The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-06-18
A GALAXY OF DISTINGUISHED GUESTS.

BOSTON, June IT. 1875.
There nave been no popular demonstrat tons Of
the past, and there are likely 10 be few Ia the
future, which will shine out more brilliantly and
conspcuously in American history than the CEN
iennial celebration OF the battle OF Bunker -Aih.
II mas been one Of those events which nusd red
years from now will be commemorated itt as
much spirit and pride almost rs has been to-day
devoted the memorable battle Tor freedom which
was fought here a century ago.
There mas been such combination of estlv ties
all around tnat 1t Is almost impossible to desc,.toe
them When the 11th OF June was ushered IL by
the midnight hour IL was the signal for general
explosion OF pent-up enthusiasm, and the wee Is
likely to be ended before thera is any percepubie
weakening OF the general jubilee. Fifty thousand
people have paraded the streets in one Rran ma
procession and the monster pageant mas be en-
witnessed by csncourse OF people which can Il
most be computed 0S mil ions. Truly no su sh
national and hearty demonstration was ever b @
lore Witnessed In America, and Its significance
and importance III promoting social intereourse
ana friendship between the different sections M
the country hardly be realized at this me-
ment. Tho weather and everything smiled
aDprovlugy upon tn festive OCCASION Long
before daylight TN Streets OF Charlestown aud
Boston were filled with visitors, an1 by tue time
the sun was well up all the tnoroughfares In
every direction swarmed with the soldlery aud
civic organizations which were to form the grand
attraction OF the day. Tue decorations every
where were beautiful! and elaborate. Not a sec.
tion OF Boston or Charestown but was most pro-
fusely ornsmanted. IL seemed II there had
been a shower OF flags, bunting and bouquets.
The dwellings OF the middle and poorer classes, as
well as the more preientious mansions and abodes
Of the wealthy all bore evidence OF that general
patriotic feeling enRenGered by the commemora
tfon OF such a circumstance as the centennial an
nlversary OF the battle OF Bunker Hill. The display
was as brilliant and attractive as could have been
expected rom the expenditure OF many thousands
Of dollars and the exercise OF the best decorating
taste aud skill In the country.
THE PROCESSION OF THE ANTIQUES.
The nrst feature OF the day was the procession
OF the Antiques and HUrrioles, which was confined
10 C1arlestown alone. There were nearly thou
sand grotesque characters represented, and, not
outstanding their perambulations through the
streets at the unreasonable hour OF i've
O'Clock IN the morning. there were over
100000 people out TO witness the comlcal
display. After this there was general lun
IN the festivities until nearly noon, and during
ms interval the city rapidly MED with visitors.
Thousands upon thousands came In on the rail-
roads. steamboats, ana other conveyances. AS a
general thing they wendsd their way over to
Cnarlestown and then back agaln TO Boston, thus
Keeping up perpetual stream or humanity over
both Of the connecting bridges. rhe scenes
everywhere were moss brilliant ana enhvenlng,
and there ives nothing lacking TO indicate that
the holiday at hand was one OF more than orci
nary magnitude. All this was manifest py the
presence or sucn an extraordinary concourse OF
people and the very general preparations for the
celebration which we're everYwnere noticeable.
THIS MAMMOTH PROCESSION
The great feature OF the day. OF course. was the
mammoth procession, and to get good glimpse
OF this was the chief motive or the many thou
sands assembled. The streets along the
nounced route were crowded to their iu capac-
lty many hours before the grand pageant com
menced 10 move, aud the majority Of these curl
Gus spectators held their places for from seven
10 eight hours, or un'il the whole line had passed
In their review At hundreds OF avallable points
temporary seats and platforms were erected,
vacant windows ntteI up, and the seats rented
tor fabulous sums. From $40 to s25 for good
position was not considered an extortiOnate de-
mana, aud views from housetops also rented
more TO their owners than they will be likely to
get in the way Of legitimate rents Tor the next
twelve month";. Tie hardness OF the procession
was somewhat annoying to the anxious specta-
tors, out when they saw the magnitude or the
column they wondered that the delay was so
brief
1t Is generally estimated mat the column was
about seven miles long, and It's average time In
passing q given point was about nve hours.
The route from beginning TO end was one
vast body or humanity, and the popular
ovation was just as continuous. The welcome
to the visitors from south Carolina, Maryland,
Pennsylvania and New York was everywhere OF
the most cordial and hearty description. The
spirit OF hospitality seemed as n IL was spasmodc
and contagious on every hand. The composition
and MAKE up Of the monster procession,
As IL appears subsequently, will indicate
something Of It's magnitude, but 1t is hardly
within the scope OF human Imagination TO cou-
eetve anything Of It's splendor or the magnificent
spectacle which was Transparent in every detail
and particular, and wnicn, all combined, formed
one OF the finest civic ana military pageants ever
witnessed In the world. There was President
Grant in the ine-an omission winch few noticed
ana fewer commented upon. Henry Wilson, Vice
President, was there, ana mis- presence was sig
nal for loud cheering everywhere; and the same
il also true o. General sherman, General Banks
ana General Burnside, the two latter OF
whom marched on loot the entire length
Of the line from Dartmouth street to Bunker HUI.
General Butler, as CommanderAn-ChieI OF militia,
vas very conspicuous and most OF his time was
employed In acknowledging enthusiastic cheers
wnlcu ne received from the crowds. Governor
CASTOR was also very warmly received all along
the route.
rms RoUrs.
The body formed on Dartmouth stroet and tho
route thence was az iolowsl-Coiumnus avenae,
West Chester PARK, Chester square southwest
side; washington ana Union Park streets, Unlon
PARK, southwest sdo fremont, Boylston, Wash.
tnRton, MIR Iadia Commercial and south Marxet
streets; Merchants row, state, Dov0nshre,
Waahington ard gharonfayn ctroata2 ltnatlan