The New York herald., 1876-02-23
THE CELEBRATIoN ELsEwHERE.


THE MOST BRILLIANT CELEBRATION EvEL
KNOWN IN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Pa
RADEs, DECORATIONS, MLUMINATIoNs-THs
VETERANS OF 1912.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. %, 1915
Never has Philadelphia known a more joyous holiday
IN all her history Never has washlngtohs Birthday
been celebrated with such general rejoicing and bril-
liant display. Workshops, Offices and stores have
been closed all day, one has thought OF toll busi
ness and the whole city with one mind TO
have given itself up to merrymaking and sightseeing.
The weather has been unprecedentedly and
pleasant for the season, aud the down town
streets have been thronged all day with jolly
good natured crowd, whose faces seemed to reaec
the warmth aud brightness Of the sunshne
1t has truly been centennial celebration, exceeding
in bnlliancy and fervor any preceding anniversary
Jubilee ever known in this city In 1882 the centennial
anniversary OF washingtons birth was ceebratedi b9
even then the display did not compare with that OF to-
day. The display OF flags and bunting has been some-
thing remarkable and has not been confined TO the
business streets down town. Even the smaller dwell
ings IN the suburbs ana all over town have been dec
Grated with flags and It the exception not TO md
patriotic emblems of some kind every house in .
block, however humble and modest Chestnut street
fairly bristled with obtrusve patriotism. The
pression may be considered allowable from
the fact that so numerous were the flag
poles projecting from doorways windows, avn
ing posts and signooards that one ran som,
risk Of implement unless he kept his weather eve
Open The decorations Chestnut street were spirited
and gay Every building sPorted flags, streamers OF
banners and some were almost covered from ton TO
bottom with the bunting that fell from every window
striking OF the iesta display that tho
first time in history, probably me nags OF all nations
peculiar richness OF color and variety to the scene. II
not usual the Stars and Stripes alone that oatec
from thousands OF fagstafs. The familiar beauty
our national standard almost lost amid the colors
the nations OF the world. 1t was a recognition OF the
fact that our country extends welcoming hand TO her
sister nationalites and in this centennial year invites
them to share in her patriotic rejoicing
The official programme for the celebration OF the day
was carried out as announced In yesterday HERALD
Tho Keystone Battery fired salute at SUNRISE and al
all the naval stations salutes were red at sunrise moon
and a last salute at sunset An immense flag was
raised Third and Dickinson streets, on the occasion
OF which a salute OF thirty seven guns was fred
The camps OF the Patriotic Order OF Sons OF America
located in Philadelphia united in celebration consist
ing of q literary and musical entertainment at Handel
and Haydn Hall, Eighth and Spring Garden streets
The new hall OF the Order Sixth street above Spring
Garden beautifully ltted up and handsomely decorated
opened during the day for the inspection OF vsi-
tors.
The Veteran Corps First Regiment, P. n. G., under
the command of Colonel Charles ;. smith, celebrated
the day with imposing street parade, accompanied
by the First Regiment T. n. g.. Colonel X. Dale Ben
commanding, and the officers OF the FIRST Division
This command acted escort to HIS Exccllcncy
MAJOR General John +. Hartranft, Governor OF Penn
sylvania and stan, and the commissioned officers OF
the FIRST ID vision, ~ c., of Pennsylvania, and aftei
the parade proceeded Concert Hall. whore in addt
ers, address delivered by Adjutant Genera
Latta.
the day IN appropriate manner BY invitation, the
Weccacoe Legion joined them In escorting Company r.
OF Beverley Captain Eckendorf, commanding. Both
Company + and the Legion were the guests OF th,
Greys this evening ut banquet, given at the armory
on Iardncr street, at which also Governor HartranL
Adjutant General Latta Major General Bankson, Gen
erals Muirhead and Thayer were present
VETERANS OF lSl2
A meeting OF the veterans OF the war or lSl2 WA
held nj he House. ClcStnu
Streets eleven O'Clock this morning The venerable
President Peter Hay, occupied tho char, and Mr.
called to order by the chaplain, Rev. Dr. H. Palethorp
Hay who offered prayer.
The annual address was then delivered by the Pres.
dent, who spoke as iollows:-
GESrLEMsx-Again with pleasure do greet you
We assemble here to celebrate with due honors tha
natal day the great chieain of that Revolution which
gave birth to the nation whose ten decades OF years
have been marked by continued increase In growth and
strength that in the Centennial 1t vie in glory
and ability with the Oldest OF the nations or the might
lest George Washington, whether we consider him az
the private citizen pure in morals, upright in conduct,
military officer, sharing with his soldiers the
tolls and hardships in their saddes days, and leading
his troops victory his knees before the God OF
battles, pleading Tor his country-George Washington
stands first war; first in peace and first in the hearts
OF his countrymen. model character alike for the
private citizen, the military leader, or tho occupant
| OF the Presidential chair. l can recall the feel
| ings which stirred in my own heart whom
Commodore John p Bcresord with his forcei
blockadcd the Delaware, cutting OF the com
| merce OF Philadelphia threatening Lewistown and
New Castle with destruction, and the alacrty with
| which companies, the Independent Blues. com
| manded by Captain Mitchell, and the Philadelphia
Junior Artlerists commanded by Captain j. H. Fislcr,
now OF Vice Presidents volunteered their serv
ice, and stationed for short period al Fort
Mlin OF the Independent Blues not one remains
alive at this day, and OF tho JUNIOR Artillerists but
three, Jacob H. Fisler Gabriel Kern and myself
The committee who were appointed at n previous
meeting consult with Director General Goshorn rel
alive the Centennial Exhibition reported that they
ha had a conference with that gentleman, who stated
! that arrangements would be made by which suitable
place would be assigned to the Veterans on the opening
| OF the Exhibition.
After adopting a tribute 10 the memory Of the
late Colonel John X Murphy, the veterans adjourned
to tho ST Cloud Hotel to participate in their annual
dinner
other demonstrations were held by civic societies
and military organizations and in the evening lndc
pendencc Hail. the public buildings generally, club
houses hotels and thousands OF private houses
! were illuminated brilliantly.