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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: