Palaces and Courts of the Exposition Part 1

Palaces and Courts of the Exposition.

by Juliet James.

A Foreword

The Pastel City by the Sea

There is a hill-crowned city by a silver sea, near a Golden Gate. For ages the water has washed from an almost land-locked bay against this hill-crowned city, and on its northern side has created of the sh.o.r.e an amphitheatre stretching for some three miles to the western headlands.

Behind this amphitheatre rises, in terraces, the steep hills of this water-lashed city, and in part, a forest of pines stretches to the west.

Man has flanked this reach of sh.o.r.e by two lowering forts, and in front, across the sapphire sea, one looks onto the long undulations of hills, climaxed by grand old Tamalpais.

Just three years ago and one saw in this same low-lying sh.o.r.e only a marshy stretch, with lagoons working their way far into the land - the home of the seagull.

There came a time when, had you looked closely, you would have seen coming thru the Golden Gate a phantom flotilla of caravels, freighted with clever ideas.

On the vessels came; at the prows were several n.o.ble figures: Energy, Enterprise, Youth, the Spirit of the East, the Spirit of the West, Success, and in the last caravel, the stalwart Mother of Tomorrow.

They had dug and delved with mighty Hercules and had created that great gap that has severed two continents. Then, leaving their work to be finished, they had sailed on to celebrate their triumph in the Land of El Dorado, the region of their desires.

In a shallop in front of these floating winged vessels, riding on the waves, came Venus, rowed by the fairies - in her hand the golden ball of opportunity.

The mermaids, the dolphins, the little sea-horses sported in the wake of these vessels, leaving a long line of foam and silver as they sped on.

Over the waves they came to the Golden Land of the Pacific. They moored their vessels by the fort-flanked sh.o.r.es, and stepping out upon the haunt of the seagull, they moved boldly across this unsightly stretch of wave-washed land.

Enterprise and Energy pushed ahead: the Fairy ever flitting near. At a signal from Enterprise the Fairy turned her wheel, Venus threw her golden ball of opportunity, and lo! out of the foam of the sea rose a Venus city with the round sea bubbles resting on the roofs.

One day a man appeared on the hilltop o'erlooking this wondrous city and by his magic power, being filled with music, with color-music, he cast a spell and behold a pastel city by the sea - such an one as only those who dream could think of; a city glowing with warmth of color, with a softness and mystical charm such as only the brain of Jules Guerin could produce.

He is the conductor of this wondrous symphony, this beautiful Mozart fantasia, and if you listen, you can hear the strains of the great beautiful melodies wafted now east, now west, now north, now south, rising to great climaxes, falling back to great chords of harmony, or, in an allegro movement, causing you almost to trip with delight in the joy of it all.

Your eye is enthralled with the beauty of the coloring. One sees turquoise green domes floating in a silver-moated ether, long colonnades of glacial ice columns leading to regions beyond, where quiet silver pools throw back the mirrored glories.

Battalions of daffodils holding their long sabers stand in the South Garden, making ready for the great festival. Soon those daffodils will raise their golden trumpets and will sound the fanfare at the opening of the Great Jubilee, and up will spring two hundred thousand wide-eyed yellow pansies to look and wonder at the marvelous beauty and help in the hallelujah chorus that will be one great poeon of joy - one splendid hymn of praise.

And the blue eucalypti against the walls will lend their voices, the yellow acacias will add their cadences; while down by the great lagoon, ten thousand periwinkles will dance for joy.

Far out on the waters will be intoned to the rhythm of the waves a chorus from white-robed water-lilies, who, like a throng of choristers, will send their anthems rippling over the sun-kissed waves.

The Spirit of the East that has added its domes, its minarets, its soft-glowing colors, will remain and join hands with the Spirit of the West, that strong, pulsating energetic spirit, and the harmony produced will vibrate from the sh.o.r.es of the Occident to the sh.o.r.es of the Orient and bring about a better understanding, a great world peace.

And the world will come to listen. The great music will sound across the waters, and the world will be the better in its way of thinking, of working, of living - and all because of the great beauty. Wonderful is it to be living today, to have the opportunity of watching the beginning of this mighty growth; to be present at one of the world's greatest events.

And the pastel city by the sea will not leave us, for, as the years go on, whatever be our mission, the vision of this dream-city will float before us, leading us to finer, higher works, strengthening our ideals, and causing us to give only of our finest fiber.

Palaces and Courts of the Exposition

The Prayer of Bishop Nichols

of the Episcopal Diocese of California,

Given at the Opening of the Exposition

The Blessing of G.o.d Almighty, the G.o.d of the Ages, the G.o.d of the Oceans, the G.o.d of the Continents, the G.o.d of the Genius of man and the G.o.d of every Exposition of human achievement and progress - the Blessing of G.o.d Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, be upon you and remain with you always.

Amen.

The 148th Psalm

Read by Rabbi Meyer of San Francisco at the Opening of the Exposition

Praise ye the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the Heights.

Praise ye Him, all His Angels; praise ye, all His hosts.

Praise ye Him, sun and moon; praise Him all ye stars of light.

Praise Him, ye heaven of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for He commanded and they were created.

He hath also established them for ever and ever; He hath made a decree which shall not pa.s.s.

Praise the Lord from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps.

Fire and hail, snow and vapors; stormy wind fulfilling His word; Mountains and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars; Beasts and all cattle; creeping things and flying fowl; Kings of the earth and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth.

Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord; for His name alone is excellent; His glory is above the earth and heaven.

He also exalteth the horn of His people, the praise of all His saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto Him. Praise ye the Lord.

The Prayer of Bishop E. J. Hanna

of the Catholic Diocese

Given at the Opening of the Exposition