American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-05-20
PHIL .DELPIIA LETTER.
Opening Ceremonies of the Grand z
position.
From our REGULAR Correspondent.

of the Grand Centennial Exhibition
was not such as to encourage yisi
tors from the neighboring cities and
States TO come on for the occasion
The hot and sultry weather of last
week was followed by cold dis
agreeable rain, which was, perhaps.
appropriate 20 the OCCASION, mas
much as it put the principal streets
as well as The ways OF the city in
"A state which, so far as slush is con-
cerned, served to remind lis of the
mud-pike of ''the early days of the
Republic but which was neverthe-
less not lnly appreciated by the
numerous visitors who had already
a,riv. d, nor by those who We're en-
route from more distant places, ana
if the streets OF the CT y were in such
u condition as to lie almost impaSs-
able, how, then, could the newly
laid out, and poorly, and but hall
paved walks in the Centennial
grounds be expected to sustain the
pressure of such throng of visitors
as was already in attendance i'll
spite of all obs. acies.
Yesterday the rain was almost
iucessan: /; yet every train that ar
rived IN the city brought hundreds
of officials and others to whom the
invitation of the Centennial Com
mission had been extended, to be
present at the opening ceremonies.
The President with family aud the
Cabinet arrived in "A special train at
noon, and the same train brought
the Emperor OF Brazil and suit G, who
occupied a special car. During tie
day the various military organiza-
tons of the country continued to ar
rive-most of them presenting a
bedraggled appearance i'll spite Oi
The large uptown hotels having been
already for several days taxed to
their utmost capacity,it was, during
the day and evening, not an untre
quent sight TO see new -comcrs-
ladies as well as wading
through the streets in the drizz.ing
rain, in quest of accommodations
Far above the multitude, from every
top story window, TIE StaT-spangled
banner was making and unsuccess
ful effort to wave them a welcome
but after a while even the flags
gave it up as a !sbad job land cur!ed
themselves up like other wet linen.
This morning we We're awakened
by the chime of the old Liberty b, |
which, in accordance wit Ii proc.a-
nation issued by the May or of the
city, was rung tor half an hour at
sunrise. 1t was expected that it
would be accompanied by all the
church bells Of the city, but it was
not, and after it had ceased ringing,
the city relapse.l once more into
silence. But this did not last long
Soon the clattel of horses hsofs was
heard vi on the principal streets
the cavalry was turning OUT. Pre-
sently the infantry and various civil
organizations were heard parad;ng;
brass-bands were making the morn
ing air lively with national music.
The grand celetr ton had CON-
mclced
a peep out of the window reveal
ed the rather unpleasant fac, that
the weather was apparently threat
ening. The sky, however, was no.
obscured by clouds but was almost
totally hidden by the millions OF
flags. which were floating il ali
As early in the morn
ing as q o'clock every conveyance
was unpleasantly crowded, while
those running in other directions
were prOportionaIely empty. BY
O'Clock the grounds were beginning
TO fill up, and long before nine tie
grand stand intended for invited
guests was crowded, and the aides
upon whom it devolved to keep
order could only with the utmost
difficulty keep tho surging crowd
within bounds. At $40 the Presi
dent with party appeared upon the
platform, their coming beng signal
led by a prolonged cheering. They
were received by General Hawley,
President of the Centennial Com
mission, who conducted them to the
seats set aside for their use. At
1910, Gen. Hawley appeared upon
the Speakers stand aid, by wav-
ing of a white silk handkerchief an
nounced the opening of the cere-
monies. The grand orchestra of
250 pei formers, under the direction
of Theodore Thomas Immediately
performing the national
airs CT all nations, commencing with
tue "WashiEgton Maj ch," which
formed the first part of the pro-
gramme. At10:30 his Majesty, the
Emperor of Brazil, made his appear
ance, followed by his staff and vari-
GUS members of foreign legations
Shortly after his arrival the well
known sound of s.Iail Columbia"
the last of the national airs, broke
upon the multitude, who answered
by three tremendous cheers. By
this time lis estimated that between
so, 600 and LOG, 600 people were upon
the grounds.
With the last strain of the music,
Gen. Hawley reappeared upon the
sta, d. formally Introducing the
of the United States. The
Grand Inauguration March, COM
posed for the occasion by Richard
Wagner, the greatest of living com
poseIs (for which he received the |
sum or $4,000, then commenced,
but unfortunately, the rustic and
hmm of voices was SO great that but |