The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1876-07-20
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER.
PHItADEtpHIA, July 8, 1876.

AHE OPEN1NG OF THE SECOND CENTURY
OF THE BEpUBLIC-THE AssEMBbAeE
OF MAeNATEs-THE CELEBRATION
ON THE FOURTH OF JULY-SoENEs
ABOUT TowN-REPosE AMONG THE
Wonders OF THE ART GALLERY.
At last the long expected day has
come and gone, and we have reached
our hundred years. Nothing has oc-
Cured in the least to mar the gener,
al harmony of the occasion. Our
motherland, forgetfnl of the strife
and bitterness of past conflicts, sends
ono of the foremost gentlemen of
England to do us honor. Germany,
unmindful that wo are annually de-
priving her of millions of her choicest
sons and daughters, flashes her greet
ing across the sea, and bids us q
hearty God-speed. Our old time
cousin and friend, Canada, loving,
as she does, her institutions and her
Queen, nevertheless, through her
Press Association-representiug no
less the patriotism than the inielli-
gencc of the New Dominion-ioins
in cheers for the young Republic and
hoorays for Yankee Doodle. 1t is
especially gratifying that this should
be SO, and that nations representing
even the despotisms of the world re-
J dice in our success.
When | closed my last letter, it
vas on the eve OF the third Of July.
Inc whole city was in state OF
breatbl,ss cxl ectation for the night
parade which was to precede the Ger
emones Of the fourth. Towards
evening on the third the population
residing in the upper portions Of the
city and its cuvirons turned their
faces towards the scene of the process
sion. Street cars were crowded,
horses struggling for lite, conductors
swearing, hen qnarrels"me. women
screaming and scolding, till it rea ly
seemed rs il the utmost limit of hn-.
man patience lad been reached
Wagons aud carriages, of all charac--
ter6 and styles, les ooned with flowers
and dccked with gay ribbons, con
,tan'ly Aiticd by. Arriving at The
junction Of Broad and Chestnut
Streets the scene defcd description
a struggling mass of humanity chokcd
every avenue and crowded every
s'reetj policemen struggled with fate
and the crowd, and, notwithstanding
the locust and the majesty OF The
law. fate and the crowd generally
got the upper hand. by nino o'clock
the line Of tic route was all ablaze
with various colored lights, rockets
filled the air by the thousand, and
Old G!ry-illuminated by the red
glaze OF innumerable port fires
streamed out upon the night like a
star of hope to the shouting thousands
who, for the time being, were forget
ful OF everything but the approaching
completion of the nations hundred
years. In my brief space l cannot
attempt to describe the procession,
any more than to Say it was q grand
success; and as the new clock on old
Independence tower announced the
hour of twelve, which sounded like
the reqniem of the departed century,
the street in front of the hall, and for
many blocks either way, was illumi-
mated with blaze Of glory; cannon
thundred, steam whistles screamed,
people shouted, drums beat, small
arms ratified, till it really seemed as
ii the roof was gone up or the bottom
was dropped out, or something dread
iuI had happened, till finally, CONS
plctely exhausted with their own
noise, the din ceased, and peace
rrigned once more. Sleep laid his
Ieaden mace upon the eyelidS of wea-
ry thousands, and tor two or three
hours there was comparative calm.
With the first streaks of the coming
day, however, was heard the low
roar of great city waking into ac
tive, busy lie.
The street Arabs, whose liberty is
restricted through all the rest Of the
year, set off all sorts of pyrotechnic
denominations, and discharged rusty
old pistols, regardless of the clubs of
impotent policemen or the badges of
embryo detectives. 1t was, indeed,
day of glorious liberty, to indulge in
cheek and impudence, without any
Of the consequences that ordinarily
overtake these infractions of tho CODE
oWILE. The fourth was ushered in