Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1876-05-13
THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION.
Splendid Opening Ceremonies.--One
Hundred Thousand Persons Pres

! Especial Correspondence Of he Baltimore San
PHILADELPHIA, May 10, 1876.
Philadelphia to-day enjoyed lifelong looked
for opening of the Centennial Exposition,
which is to celebrate with display of the
worlds works Of peace the one hundredth an
niyersary Of American independence. 1t was
a glorious. bright sunshiny day until after all
the formalties of the Inauguration had ended
Fully three fourths of th houses in the city
were decorated with numerous flags OF all ma
iions in honor of the International event. The
perspective Of some of the cl ief thoroughiaTes
showed nothing but conver-ing lines of colors
above, hiding the houses, aud dark conveTgins
lines of people in multtudes thronging the
sidewalks below.
Before o'clock every approach to the ex-
position grounds in Fairmount Park was
thronged. Steam cars on the Reading and
PENNSYLVANIA lines, the numerous street car
routes, tie ferry across the Schuylkill. and
thousands Of carriages conveyed vast crowds
of visitors to the one central point Of interest.
Faitmount Park and the exhibition grounds
appeared lovely in the fresh green OF May and
the clear atmosphere of the beautiful morning
The platform for participants in the cere-
monies Of the day was erected in front OF Me-
mortal Hall. The stand was very large, with
wings on both sides shooting out at angles.
Before ten o'clock great congregation OF
foreign ambassadors and ministers, members
of Congress, Governors Of States aud their
stats. centennial commissioners wearing their
badges Of Office, army and naval officers, la
dies foreign commissioners, &c. were crowded
together on the grand stand The collection
] 8 lr.rt n
ments of the world, and many colonies, besides
the chief officers Of the American Union aud
Of many of tie States thereof, formed an as
senbla.e such Us has never been cqualed IN this
country before The members Of the diplO-
matte carps were in o.5cial unliorm- Many
of the fireisn commissioners were a $50 in uni
form. and there wasa glitteriug array OF army
navy aud staI uul1rns The diplomats
were Respondent in gold lace; the bullion ep-
auletes Of the staff officers and their gold cor
dace were brilliant Cooked bats aud golden
tassels we're Tot the exception, but the rule
The japanese officials came out in drab
brooches. gold-breastel tail-coats and cooked
hats. Turkish Beys wore the red fez, mill
tary frock coats, gold striped bfeeches and
curved saLreS. Egyptian officers were some
what similarly uniformed. The representa-
tives of the Latin race, including French,
Spanish, Purtugese, South Americans, MCxi-
cans aud Cubaus were quite rs numerous as
the blonde Caueassians. Among the OrientalS,
japanese Egyptians and Turks were most
numerous. Fred Douglas was the conspicu-
ous representative of the American citizen of
African descent. He found some difficulty in
making his way to the platform, aud had to
be helped over the ropes in working lis way
through the crowd, having arrived late. His
sudden appearance in semi-smaSAed state
created some amusement. When he took bis
seat he was greeted with cheers.
There was also on the platform galaxy OF
ladies, many eff them the families of foreign
ministers aud commissioners, and some Of the
japanese were the happy escorts of beautiful
blonde American women. Some of the Euro
pean ladies were imperial looking women,
notably fair. haired Spanish lady, who pos
sesscd the commanding presence Of royalty.
The grand platform with its numerous dis
tnctive national representatives, comprising
upwards of three thousand individuals, fur
nishod ample material for observation, but as
the morning hours wore away attention was
diverted from them to the steadily Increasing
multitude Of American citizens gathering in
, that in front of Memorial Hall This space
comprising upwards of thirty acres of ground
was packed with people just as closely as II
was possible to get human beings TO stand
The two colossal winged horses that stand on
granite pedestals to the right and left hand
} in front of Memorial Hall, were alive with
men, who had clambered up not only under
the bellies Of the brOnzes, but had in fact
mounted Pegasus and sat between the out
+ stretched wings. One free American citizen
{ was perched on tie head of one of the winged
horses with an umbrella hoiSted for protection
against the SUM- rays.
1t is estimated that fully 10000 people en-
tered the grounds during the day, and it is
probably uot an over estimate.
The formal speaking Of the occasion was
BY Mr. John Welsh, of Philadelphia, prcsi-
dent If the centennial board Of finance, who
presented the buildings to the United States
centennial commission by Gen. Joseph Il.
r IIawlcy, president of the United States centen-
NAL commission, who in turn made toe pre-
seuta;ion to Il e President Of the United States,
and by Gen. Grant, who proclaimed the open
: ing Of the International Exhibition of lS1G.-
Gen. IIawlcy was the only speaker who could
be leard lie was frequently appauded.-
President Grant read bis speech, the longest he
ever delivered. in tone Of voice so low that
he could not be heard three feet of. He read
as rapidly as If be were saying his prayers.
At signal from Gen Hawley, the orches-
ira played the centennial Inauguration march,
composed by Richard Wagner, aud was APP
plauJed. Bishop Simpson Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. made the opening prayer,
which could not be heard many feet from the
platform or even on the stand a few rows back
from the front. Then came the hymn Of
Whittier, The Good Gray Poet Of New Eng
AND" The music Of the hymn Is by John
X. Payne. of Massachusetts It is n stately
air and was sung 10y the great chorus in fiue
accord aud admirable time, accompanied by
orchestra and 40 organ.
The music throughout the programme was
tbp great feature nd 'he day
The occurrence ia Machinery Hall formed the
most interesting events oi The day. hen at half
past o'clock o. e.iIaat Grant ard Dom Pedro
started the motive power vl that hall At a sig
nal from G,u. i.4E. J1a Pr.sid mt and Emperor
each seized q cla.k opening the valves and turned
them several times. AZ once r sound which gave
to the people the understanding that the engine
was about to move, then The monstrous seventy
ton fy-wheel began slowly moving, increasing
gradually in rapidity until it was travelling at its
fall speed. Gen. Hawiey started the " hurrah"
which was taken up by the surrounding multitude.
The deaiening cheers Travelled through the build
ing aud as all the wheels began moving, the ring
ing OF the b., and other dem onstrati0ns told to
the world that the centennial exhibition was fair
ly opened.