The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1869-06-16
Reception Of the President.
JOTTINGs.
special Dispatch by Intern .tional Line.

BOSTON, June 15.-The great Peace Jubilce
was fairly inaugurated to-day, aud, as a gentle
man of Gallo extraction remarked in INV
nearing, 1T ees Won grande success" OF
course the building was packed to OVERLOOKING;
everybody expected that; but nobody antici-
pated the presence OF the immense gathering
tnat collected around the outside of the buill-
ing, listening on the hill-tops and from the
windows for miles away. 1t seemed as if the
surrounding country had been entirely drained
OF its residents, and that farms and stores aud
mar ufactories were left to take care Of them
selves Such a collection of people was never
before seen on this continent. They came in
swarms and neighborhoods, jolly and contented
at the slightest peep into what was going ON.
1t was good-natured crowd, too. They
couldn't help elbowing their way about, but it
was done so kindly that none could take Of
fence. To everybody's credit, let it be said
that words were the only weapons used about
the Park to-day, and that drunken men and
pugilists were few to be seen. The usual num-
Der of pickpockets piled their avocation, but
can ascertain of no great losses sustained
through their efforts. The browning idea of
" Peace and good will" pervaded the entire as-
semblage. 5.s ~ ~
4HE INAUGURATION 71p g7fltII =
ceremonies opened at precisely o'clock with
an eloquent and impressive prayer by Rev.
Edward Everett Hale, At its conclusion. HON.
Nathaniel b. Shurtleff, in his official capacity
as Mayor of the city, delivered the following
welcoming address: sft ga,
To this National Festival, instituted to COM
memorate the return of peace to our country,
the restoration OF our ancient liberties unim-
paired, our national bonds of union unbr0ken,
and our honor and credit unsullied, Boston
welcomes you all most sincerely and cordially.
Let this welcome extend as widely as the hem
eficial and glorious effects OF our happy peace
can reach and be felt, that all nations and all
tongues may join in the joyful strains: and lei
the gladsome music Of this Jubilee resound IN
one acclaim throughout the world, and be
echoed and re-echoed to the remotest regions
OF the universe. Domestic strife has ended.
Peace and harmony prevail The sons of the
Y nion reloice In liberty and friendship. All,
then, are welcome to Join with us in singing
the praises of the Great Ruler of events, who
has veuchsafeu to us the most estimable Of all
blessings. May the harmony OF this occasion
strike deep into the breasts Of us all, and
awaken within our nature the most sacred
and lasting Impressions, and may peace and
good will forever reign triumphant. Welcome,
thrice welcome, are all to this, our Festival OF
Peace. 4E EH fEMENl
Hon. Alexander III. Rice, in behalf Of the
officers of the Association, then made lengthy
address on the restoration OF peace and union,
of which the following is synopsis:
Mr.. Rice commenced his address with q few
remarks upon the Importance of the occasion
ON which the Jubilee was convened. Eight
years ago the tOcsin of war was heard through
out the land, and men rallied with one COM
mon spirit to the defence of their endangered
liberties. For four long and weary years the
nation languished under the horrors Of grimy
war, and now we meet together to celebrate
our deiiverance. What more fitting express
sion of our joy than the jubilant sounds OF mu-
sic, which is a common language, belonging to
all nations of the earth. Music is, too, a peace
full expression of thought. 1t was the language
of the prophet and the seraphim. When the
earth was created the stars sang their songs o (
Joy, and the SONS of God united in one grand
song of praise to the Creator of the universe.
Music and Peace! How grand they arei Each
correlative and dependent upon the other, and
the expression of the Infinite. Wherefcre we
meet together to welcome each other to this
festival of Peace Mr.. Rice continued at great
length in the elaboration OF this idea, conclud-
ing with an elaborate apostrophe to the Union.
ar. Gilmore took the conductors stand
amid tremendous outburst of enthusiasm,
the people rising to their feet and cheering un-
til the welkin rang. The musical portion of
the programme was then proceeded with.
THE CONCERT.
1t is no doubt true that there were musical
inaccuracies on this great occasion, both I'M
strumental and vocal and it would be some
thing wonderful if there were not, where over
thousand musicians and ten thousand vocal
lists We're gathered together from all parts of
New England and the Middle and Western
States, giving their first public performance,
after only one or two rehearsals together; but
such inaccuracies, if any there were, were en-
tirely drowned in the grand volume OF sound.
And speaking of sound, let me state here that
the most egregious mistake that many people
have fallen into, is that what with the number
of voices, of Instruments, the firing Of cannon
and pealng of bells, there would arise such q
tremendous noise that the great Peace Jubilee
would be anything but q treat to listeners-
From the location of my seats, which. were in
the rear of the immense building, and consid-
erably elevated above the floor, was enabled
to see and hear as well as, if not better than,
those who sat much nearer the stage; and the
effect OF such pieces as the Star Spangled
Banner, with all the advertised accompani-
ments, was not even SO stunning as some of
the Fourth of July meeting concerts ON Bos-
ton Common. So perfect was the time and SO
harmonious the vocalism, that the great build
ing was Allied with the grandest and most soul
stirring music, exciting the audience to the
highest pitch of enthusiasm, and causing that
vast assemblage OF $4,000 souls to spring to
their feet and give vent to their enthusiasm in
cheers that reverberated again ami again
through the Coliseum, while the air was filed
with tens of thousands Of white handkeI chiefs,
eagerly waved by gentlemen as wen as ladies.
II anything the impression was conveyed in
the singing of some of the choruses and other
pieces, that there might be more volume oil
sound, without spelling the general effect.
Therefore does everybody pronounce the Peace
Jubilee the grandest musical event and success
of the generation. The choral and orchestral
music was grand.
ADMIRAL FARRAGUT.
One of the most pleasing acts of the day was
the reception of Admiral Farragut by the
Union Navy Associates at the fremont House.
This association-the only one of the kind in
the United States-preserves fresh the memo
res of its service in the battles for the Union,
and, although small in numbers, is full of en-
thusiasm and patriotic ardor. The reception
To-day was an ippromptu one. Perhaps .
score Of gentlemen donned their uniforms at
noon, and, headed by Gilmore's Band, pro-
cccdod to tho fremont Hnnsa where thu gal
liant Admiral made his headquarters. Brief
time was spent in waiting for his appearance.
At tive O'Clock Admiral Farragut stepped frosa
the door, unaecompanied save by single aid,
and looking iovial, hale and hearty. Between
two platoons of the association he rode through
fremont, Boylston and ST. James streets, 70
the Coliseum. Here a slight collation. was
paftakea of and the Adm raj was formally
Welcomed to the hospitahties Of the city. Dur.
ing the afternoon performance lie occupied o
prominent seat in the parquette, and was the
observed of all observers. A. g.. H.
ITO Associated Press hlns4.
THE OPENING CONCERT
Boston, June 15.--The first piece on the pro-
gramhie being the Grand Choral /" A strong
castle is onr Lord was sung by the full che.
rus, with the grand orchestra and organ, under
the direction of Mr.. Gilmore. The chorus
comprised ten thousand voices and the orches.
ira eleven hundred Instruments, which COM
bned with the swelling notes of the organ,
completely filed The huildingi the rendering
nIft ae. ~ 49,