Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1876-05-19
PHILADELPHIA A LETTER.
Opening Ceremonies OF the Grand
Exposition.
IFrom Our Re ynlar Correspond ent
1nkE 1S7n

| days preceding the opening OF I'll
Grand Centennial Exhibition was Nc
such as to encourage visitors from til
neighboring cities and States to com
on for the occasion. The hot an
sultry weather of last week was fol
lowed by a cold 1isagreeable rail-
which was, perhaps, appropriate to th
occasion, inasmuch as it put the priI
! clpal thOrOughfares as well as the by
ways of the city IN a state which, S
| far as slush is concerned, served to re
mind of the mud pixies of "the earl
| days of the public" but which wa
| DeyeI theless not daily appreciated b
! the numerous visitors who had alread
arrived, nor by those who were e
route from more distant places. An,
If the streets OF the city were in sue
| a condition as to be almost I'M passable
how, then, could the newly iaiG on
and poorly and but half paved walk
in the Centennial grounds ne expected
to sustain the pressure Of such throny
of visitors as was already IN attendance
in spite of all obstacles?
Yesterday the lain was almost i'll
cessaut, yet every train that arrived
IL the city brought hundreds of OF
fciais and others to whom the invita-
ton of the Centennial Commission haC
heen extended, to be present at the
opening ceremonies. The Presiden
with family aud the cabinet arrived il
special train at noon, and the same
train brought the Emperor of Brazil
and suite, who occupied special car
During the day the various military or.
CARNATIONS of the country continued tc
arrive-most of them presenting a be-
draggled appearance IN spite of brass
bands and new uniforms. The large
uptown hotels having been already
for several days taxed to their utmost
capacity, it was, during the day and
evening not unfrequent sight to see
new comers-ladies as we'll as gentle :
men-wading through the streets in
the driZzling rain, III quest OF accom-
modations. Far above the multitude,
from every top story window, the star
spangled banner was making an unsuC-
cessful effort to wave them welcome;
but after a while even the flags gave it
up as ''bad Job" and curIed them
selves up like other wet linen.
This morning we were awakened by
the chime of the old liberty bell, which
in accordance with a procla nation
ruug for half an hour at sunrise. 1t
was expected that if would be accom-
panied by all the church bells of the
city but 1T was not, and after it had
ceased ringing the city relapsed once
more into silence. But this did not
last long. Soon the clatter of horses
hoofs was heard upon the principal
streets; the cavalry was turning out.
Presently the infantry, and various
civil organizations were heard parad
ing; brass bands we're making the
morning air lively with music. The
grand celebration had commenced!
A peep out of the window revealed
the rather unpleasant fact that t1e
weather was apparently threatening.
The sky, however, was not obscured
by clouds but was almost totally hid
den by the millions Of flags, which
were floating in all directions. AS
early in the morning as SIX O'Clock,
every conveyance running toward the
was unpleasantly crowded,
while those running in other dlrec-
tions were proportlOnately empty. BY
seven o'clock the grounds were begin
ing to fill up; and long before nine
IT, grand stand intended for invited
gusts was crowded, and the aids upon
whoa it devolved to keep order could
with the utmost difficulty keep the
surgltr crowd within bounds. At forty
minute past nine the President with
party appeared upon the platform, their
coming being signalled by prolonged
cheering. They were received by
Gen. Hwley, President of the Centen-
mai Commission, who conducted them
to the seats Sc aside for their use. + :
10 minutes alto 10 clock, Gen. Hay.-
ley appeared up,n the speakers stand
and, by the wavng of a white silk
handkerchief, anL1unced the opening
of the ceremonies. The grand or
chestra of go performers, under the
direction of TheOdoreThomas imme-
diateIy commenced Performing the
national airs of all nati,Ds. commerce
ing with the Washington March, which
formed the first part # the pro-
yramme. At half past ten ais Majesty.
the Emperor of Brazil, mate his ap-
pearance, followed 10y his staff and
various members of foreign legations.
Shortly after his arrival the well known
sound of Hail Columbia, the asst of
the national airs, broke upon the mul-
titude, who answered by three tre-
mendous che ers. By this time il is
estimated that between $4,000 and
100, 900 people were upon the grounds.
With the last strain of the music,
Gen. HawIey reappeared upon the
stand, formally Introducing the Presi-
dent of the United States. The Grand
Inauguration March, composed for the
occasion by Richard Wagner, the
greatest of living composers (for which
he received the sum. .OfkS5, ,O00 from the
WOmen's Centennial Committee) then
commenced, but unfortunately the
rustic and hum Of voices was 50 great
that but little OF the music could be
heard.
Prayer, by the Rt. Rev. Bishop
Simpson, followed next. it being sue
ceeded by the hymn by John Green
leaf Whittier, sung by chorus of 900
voices, accompanied by the Grand Or
chestra and the organ in the Main
Building. The buildings were then
formally presented to :he Centennial
Commission by John Welsh. Chairman
of the Centennial Board of Finance,
and then followed tho grabdest and
most Impressive part of tie ceremo-
MES, namely, the Grand Cantata, writ
ten by Sidney Lanier of Geargia, to
music by Dudley Buck of Connecticut,
the basso solo beng performed by
Myron w. Whitney of Boston Words
cannot describe the effect of this
grand masterwork. The multitude
which had heretofore been noisy and
demonstrative, gradually s;.bsided int }
a silence which was most impressive
and made it possible to hear every
note of the magnificent music. When
Whitney performed his solo in his
clear. deep, powerful voice, one might
have heard pin fall, and the moment
the last ound escaped his lips tre-
mendrous applause burst from the
audience, never ceasing until he re-
peated his part.
When the sounds OF the cantata had
died away President Hawley arose and
presented the exhibition to the Presi-
dent of the United States, who made
a short address, formally declaring
the exhibition to be open to
the world. General Hawley then
gave the signal for urfurling the
flag upon the Main Exhibition Build
ing, which was done amidst the peal
ing of cannon, Ginning of bells,