The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1872-06-20
Very truly yours
~
BosmN June 7th, 1872


BosnS, June 7th, 1872
As the musical entertainment was
I planned on aIprodigious scale, SO also is
the building in which it's given The
land selected upon which lthis mighty
structure stands Is on portion Of the
Back Bay land ID the angle formed BY
the Boston a Providence, and Boston n
Albany Railroads, few rods beyond the
I point Of crossing and about an eighth ola
mile from The spot occupied by The great
structure Of 1869.
In the space Of seven weeks a building,
symmetrical, graceful and ornamental,
has been hewn from the raw material,
erected, painted, onamented and furnish
ed for occupancy. The Coliseum covers
an area Of l02 800 square feet, being $50
feet long by $50 wide; has upright walls
40 feet in height ct the sides, and much
higher at the ends; trussed roof of in
geuious construction and great strength;
lean-to roof Of graceful slope-both
roofs having superficial area Of over
100000 square feet--a highly ornate fac
ade, fanked by ornamental turrets crown
ing the ridge aud supporting the banners
of the nations and the white flag Of uni
versal peace. Inside, the Coliseum is
divided into "chorous balcony" which
is not balcony in the common accepta-
ton of the term, but floor covering the
width of the structure and nearly two
/ fifths of its length, Except central sec
ton reserved for the orchestra, and slop-
ing upward from the front; an auditorium
capable of accommodating from $4,000 to
30,0 600 people and including a parquet
divided into fifteen large sections, and
balconies divided into twenty-three parts
with wide promenade around the sides
of the latter, and another under it.
The inside decorations are beautiful
and pleasing to the eye. Graceful testoons
of red, white and blue descend from
aloft, and night and morning paintings
adorn the organ end and colossal paint
ings, representing Peace and America,
the opposite extreme. The whole effect
is soft and gratifying. l65 chorus socie-
ties, numbering 10000, forms the chorus;
of these 104 belong to Mass, Is to New
H., 10 to Conn, to Me-, 6 to W.T., to
N. Y, 2 to r. J., to H., and ! each to
Pa, Md, Mo-, Ind, Iowa, Wis, Cal, d.
G. and N. b. Thirty one brass bands are
present, including the Marine band of the
United States, from Washington; the
band of the Grenadier Guards, of Eng
land; the Irish National Band; the band
of the French Garde Republicaine and the
Kaiser Franz Grenadcr band, of Ger
many. The resorts are sustained by the
voice Of an immense organ, the most pow
erful ever heard in America, and perhans
in the world, and the sub-bass in tie a8
sem5le, music Of popular air, is intensi-
fled by huge bass brur.,, L feet in di-
ameter, and the yoi.oe ofartillery.
Among the gentlemen from abroad are
Johann .,trauss of Vienna who is emf
nen'e as waltz composer and conductor
:. II an ochestra Of world wide celebrity
Franz Abt well known composer and
conductor; Herr Franz Bendall dis
tinguished German pianist, and a cornet
quartette from the household of Emperor
William of Prussia all of whom take part
in The grand festival The first grand
rehearsal commenced at 10 O'Clock a. IN.
and continued until 1 O'Clock p. m in
Producing the following different direc-
tQrs, p. 5. Gilmore, Carl Zerrahu, Strauss
and Abt
At % minutes past 3 O'Clock p. m. the
prayer and addresses Of the Mayor and
Gen. Banks having been spoken but not
heard by more than two thousand people
probably owing to the manifest incapaci-
ty Of the human voice to cover six acre
farm the impatient auditors were reley-
ed by the sound Of the various instru-
ments being attuned to the bars Of the
opening number on the three weeks
programme. MrGilmorc had the deserved
honor of opening the festival, and as he
came down the long aisle and took the
conductors stand lie was received with
tumultnous cheering from the men aud
a unanimous waving Of handkerchief by
the ladies ia the audience aud chorus.
The selection was Old Hundred, aud its
effect as given by that vast assembly cam
not be described. The jubilee will be a
magnificent success J.