The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-11
THE NATIONS CENTENNIAL
Successful Opening of the In
ternational Exhibition.
A BRILLIANT AND ORDERLY PAGEANT
The Presidents Address and Wagner's
Music the Only Failures.

was pouring for thirty-sit hours ceased just at
the right moment, leaving deep str itum OF mud
all over the grounds and the city, but sunshine
for a few hours again was all that was want
ed to make the ceremony success Inc
patriotism OF the PhIladephans and the ability
OF the Centennial Commissioners have done the
rest. The orening was "a brilliant and we'll
condu a pageant as the peculiar conditions
OF the country allow. President Grant caused
the Emperor OF Brazil and the whole diplomatic
corps to wait for him over half an hour.
Tho militia officers and soldiers used
ssbres and bayonets against the public, IA
n tn ey had to do with revolutionary mob: but
these are mere details The President made the
Emperor wait because Mr.. Theodore Thomas
was not yet through with his national airs, at the
conclusion OF which the programme had fxed
the appearance OF Gen. Grant, while the stupid
militia was to be used In the nrst place because
there was no police force strong enough TO man
age a crowd Of some hfty thousand people
spread over so large an area, and, in the second
blaoe, because the Exhibition authorities sup
posed that such display Of military would have
an ornamental effect. The last supposition was
great mistake. With one or two exceptions
the regiments here are perfect caricatures on
soldiery, and bv their costumes as we'll by their
department and dril, nt only for burlesque.
The batch OF two OF marines and OF regular in
thuNTt tuht Couiu pc mustcftu III tuo wv W
Brotherly Love elected immense applause when
they oppeared In juxtaposition with the impro-
vised Pen nsylvania warriors.
The works connected with the Exhibition n are,
upon the whole, more advanced here than they
were either ut Paris or Vienna at the time Of
the opening. and the moderate charge for ad-
mission elcits the general admiration OF the
foreigners. At Vienna the Exhibition was
opened on a wretchedly rainy day, without
being half completed, yet the charge was rs
aorins, or nearly sl2 on the first day. At the
cheap price fixed here, they argue that the
number OF people assembled ought to have been
much larger. They are surprised that some
twenty thousand persons remained outside the
gates, looking at what was going on around the
grounds. and watching chance TO get a glimpse
at the procession passing from the main build
Ing TO Machinery Hall.
Foreign Governments have done everything
TO show their cordiaty to the United States
The diplomatic corps was in full strength, ladies'
included, and, with the exception Of tho Rus
sisn embassy, were all In brilliant uniforms
kost OF the special commissioners sent out dis
played also a quantity OF embroidered attires,
crosses, medals, and all that gives prestige to
such . pageant OF the ladies accompanying
the representatives OF the foreign powers, the
greatest success was obtained undoubtedly by
the wife Of the Spanish Minister, sehor Man
tilla de los Rios. Wearing, as she did, her ma
uonai costume, the beautiful little lady
attracted crowds OF admirers around her
aud when she took for moment a
seat In the portal OF the Spanish Department OF
the main building, the throng assembled en-
tirey blocked the passage. She had only one
rival, believe, and that was Tunis woman,
tho wife Of a runis merchant who Is exhibiting
his s,ippers and shawls. The pretty African
drew lust as large crowds, and her costume.
perhaps, stil more than herself. The golden
cuffs on her ankles, those remnants OF old
chains OF slavery, were what the American
ladies' seemed 10 admire more than anything
else. II seemed TO appear to them as an ac-
ceptabie improvement on their own bracelets.
The well wishes OF the foreign nations are
shown not only In the oficial represent tion
sent out TO the Centennial; they are still more
manifest In the efforts which the foreign, and
especially the English, press has made for hav-
ing the Exhibition properly described. The best
men OF the daily press Of London have been
sent over here-men who are never disturbed
unless It be for some matters considered to be
very important. You have here Charles Austion,
tho sblest special of the London Times, j. c.
Paikinson Of the Daily Neirs, Godfrey Turner OF
she Daily Teltordlh, Prof. Davidson OF the
Standard, Milton Prior of the Illustrated London
Nsus. aud several more men Of equal reputation.
Whatever may be the pecuniary success Of the
Ex xhiOition, there can be no doubt that as mere
show the Centennial will prove bigger, more
varied, and more attractive than any one
provided some row does not break out
among the managers Of the concern. Un-
oapply there Is reason TO apprehend that
something Of that sort might occur, as a fierce
Is said TO be raging between Gen. liawey,
PRESIDENT 81 the Centennial Commission, and
hr. weoh, President Of the Centennial board
Of Finance. The two gentlemen fought also
over Ihe SUNDAY opening question, the former
beng an Cbstinae supporter Of sAooatarian reg
ulaions.
proTamme and speeches so all that need be
.e point Of the letter. TIE prayer OF
s rH'nst March eR0 Of Y"E kchad
wagner was deod failure. II was not me-
p,ssae.s, evidently not calculated for an open.
G Gh,H,a H,et,ormanGe The hymn by J. Greenleaf
eidneI Lanier and Dudley Buck gave great sat
.no,n n,scW,nn the singing aud tccompaniment being
hotnlhs cep DO saio until It Is printed, for no
eoay was s4le 10 hear a word Of IL. He read 1t
eunx " sna IN al qndertone, from a written
rho spoke very distinctly, he appeared to great
s,'aoysn So N age Three cheers were given to him
80 ~ ne tosc nut not spon ansOusly. When walk
ine about the building the President had the
nnincss oi bIazll on his arm, tue Emperor fol-
iorlns WIN Mrs. Grant.
eh horea, Dissatisfaction is felt with reference to
smo no nahner 10 which Invitations had been is
10 Obtain ssn, Nv VI ~ TO have been unable
s,u,sr. an seat on the platform, Judges Of the
cntysne Soutt were refused ad missipn n. YET the
tta'p any was crowded with low politicians, and
r"et n rnugh-l91kin friends most unceremoni-
UasY elooWed tie embroidered foreign diplo-
" Wrr,nn IN ana me suite OF the Emperor. George
NN,ngs' A. Me- arm In arm with u most dis
,i,n, i'to,e ee ohir cter, followed the procession
~ oehlhu Tie members Of the Cabinet
i,,..ea'Vll'ht On the President nd the Emperor
.tere ,ng the EXHIBITS Of the man building in
s,v u II III III merely passing through u the Machin-
hnhhoi, Tue ceremony lasted Two hours longer
fmiin, f1in m'd btsn anticpated, and the grounds and
u,p ,,ipln-s were not actually opened tothe nublic
on omu a1out j.. W. The ceremony was scarcely
IA MT fiV...s
bone. " "-"'" ""u uIoNe people
ntyunu tue numte Of visitor. doe, not increase, the
ha' ,',,ons lvT CONVEYANCE TO the grounds viii
az t.vuhH adequate. Cars and ominuses are
S,ontiulI Nid hackney Carriages numerous and
n"I"".a - 81 ,el c1frago with Two horses cos 5
i,haa g. iur IlF" 10 tho ground. ms aston
nra, SNel 3pou} on dal like this, Anl l. inter
heys hvsou ~ the ttnse that nobody Is oyersanguIne
,ann IIonv,cinlh- tne success II the exhIpitiop
A"u we chances Of making money. 'N''
No., ". 'ta. 1uialllo On the grounds arc fair and
In H. m put iAe visitors do not seem 10
iceh ~ nuVH IN Wilt. 1t Is all cufrp lea. nd
abr m11teh 1h EXCEPT IN the lover class + MI css
aehv ~ iaeel Deer huNs IA torrents lie 'hnt 4,
ns a., ai H. means oVetcrowded, and rooms can
!" o%y.s'heu % w amos lnv Of them me yi.it"rs
~ ano Gouhx were mostly forelSner. =
,trahgers from New YORK Hoston. |Sn i'vs iyo.