Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-04-20
The Gathering Crowd.

With the thermometer at 20, a cloudy
sky ushered in the 10th Of April, the an
niveTsary Of that glorious day for America,
one hundred years ago. At O'Clock
the old town was instinct with
life and hustle, and with the ring
| ing of bells and the booming OF
cannon, the imagination really REQUIRED to
the distant past, when the embattled farm
ers stood on the green, and resolved "if
there must be war it should begin here.
Long before daylight carriages and wagons
well filed, and pedestrians began pouring
/ into town. Booths and extempOrized
| restaurants went up on every corner. At
9 A. NJ. the whole town was alive with
moving, bustling humanity, and muster
tents, with their gay decorations, and flags
and streamers fluttering from every house,
presented a most cheering and inspiring
aspect. The arrangements in every par
ticular were the most complete.
The Tent for the Grand Centennial
Dinner.
The monster tent in which is to be
served the grand centennial dinner, pre-
sents a striking appearance, and is the most
perfectly arranged and literally supplied
ever seen on agpublic occasion. 1t is 40
feet long and 20 wide, with central wing
$50 long, with plates for $40 persons.
Every seat had been disposed Of this morn
ing, and the most eXOrbitant prices were
asked and offers made by those who had
and those who had not tickets. The main
tent in which the ovation Of the unwilling
Of statues, ETC., takes place, is provided
with seats for 10000 persons, every one Of
which is secured. The first train from BOs-
ton came crowded, and from all the ad-
joining towns hundreds are swarming to
the scene. The genial rays of an April sun
are bringing the temperature TO the point
Of enjoyment, and everything betokens a
splendid day and glOriously successful af-
fair at Lexington.
The Jam-COmmeneemen Of the Cere-
monies.
There are from 10000 to $4,000 people
here, and il is impossible to 90 anywhere.
Promptly at 10 o'clock the ceremonies in
the tent began, the immense pavilion being
crowded TO OverfiOWing, and thousands
surging about the entrance unable to gain
admission. A raw, cold wind has prevail
ed from the east since 8 o'clock, rendering
it extremely uncomfortable and testing the
patriotic enthusiasm of the vast multitude
to the very utmost. At 10 o'clock the
superintendent Of the Lowell road tele-
graphed to Boston to sell no more tickets
for Concord, the single track being so
blOckaded with immense trains that It was
impossible to transport beyond this point.
To this fact Lexington is indebted for
those who were compelled to remain here
for want Of transportation.
The Part the President is 10 Play.
President Grant will arrive at the battle
ground on his way from Concord by car
rage at 2 P. II. He will here meet the
head of the procession, which counter
marches and passes in review, after which
it willFbe dismissed aud all 90 for dinner.
The procession will undoubtedly be large.
Some Of the military companies announced
are not here, but several not expected are
here.
The Finale.
The exercises in the tent on the COM
mon embraced an address by T. L. StetsOD,
President Of the day, prayer by Rev. Mr..
WeStCall, hymns by the BOyston Club, and
the unveiling of the statues by Charles
Hudson. Hon. J. II. Dana, Jr., delivered
the Grafton. A benedictiOn and military
music brought the tent exercises TO finale.
The procession was Immediately formed
and followed out the line of route
as previously arranged. The President
and numerous celebrities failed to arrive
until the afternoon. The immense thTOng
of spectators as well as the thousands in
the procession, were subjected to a biting,
piercing east wind. About P. NJ, the
procession passed in review before the
President and suite. The procession was
then dismissed, and grand raid was made
upon the mammoth dinner tent. The
programme contemplated "a regular toasts,
but the latenesS of the hour and the very
chilly weather necessitated 8 serious cuTtail-
ment.