The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-06-21

Let 1t be remembered tuat tne poAAe =
thirty rods long and trife less than twenty
wide flor rods are better as well as greater
than feet). and that this vast space has been
as densely packed as human energy and inge-
unity could do it. Be it also remembered that |
all about this immense structure, on every
hand, has been swaying mass, actually OVER
whelming ordinary calculation, and. the reader |
will get the only data from which to judge
sthe crowd yXga HyEyFy
There was nothing Remarkable about the
adornments or the Surroundings, and the great
excellence of the sgstem by which al was
managed was the only really notaDie 'n,us, 20
side the greatness of the gatne,is
were everywhere. and they mad learned sn'ii
duties SO thoroughly that the mu'n'ude were
comnlatelv sin hand" This fact was remark
ah,e md viii be precedent for anything that
NV hereafter happen on this great scale OF
magnifcence. sss.,azss.A
AS to the performance. No single voice
could s'fill' that space. Parepa's was sweet
and full and could be heard, in the deep hush,
all through, but ii was as when one listens to
strains at distance, . subdued and gentle
voice which is heard distinctly only by the
kindliest attention, as music 10 heard of o sum
mer night by those who may not know from
whence it comes, but whose sense is still salts
fed and pleased. OF course, this is the impress
sion of the distant nearer, who tried the ex
tremity of the building Her singing was
never more pleasing. It was q grand triumph,
but it is neither true nor complimentary to
sneak of her voice as Filling" that space, as we
are wont to speak of the concert solo, No
BODY who heard her will ever forget the sub
Unity of the 1Star Spangled Banner" Thou
sands were held in tecstacy of delight who
could not tell her features and who hardly
knew where she stood; and this is not only the
real fact but it ID the fullest praise Of this in-
comparable singer. And then the mighty
chorus! A great wave of perfect melody Not
breaker with fretting foam; only a swell that
sweeps unbloken when the fury Of the storm
is done. 1t was q great gush of harmony that
equally blended purity with unheard-of vol
ume, and whose mighty cadenees could only
be emphasized by the cannon's peal The
chorus done, the soft tone Of the violin gently
heralded the voice of the great singer again,
and the aria fioated across the space literally
like music from another realm; and when
the last measure Of the wonderful refrain was
done there was such a stir Of admiring thou
sands as even softened for moment the great
chorus, while handkerchiefs waved innumera-
BILE above the sea Of facesas light fakey snow
sometimes ieddies inspaee. Well might the
people also shout in mighty concert at such q
miracle Of musical effect, and feel q fulness Of
pride in the triumph Of the sentiment No
lover of his people and his country could hear
it without being made better, for it re-kindled
the patriotic fame that fired the hearts of mil
lions in the years gone by. Sxaaa - "a
1 do not care to criticise or even particular :
ice; but only to familiarize. 1t is enough for
me to know that in all the pilgrimage of this
life shall never again look upon such an as
semblage or be moved by such forces; and I
pay the only tribute I can to the generous
men who have brought me to worship at the
shrine where all compliment is poor enough,
indeed i leave formal detail to those who
write regularly about it.; but to forbear to ex-
press ones sense of the vastness Of the con-
ception and the overwhelming success Of this
remarkable scheme wouli be injustice.
know that many newspaper men came here to
SCOT, and build upon ruin; but they could not
find it in their hearts to attempt it and now
join in the grand acclaim of satisfaction.
Not only is praise due to the fine general
ship OF Mr.. Gilmore and the remarkable pa
thence and skin of all the musicians who aided
him, but praise belongs to the strong and
brave men of Boston who, when, the fortunes
of the affair trembled in the balance, pledged
their substance to insure IT, Boston and her
people deserve the fun measure Of glory they
will get, and it is ehurlish hand that would
keep back a just Offering. am glad for this
sne~ess, for it is not Boston or New England
that has dome all this, but it is the New World
where 1t hasSheen psssistantly said music
could never be made popular. WIN dares say
it more! for hare we not eutdone ali mo,
achievements OF genius in the past? p "a
1t is true tho spirit that moved all this may
not have been that of the most sacrificing
kind 1t was not done to impoverish COM
munity that the flesh might thereby be espec-
tally mortified, butit is fair to say that the
usual measure of patriotism was there. r
have heard it said of man who was especial
ly prompt in acknowledging wrong that s'He
no doubt did IL to make money by it." and I
am not quite sure that st. Paul's character is
quite free from suspicion in the matter of his
change Of life iasaa Subjects and So is the Jul
bilee; and do not propose to submit the pos
sible cloister weaknesses of all men to the
crucible of my poor prejudices. ss4a
Boston was proud and determined, and let
her exaIt now that she putteth off the harness.
And after all, pride is only little border put
around our handiwork, and pluck is only man
hood set in italics. But II Boston was Actual
ed by solely mercenary motives let it be mel
anchely satisfaction, to her enemies that she
has not amassed great wealth. In her corpor-
ate capacity and through all her citizens she
has done most generously. She opened her
heart all day and she shut her stores in the af-
ternoon. There is not much exultation
among tradesmen, and even the street ven-
ders did mot accumulate az much flesh as was
squeezed off, Vast ehordes went there and
paid for what they got; and, as q rule, got
what they paid fcr. saw many fond swain
and loving lass eat conventional gingerbread
and other primitive food happy in the sum Of
the great delight, and the prices were notad-
vanced, Indeed, stuff was quite reasonable,
from the leading hotels and restaurants down
to the booth with its Cool lemonade all in the
shade-Why do you pass? Five cents glass"
1t is true Boston has been bit airy, feel
Ing taken on in just token Of the Inspiration of
the occasion. For instance, my friends Smith
and Jones, when asked them how they felt,
could not refrain from spreading out their
arms, much like Gilmore, describing many q
curve, and always ending with sort Of double
plunge motion, that seemed intent on firing OF
big guns Of rhetoric with electricity that is
uos1 - n -4l