The New York herald., 1868-06-18
The sAENoERFGsT.

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TIE Now York Deiesstiea to the Chicago
saeugerfest-Dclay ON tho Road.
VAN Wnnr Ohio, June l1-7P.M
We are stiu delayed In this sobs- place on account
M the broken down bridges. The Water, which
overnowed stretch OF about mile wide u now
going down, but 1t viii take some time yet before
they win have repaired ell the damage We shall
be lucky II we can get away from here BY midnight:
In the meantime we take q look at the town and
form new acquaintances with the people here They
are n G very friendly towards nus Us and are
OPENING Of tho 6aengefest AZ ChicaSo-Deten-
tion Of tho New York and Foreign Delesa-
tions ON the Way-The Grand Preparations
for tho Festival-The First Concert and tho
Torchlight Procession.
CHICAGO, June IT, 1858.
The great Saengefest commenced tonight at the
Rink, on Wabash avenue, In matter which promises
to carry out all the glowing proclamations Of the
Central Committee of the National Sangerbund to the
fullest extent. There was, however one unforeseen
and damaging disappointment at the very outset.
The train on the Pittsburg and Fort Wayne Railroad
which conveyed the New York, European and other
singers to the number OF about three hundred. was
detained one hundred ana lfty miles from this city
by the washing away Of the railroad bridges BY the
arrive tomorrow morning at an early hour.
With all our experience Of the German musical
festivals we have not seen one In which the prepara
tons got up such extensive scale as this,
the sixteenth annual reunion Of the North Ameri-
can Sangerbund. The rink Ia literally covered
with evergreens festooned In every conceivable
manner, and the iron rods which tie the
side walls together are covered with red, white and
blue tissue paper, the whole tntermngled with
beautiful Chinese lanterns and nags, forming mass
OF decorations gorgeous to the eye and almost
bewtdering to the mind. In the centre
hang two immense fancifui chandeliers made
OF tissue paper and evergreens. Stands OF
American c0lors are fixed at tho Intersections
Of the supports to the arched roof At each ex-
tremity Of the railing Of the stage stand two large
pedestals hung with wreaths and festoons OF ever
ful pyramids made Of musical Instruments, vioins.
guitars drums, horns, cymbols, &c. These pyramids
are also wreathed with evergreens and flowers, and
are surmc1nted -, BY two plaster Aliases %, Of
shoulders miniature world. The wall at the rear
OF the stage s also covered with decorations an i'm
mense American nag In the centre, surrounded by
small flags and evergreens and fanked by the glo.
rous c0lOrs OF black, white and red, the national
ensign OF the North German COnfederacy.
the Fest commenced with grand concert, in
which the Chicago singing societies and their orcnes;
the "Jubel" overture, "OttO's Singers Greeting"
"Athalia" overture, ''Das Deutsche Lied" by
Schneider. and the "Star Spangled Banner" Ad-
the Fest Presidents OF this and the preceding year.
grand tOrchlight procession. extending nearly half
mile In length followed the concert.
The performance OF the opening concert was very
execrable. Tonight the nrst OF the regular Fest
concerts takes place.