New York at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis 1904 / Report of the New York State Commission

by DeLancey M. Ellis

CHAPTER VIII

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]