The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1871-10-31
From the Quaker City.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4th 1871

From the Quaker City.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 4th 1871.
Editor Register Il think mention
ed in a former letter that statue of the
late President Lincoln was to be unveiled
in Fairmont Park sometime during the
month Of September. That event and the
ceremonies attending it transpired on the
afternoon of the 22d inst The weather
was all that could be desired. A sort of
mellow autumnal haze pervaded the
atmosphere accompanied with gentle
northern breeze, which conspired to maxi g
the day auspicious for the event and oc-
casion by o'clock vast multitude had
assembled. Many good judges of numbers
said there could not be less than $4,000
people congregated to witness the inter-
esting ceremonies. The lawns, the walks,
the driveways, and hillsides surrounding
the monument were densely crowded, in
Guiding the grassy hillsides of the lofty
Fairmount basin soon the military began
to arrive consisting of Eve regiments of
infantry, and large park of artillery ;
two of the regiments werc colored, all
headed by brass bands. After the military
had taken their assigned places St. Johns
Commandry No. 4 Masonic Knights
Tomplar OF this city, headed by Beck's
Philadelphia band, and Apollo Command
ry Of Chicago,headed by the northwestern
light guard band, marched in and took
position in front Of the stand facing the
monument
The canvass covering which up TO this
time had yelled the statue and upper
portion of the richly ornamented pedestal
was then raised, the bands performed n
dirge accompanied with vocal music by IL
musical society during which time many
a tear started from among the sea of up
turned faces, as they gazed on the repre-.
senting figure Of our second Washington.
After the drige was concluded, large
American flag was run up to the pole
surmounting the derrick, directly over
the statue, when its folds were spread the
gentle breeze shook out hundreds of small
flags which had been rolled in it; the
emblems ofAmerican freedom foated and
slowly settled toward the ground. having
much the appearance of autumn leaves
descending from the trees; much the
color of the "sear leaf" There was now a
general outreaching or rather upreaching
of hands to secure the miniature banners
Your correspondent being somewhat of
the Zaceheus order was unable to seize
even one Of the trophies, as the tall
Peunsylvaniaus grasped them before they
were within eight feet Of terra6rma. At
this juncture, as that gorgeous ensign of
American liberty foated and Auttered in
the breeze over th1t representative figure
Of the honored dead, the bands struck up
the Star Spangled Banner, changing to
Hail Columbia and from that to Yankee
Doodle, and the Key Stone Battery which
was posted on the ridge east of the monu.
ment fred salvo of 100 guns during
which time the cheers and cheering that
rent the air, you Mr.. Editor, and your
ana nerscii, as L a,ii uu"oiS W -'~VSas,vS 10
even with pen and paper at my command.
At the same time the Knights Templar
uncovered and saluted. Had the veriest
copperhead that ever pressed American
soil been present,he must either have felt
impelled to join in the mighty shout. or
have skunk away into some obscure corn
er, or hole where moles and bats do con-
gregate. 1t was at least ten minutes before
sufficient quiet could be obtained to pro-
ceed with the exercises. Col. McMichael
then delivered a thrilling and eloquent
oration, on the platform were Mayor Gen.
Mead, Hon. Simon Cameron, Mayor Fox,
and number Of Ex Mayors and many
other diguitaries. The statue is of bronze,
10 sitting posture. in large armed
chair, the cloak lies carelessly on, and
over the back Of the chair; in the righ,
hand is representation of quill pen
in the left hand is placed scroll partial.
ly unrolled designed to represent the pen
and paper with which the emancipation
proclamation was executed, if the statue
was in an erect form it would be about
8 feet in height. The face bears a striking
resemblance to all the pictures and
photographs haye seen of the lamented
patriot aud martyr. The celestial is granite
fifteen feet square at the base, and nearly
20 feet in height, richly but plainly orna
meuted at each of the four angles on the
coruice of the first section is large brown
eagle, on each side Of the plinth are var
ious designs in bronze representing botf
war. and peace.
The approaching state election is being
anticipated with much interest by bott
parties. The feeling in the city is waxing
rather warm, for coupled with the state, il
the municipal election on the same day
The present municipal government il
composed of Republicans or more proper
: ly they are in the majority, with the ex
ception of the Mayor. How Daniel NJ
Fox. although Democrat is man o
unexceptionsble character, and christian
gentleman. He declines reelection. Th,
republicans feel strong confidence tina
: they can carry both state and city. the,
: see the necessity of doing SO, from tn
bearing it will have on the Presidential
election in 1872. The first general mas
meeting of the republicans was held
few evenings since in the largest hall il
the city. A large meeting also was extemp
orized in the street, composed Of thos
that could not gain an entrance into tn
Q hall. In the hall Secretary Robson mad
a mastery speech, reviewed at length tn
8 mission of the great republican party
Il what had been done, is now being done
: and what it contemplates doing hereafter
h The Hon. Secretary is one Of the mos
y efficient platform speakers | ever listene
!. to He was followed by Hon.sIIenry VII
son one of Massachusetts, noble Senators
o The "Natick Cobler" is workman tn
Q I, "Old Bay State" need not be ashamed o.
u He is one Of natures noblemen, especial
in the realm of liberty, freedom, and hu
u man progress.