New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-04-19
CENTENNIAL PRELUDES.
PREPARATIONS FOR THE FESTIVITIES AT
LEXINGTON.


ADAns-TBR OLD HANCOCK ROUSE AND THE
CANVAS PAvuIoN-PATMoTIsM AND SMALL
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES AT EVERY TURN-IS-
st,RIp1IoSs ON TIKI HoUsRs--TiIE VISITORS.
IFRon A srAPP CORRESPONDENT OF THB TRlBUNEl
HANCOCK House., LEXINGTON, Mass, April IT,
IA ia not difficult TO realize the truth OF history, and
70 have genuine interest in the events OF hundred
wears ago when one sits down to write in the very
room where John Hancock and Samuel Adams held
counsel on the night before the battle
of Lexington, and from which they
were driven by the warning voice OF
hard-riding couriers who brought the news from
Boston that 1.-The Regulars were coming" This is
The very room and thanks to the jealous Of the
venerable owner, it ia to-day just as It that
eventful night The great broad fireplace, the sub
stantial 6oor and wainscOtng of hardpne, even the
curiOusly figured WALL pasted on In rectangular
blocks instead of in long strips as nowadays are
those upon which Hancock and Adams gazed when
the fate Of the Colonies hung in balance upon the
scenes of the following day. There Is the plain and
painfully low desk on which the statesmen wrote,
and the chairs in which they were seated; and
a. to the andirons, curious atrons, spinningwhee,
and other household utensils. "Wel,n said our Oc-
togcnaran guide, "they oil belong to the same lot
not one of 'em less than hundred years old GEN.
tory old Sir, beyond doubt" 1t is interesting to
regarded by the Lexingtonians; and well they may
value II and its contents for few people have such
opportunity of taking an inside view of the homes
of their greatgrandfathers This part of the house
was built by the Rev. {" Bishop y John Hancock in
1893, and the front added about 1885, by one of
his sons. The successor of the Rev. John Hancock
was the Rev. Jonas Clark by whose name the house
is now best known in this community. goodly
volume might be made of the stories told of these
men and their dwelling place But do not be alaIned
this correspondent ia not going to undertake the
work.
THE STREETS AND THE COMMON.
find Centennial written in some form over near
ly every house in this historic but very modern look
ing and thrifty town. The people have thought of
little else for weeks, and during the last few days
the event Of next Monday has been food drink, and
sleep 10 them. Arriving at the depot the first view
is of one mass of canvas forming pavilion shelter
ing many acres, while smaller tents are scattered
about in a way strilingly suggestive of the side
shows at county fair The largest tent Of all is on
the common which was the scene Of the battle. 1t
~ said to have seating capacity of 5000 Here
the speaking viii take place, and on Monday night
the great ball will be held in the place. Not
far away another tent not quite so large in which
the tables are already set for dinner for 1923
persons Both of these canvascovered halls have
substantial 6oore are well protected from stormy
weather and are lighted with gas Over the main
entrance to tho common stretches massive
but not particularly imposing arch which appears
this inscription: Welcome to the Birthplace of
American Liberty" Flags everywhere; flags of
all nations and flags of no nation; the Navy-Yards
Of Charlestown, New-York, and Portsmouth were
ransacked for them Any householder who has MT
half dozen flags to display on the Centennial day
doubtless considers himself in miserable plight.
oil "a
on the common stretching dagOnaly across to either
corner. A large banner ON of these strings
bears the legend, TOO few to resist too brave to
fyn while another inscribed with words attributed
10 the gallant Capt. Parker of the heroes whose
patriotism is COMMUNICATED" Don't fire unless
fred upon but if they TO have war, let it begin
here" In the midst of all this patriotic display
there are indications of disposition to turn an
honest penny, which is characteristic, and suppose
BY no means censurable. Arrangements for serving
refreshments and for seducng the idle nickel from
the pocket of the rural pleaseseeker in other ways
bid fair TO be abundant and handful conspcuously
displayed in various places announces that "the
lumber used in building the pavilion and dining
ROOM will be sold Immediately after the celebration
and on the ground I'm lots to suit purchasers" A
good many dollars will be made, too, by the sale of
seats commanding desirable views of the great pro-
cession and the florists give notice that they will be
hand TO enable the periodically disposed to render
"FlOras tribute to the dead of the Revolution"
THE STORY TOLD DY THE HOUSES.
The Town Hall or Memorial Hall containing the
Cary Library ia building very crcditable to Lex
ingtOn, and il is very tastefuly decorated for the
Centennial Here found large collection of Rev.
dictionary relics Over the portal is the inscription,
Lexington consecrates this hall and its embems to
the memory of the Founders and the Defenders of
our Free Institutions" Within are two striking
statues the one, that of Minute Man, commence
rating Lexngton's dead in the Revolution, and the
other, that of Volunteer of 1861, LexDgtons dead
in the Rebellion. A tablet near the former bea.s
this inscription:
The Pledge and ts Redemption.
Response Of Lexington 70 the Appeal OF Boston, De-
1--WE trst in God that should the state Of affairs
require IT, shall be ready 20 sacrifice estates and
everything dear IN life, yea and life ITSELF m support Of
Names of the citizens Of Lexington
who fell In Freedoms cause, April 10 1T75.
sapiael Hadcy Jonathan Harrington, jr., John Brown
isaae hnzzey, Jedediah Munr0e, John Raymond Ma
Taey poured out their generous blood like water be-
fore they knew whether it would feYtize the land of
Freedom or OF Bondage"-I Webster.
The vacant inches in the Memorial Hall are re-
served for the statues of Samuel Adams and John
Hancock, whose personal and particular connection
with the town Of Lexington recalled in the his
torcal sketch heretofore published in THE TRIBUNE
These statues have not yet arrived from Europe,
although shipped. from Liverpool and the other
from Lcghorn, long ago; and for days the people
have been anxious lest something should happen to
prevent their being in Lexington before the
anniversary of the battle. They cost 81 900
apiece, the scuptors making an extraordi-
nary deduction from the usual price of such work