credit. (Applause.) These men have faced successfully unprecedented problems. These men should never be forgotten. The manager of the Auditorium and his staff have fought a hard battle that you might be here to-night and during the ensuing season. Over one hundred contracting firms have shown an interest in this work that is rare, and have met every demand made upon them. We must not forget the army of workingmen who have labored with their hands day and right, and have shown a zeal which is without precedent. (Applause.) They knew that they were erecting an edifice for themselves and their associates, as much as for any class. They knew that the Auditorium stood for all.

Ladies and gentlemen, we are surrounded to-night with distinguished guests. The chief magistrate of our nation is with us. (Applause.) The Vice-President of the United States is here. (Applause.) The governors of many of our sister states are here. (Applause.) The representatives of the Canadian government are here. (Applause.) We are, indeed, honored. The Auditorium is indeed magnificently indorsed. The Auditorium is from this day a government building. It is nationalized. (Applause.)

In conclusion, Mr. Peck turned from the audience a moment, took Mr. Harrison by the hand, and leading him to the front of the stage, said: "Ladies and gentlemen, I have the distinguished honor of introducing to you the President of the United States." President Harrison was received with great applause. Hundreds of people arose and waved their handkerchiefs. Enthusiastic expressions came from all parts of the theater. He was not on the programme for a speech, but his ready wit proved equal to the occasion.

He stepped slowly to the front and bowed. Once more, there was silence while he addressed an attentive audience, as follows:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: Some of my newspaper friends have been puzzling themselves in order to discover the reason why I had left Washington to be here to-night. I do not think I need to set in order the motives which have impelled my presence. Surely no loyal citizen of Chicago who sits here to-night under this witching, magnificent scene will ask for any other reason than that which is here presented. (Applause).

I do most heartily congratulate you upon the completion and inauguration of this magnificent building, without an equal in this country, and, so far as I know, without an equal in the world. (Applause.) We have here about us to-night in this grand architecture, in this tasteful decoration, that which is an education and inspiration. (Applause.) It might well attract those whose surroundings were altogether pleasant to make a longer journey than I have made to stand for an hour here (applause), and if that be true surely there is reason enough why the President may turn aside for a little while from public duty to mingle with his fellow-citizens in celebrating an event so high and so worthy as this. (Applause.) Not speech, certainly not the careless words of extempore speech, can fitly interpret this great occasion. Only the voice of the immortal singer can bring from these arches those echoes which will tell us the true purpose of their construction. (Applause.)

You will permit me, then, to thank you, to thank the mayor of Chicago, to thank all those good citizens with whom I have to-day been brought in personal contact, for the kindness and respect with which they have received me; and you will permit me to thank you, my fellow-citizens, for the cordiality which you have witnessed here to-night. I wish that this great building may continue to be to all your population that which it should be, opening its doors from night to night, calling your people here away from care of business to those enjoyments and pursuits and entertainments which develop the souls of men (applause), which will have power to inspire those whose lives are heavy with daily toil, and in this magnificent and enchanted

presence lift them for a time out of these dull things into those higher things where men should live. (Applause.)

After the President returned to his box, the Apollo Club, consisting of about five hundred members, under Professor Tomlins' direction, and about two hundred of the Cecilia choir of young ladies, sang "America." The effect was very impressive; the great volume of tones filled the immense space completely. The second stanza was sung by the ladies, with an accompaniment played very lightly. The third stanza was given by all the voices, without accompaniment. It was sung accurately, and with great fervor and effect. The audience was captured; each one seemingly filled with patriotic enthusiasm as the triumphal words and tones rolled and echoed through the immense arches.

The third musical number was the work of Mr. Frederic Grant Gleason, and Miss Harriet Monroe, residents of Chicago. It was Mr. Peck's intention that, so far as practicable, the Auditorium should bring out Chicago's literary and artistic talent. The text of the cantata was composed by Miss Monroe. The introductory stanza opened with "Hail to

thee, Chicago"; and the final chorus began with "City of freedom, city of our love! the golden harvests of the world are thine," and closed with the words, "Out of the dark an eagle to the sun speeds on; awake! 'tis day! the night is done." Musical critics pronounced it a credit to the composers; as "having accomplished a difficult task in a satisfactory manner." It was well rendered by the Apollo Club and the orchestra, meeting with a cheering reception from the audience.

Mr. John S. Runnells, of Chicago, who was the orator of the evening, followed. He said:

The age of wonders has not passed. There is nothing in history like the splendid scene which I see before me. There are people beneath this roof who were busied with their school books when the place whereon we stand was but a wilderness. A little more than half a century has passed away. Lo, the spot has become like enchanted ground.

Macaulay's famous picture of the New Zealander standing on the broken arch of London bridge and sketching the ruins of St. Paul has been more than surpassed. Far less improbable would have been the picture in 1830 of a man standing here, as I stand to-night, in such a magnificent building as this, with these gleaming arches above him, with these thousands of electric lights flashing back the beauty of such an assemblage, with the roar of a great city all about him which is hushed to rest, I do not wonder at Edmund Burke, matchless orator as he was, feeling once the occasion to be greater than words, faltering, becoming mute. There is an eloquence in this scene before me which no speech can rival, no tongue surpass.

I stand in the presence of the highest officer of the grandest nation on earth. (Applause.) Thrice welcome to this hall and this occasion is the President of the United States. (Applause.) I voice the feeling of every patriot who is before me when I say, may his Administration be so wise and just, so fair to all, without distinction of party, that it shall live as resplendent upon the pages of history as gleams the gold upon these encircling arches.

I stand in the presence of the second in political rank in this great country, a man whose career calls to my mind those merchant princes whose sagacity and liberality made Venice the Queen of the Adriatic.

I stand in the presence of others of national fame, whose coming from afar has invested this occasion with a national significance.

Lastly, I stand in the presence of these representatives of the city of our pride and our love, conscious of the miracle of her history, rejoicing in her past and confident of her future, gratefully welcoming to her treasures this new gem upon her bosom. Ambitious for her growth, not so much in wealth and numbers as in mind and zeal and purpose, so that wherever the name of Chicago shall be mentioned it shall be said she is less great for her silver and gold than for the character which makes golden the lives of her sons and daughters.

And what shall be said of the scene of this temple? I stand in the grandest hall upon the face of the civilized earth. Oratory never had such a magnificent scene. Could Demosthenes come back to earth to-night and stand upon this rostrum and make that plea for his fame which has sent it down through the ages, who shall be able to measure his eloquence under such an inspiration?

Italy has been the favored home of music for a thousand years, but Verdi and Rossini never listened to music in such a royal temple as that in which we shall hear the queen of song to-night. Germany is illustrious as the birth-place of Beethoven and Mozart, but the fatherland never reared so fit a shrine for their worship as has arisen here beyond the sea. Talma, the actor, divided with Napoleon, the emperor, the dominion of Paris; but Talma never walked in mimic majesty across such a stage as this.

Oratory, music, the drama, human hearts in all generations have been won by your charms and conquered by your power! Into your hands to-night we intrust the cause of this structure. Let them never be turned save only for the best fruits of your vineyards. May this