Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-06-25
The Peace Jubilee.

account of the Peace Jubilee which he
attended last week. We cannot publish
the whole on account of its length, but
make extracts. He pays glowing and
no doubt just tribute to the celebrated
musician, p. S. Gilmore, who was the
original protector of the great jubilee
and festival, and says;
"Other countries have had their festi-
walls of music, but none Of them could be
compared with this. The largest that
has ever been given in any foreign coun-
try occurred in England during the sea-
son Of 1868. 1t was pronounced mag
nifcent in the extreme But the chorus
consisted of only about five thousand
voices, the instruments numbering be-
tween FIVE and six hundred. 1t was far
ahead of all the jubilees of the kind
that had previously been given )" but it
bore no comparison with the one in Bos-
ton last week.
After describing the Coliseum, which
covers nearly four acres of ground, and
took twenty-one tons of nails, five tons
of bolts and nearly two tons OF wrought
iron spikes, and two million feet Of lum-
Der in its construction, he enters inside
and finds it most beautifully decorated,
where he was fortunate enough to get a
good location to view the scene before
him upon which he thus speaks:
In front of us and on the south side
of the building is the great chorus and
orchestra, numbering over twenty thou
sand between twenty-five and thirty
thousand spectators fill the parquet and
balcony. Nearly all of this immense
throng are engaged in conversation, and
the noise thus produced, sounds indeed
like the rushing of many waters.
Suddenly wild burst of applause
greets our ears. The President has ar
rived. The ladies wave their handker
chiefs and the gentlemen give vent t.
their enthusiasm by shouting clappinl
and stamping. The racket is deafening
But soon the notes Of the great organ ar
heard above the din. The applause die
away, and as General Grant walks dow
the aisle, twenty thousand voices unite il
singing" See the conquering Hero comes.
The President and other dignitaries hav
ing taken their seats the entertainment
commences"
After the performance of a part of the
programme, Madame Parepa appears
and is enthusiastically greeted both by
the audience and the chorus. The con-
ductor waves his baton; the noise is hush
ed, and full and clear throughout the co
liseum is heard the voice of the grea
songstress. The storm of applause whicl
followed, we will not attempt to describe
Nor is it necessary to speak at length
concerning the remainder of the pre-
gramme. Suffice it to say that it We
performed to the entire satisfaction of al
A word however in regard to " The Sts
Spangled Banner" and Anvil Chorus
These two pieces were not down on We
nesday's programme, but as Gener
Grant was present, they were given &
his special benefit, and of course the a
dience found no fault. The cannon Whit
supplied the base were played by ms
who sat in the orchestra, before k
board similar to that of piano. Co
. nected with each cannon were wires fro
an electric battery which terminated
points in the midst of an exceeding
combustible substance. By touchil
any key upon the key board cure
, would be started and the spark in lea
/. ing through the space between the poir
!. would ignite the substance and thus t
cannon would be discharged.
/. "The Star Spangled Banner" was p
, formed with a grand effect. But t
: browning piece of all, was "The AN
. Chorus" One hundred anvils we
. pounded by one hundred fire-men. tt
together with the cannon, the orchestl
/ and the chorus, produced probably t
o grandest musical effect that mortal nj
q has ever witnessed"
, la. CARL Dick.