The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1876-01-18
From the Centennial City.
PHILADELPHIA, January 10, 1876.

! ill the mind, what thoughts suggest then'
selves and what reflections come troopiug
through the memory at every recurrence
of the anniversary Of New Year; but
with what greater force and with what
more vivid feelings are we impressed as
we pass the boundary of the ninety ninth
wear. and step across the threshold and
plant our feet within the preciuc;s Of the
one hundrcdlh year the Centennial year,
virtually the year from which our na-
tional political existence dates, and the
year that tho tocsin OF liberty first sound
cd ou Columbia's shore from the tower
Of Independence Halt Aud what u re
trospect No nation on this broad earth
can furnish su h one The pen Of his
tory has failed to sketch such picture.
or uuroll such parchment as il already
embazonod upon the escutcheon OF these
United States. Her past record is sc.
cure and her future greatness is appa
renily assured 1t was fitting that at
this great focal center a marked and
special demonstration should BE- made IN
heraljng the Centennial morn; here,
where tho throes Of q naton's travail
we're concentrated. and where the star ol
liberty first twiuklcd in the dawn Of that
morning which is now succeeded by
full orbed sun Of freedom, and where
those sainted ones that have preceded Us
pledged their lives, their fortunes and
their sacred honors in the attempt to es.
cape from Briton's rule and lay corner
stone on which should be reared super
structure Of constitutional liberty, inde'
pendence aud freedom,
Soon after nightiall, on December 3lst,
the Quaker City" was astir, all seem
ingly tending to Que common center by
eleven o'clock both street and sidewalk
were firmly compacted for long distance
in every direction from Independence
Hail. The night was overcast, damp,
and somewhat ioggy, but, by request OF
the mayor, almost tho entire city was
brilliantly Illuminated. Calcium lights
were placed on several prominent build
ings, and nearly dispersed the foggy mist
that enveloped the vast metropolis. AT
twenty minutes before twelve o'clock his
honor, the mayor, aud several other prom.
iuent gentlemen appeared on the broad
steps of independence Hall. The Rev.
DR.. Scott, of tho Arch Street PIesbyte.
rian church, stepped forward, and, with
uncovered head, offered an eloquent, pat.
riotic and fervent prayer TO the throne OF
the Most High, at the conclusion of which
Hon. Benz, Harris Brewster, an eminent
barrister of this city, delivered a brief,
but patriotic and soul stirring address
AS soon as concluded his honor, the
mayor, seized the halyagds aud pulled up
a flag that during its ascension was grad.
ually unfurlcd, until it reached the top
Of the flagstaff that was raised on the
roof of independence Hall. AS it hut-
tered in the night breeze during its ascent
thousand of hats were swung through the
air and tens Of thousands Of cheers rent
the lowering mists that enwrapped the
exciting scene, and commingled with the
inspiring strains of the band of the second
regiment, as they played the Star
SpangIed Banner. As the baud closed
all eyes were turned to the Illuminated
dial OF the clock in the belfry-but one
minute of twelve When that minute
had expired the hammer Of the big bell
arose and fell which heavy stroke indi.
Gated the exit Of the past year aud the
opening Of the Centennial year. TIE
huge bell then slowly intoned the numbers
II 76; then Is 7 g. then rapidly
struck 100 then CONTIGUOUS and rapid
peal for a half hour, during which time
bells were ruug from church steeples.
halls, engine houses, railroad stations, etc
throughout the city, and the meoiious
! chimes Of St Peters, St. Stephens and
Christ's church foalcd through the air,
} joining in the general chorus. Tho tones
: Of the identical bells in Christs church
l tower had iu the distant past often fell on
,ha oar oc tho ravaraA Waehina.nn ne he
approached that house Of prayer. Dur.
lug these Joyous manifestations the second
regiment were stationed in Independence
Square, in the rear Of the hall, and
! sslutcd the opening Centennial year by
firing by file. aud did not cease until three
) thousand rounds had been fired Never
before WAS SO much noise extemporized
? around and about that sacred aud time
honored ediice as at midnight on Deem
! bcr 81, 1875.
r Among the late incidents in town wa:
rather novel Que. A few weeks since
a the Bark Chesapeake arrived, aud was
moored at Pier No. 4, at the foot Of Arch
. street, having on board largo male
! leopard, purchased at the geological gar.
G den in Hamburg for the geological gar.
L den in this city Soon after the arrival
! of the ship one Of the hands had occasion
to 90 into the hold Of the vessel, and, tc
Il his conformation ospied the leopard cut
of his cage and lying aronud loose
L He Immediately gave tho alarm, and the
J hatches were seonred At tue alarm
u steyedores, as we'll as the loungers abou,
d the wharf, placed themselves in a safe re
treat. The vessel was then towed into
T. the middle of the Delaware, and a mum
t Der Of tugs and other craft stationed
;. themselves about the ship as a matter oI
= curiosity, and to prefer aid if needed
= Various devices were suggested to effect
h recapture Tempting pieces Of bee
0 steak were lowered into the cage, but o
! no avail. Two "da,kies" now proposed
IS to take the job for $50 The cootrac
= was Immediately closed. Their plan
v were soon laid, and soon after they ha,
|, commenced operations, as they were ma
% nipulating around, and near one Of tn,
a matches, the leopard espied them through
crack in the deck and in the twiukinl
: of an eye his eatshp sprung for the con
n trabands, aud with his huge claws tor
10 quite a strip off the plankiDg near th
II crack The colored gents beat y hast,
l. retreat, the white portion Of their eye
being unusually prominent. They re
as liuquished the JOB. Atilis juuc,ure tw
vs. lion tanners appeared on the tapis au'
[. ofarod 10 rncana tho hnnaL fnr 9 LOO hn