmly applauded and said:
RESPONSE BY MRS. MACK
"It gives me great pleasure to be able to take my Thanksgiving dinner
to-day with so many who have done so much for the glory of New York at
this Exposition. I particularly wish to compliment those of our own
building who have always been so courteous and nice to me, and by so
doing have aided the New York Commission in making the New York State
building the social center of the Exposition."
OTHER SPEAKERS
Brief remarks were also made by Mr. J. H. Durkee, Superintendent of
Agriculture; Mr. DeLancey M. Ellis, Director of Education and Social
Economy; Mr. James T. Patterson, Assistant Superintendent of
Horticulture; Mr. A. B. Strough, in charge of the Forestry, Fish and
Game exhibit; Dr. H. H. Hinshaw, in charge of the Scientific exhibit,
and the following officials of the State building: Hon. Frank J.
LeFevre, Superintendent; Mrs. Dore Lyon, Hostess; Mrs. F. P. Applebee,
Assistant Hostess; Miss Laura C. MacMartin, Matron, and Mr. George B.
Cowper, Assistant Superintendent. Others present were called upon and
made appropriate remarks, and the Pikers' Club, an organization composed
of attaches of the building, furnished the musical part of the
entertainment.
PRESENTATION TO SECRETARY BALL
Vice-President Berri then presented Mr. Charles A. Ball, Secretary and
Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, with a complete fishing
outfit in behalf of all of the employees of the New York State
Commission. Mr. Ball enjoys a wide reputation as an expert with the rod.
In his remarks Mr. Berri said that it had never been demonstrated that
the Secretary had ever returned with any fish, and expressed the hope
that with such a perfect equipment some tangible results might be shown.
He also humorously referred to the fact that in the fire which a short
time before had threatened the destruction of the State building, Mr.
Ball's first thought had been for the safety of his fishing reels. The
presentation was a complete surprise to the Secretary, who feelingly
expressed his deep appreciation of the thoughtfulness of his staff in
making him a present which he should treasure as long as he lived. He
also expressed his gratitude to all of the employees of the Commission
for their loyal support, which had meant so much in the successful
participation of New York at the greatest Fair the world ever knew. He
closed with laudatory remarks concerning the Commission, and the wisdom
and thoroughness which had characterized its work.
In the course of her remarks Mrs. Lyon read the following original poem:
POEM BY MRS. LYON
Like ships upon the changing sea of life,
Unknowing and unknown until we met,
We've sailed awhile together, and no strife
Has marred our joy, nor brought a faint regret.
O'er this composite family of ours,
Begotten from each corner of our State,
Has breathed a peaceful spirit, and the hours
Have sped on wings from early dawn till late.
'Tis something to have met each other here,
And found in each some trait to be admired,
And felt the world replete with joy and cheer,
And friendship still the thing to be desired.
The tiny corners that we once possessed
By gentle contact have been rubbed away,
And words that might have hurt have been suppressed,
And peacefully we hail this Festive Day.
The time when we must part comes on apace,
And soon we'll wend along our various ways,
Then mem'ry's realm will crowded be for space
To welcome friends of Exposition days.
To name each one and strive to pay the debt
We owe, of deepest gratitude and praise
In words, would take me many hours yet,
And possibly run over into days.
And--after all, when all is said and done,
It only means we've met--to live--to part.
Then here's my wish--That we have just begun
A friendship which may blossom in each heart.
LANTERN SLIDES
At the conclusion of the remarks a series of lantern slides illustrating
some of the most attractive natural features of the Empire State were
shown, the slides being a part of the exhibit in education. The
entertainment concluded with informal dancing, music for the same being
furnished by an orchestra which was in attendance. The assemblage
dispersed with three rousing cheers for the Empire State and for the
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Commission of the State of New York.
[Illustration: SIOUX CHIEF "BLUE HORSE" AND ARMY OFFICERS]