New-York tribune., 1876-09-29
PENNSYLVANIA DAY.
NETWORK OUTDONE.
OVER 100000 PEOPLE AT THE EXHIBrTIoN-sPLEN-
DID ORDER nRSERYRD-THE EXERCISEs.


proud of the events it commentaries proud OF her
achievements in the last hundred years, and proud
of the manner ia which she has celebrated them
One hundred years ago to-day, one of the darkest
periods in the Revolutionary struggle the Keystone
State adopted its first Constitution. To-day a
greater number of the sons and daughters OF the
Commonwealth than then dwelt between the Della
ware and Ohio Rivers gathered nFairmount Park TO
exchange congratulations and celebrate atthe same
time the events of the past and the splendid success
Of the Great Exhibition to which Pennsylvania has
contributed so largely. Residents of other States
who hold celebrations this Autumn in the Centen-
nal grounds, and have competed with friendly
rivalry in sending to the Exhibition thousands Of
their sons will not begrudge Pennsylvania her tri-
umph. Great as the capacity of railroads and
steamboat lines s and wonderful have been their
achievements the means of transportation do not
exist this or any other country TO carry more than
100000 persons to a common center in one day un-
less the majority of them live in its immediate ycin-
ty; and it would be impossible for any other State
to outdo Pennsylvania who is on the ground in this
respect if she only laid herself out" as she was
sure to do on this occasion.
The weather has been delightful A crisp Autumn
air neither too hot too cold for comfort made IL
an actual pleasure to spend the day out OF doors.
The gates 20 the Centennial Grounds were opened
an hour earlier in order to prevent crowds from ac-
cumulating about the entrances, and at o'clock
the grounds appeared to be as full OF people as
during the afternoon of any previous day this week.
At that hour long trains were constantly arriving
over the steam railroads, the place Of each at the
stations being filed by later one as soon as its
living freight could be discharged. long process
sion of street ears following each other so closely
that the horses noses Of each car generally rubbed
H., ..rip mn
the rear platform of the preceding one stretched by
several apparently to the very heart OF the
city. Everything about the gates moved like clock
work, aud those who had the little slip OF paper or
bit of metal, which is the open sesame, passed into
the grounds without delay.
Soon after o'clock Gov. Hartranft escorted by
the veteran corps Of the 1st Regiment of Peunsyl-
yania Infantry entered the grounds, and passing
around Machinery Hall went at once to the Pennsyl-
yania State Building which is beautifully situated
on the banks of the lake. An immense crowd oil
people followed and there the customary cheer
ing and applause equally hearty with that gwen
Gov. Tldcn when he appeared at the New-fOrk
Building last week. About the same time numerous
city ORGANIZATIONS Odd Fellows, schools, employees
of large manufactures, &c, entered, many OF them
accompanied with music, and marched through the
main avenues in the Exhibition grounds before they
were dismissed.
The Exhibition buildings filed up very soon after
the gates were open, and sightseeing in them
during the remainder Of the day was almost impos-
sbIe. The crowds then flowed over into the grounds
first filling the avenues and paths and then encroach-
ing even upon the grass-plos in spite of the police
men, who finally relinquishcd their efforts to pre-
serve the greensward.
Judges Hall was filled soon after 10 o'clock, but
the exercises there did not begin until nearly an
hour later Gov. Hartranft the President Of the
Centennial Commission, the orator of the day.
ex-Goyernors of the State, United States
Senators, city officials, and other distn-
guished persons were escorted from the
Pennsylvania Building by the Veteran Corps,
Morton McMchae called the meeting to order, and
Gov Hartranft presided. In his short Introductory
speech ne referred briefly to che history OF Pensyf-
yania during the past hundred years. He was fol-
lowed by Gen. HawlCy, the burden Of whose speech
was to accord to Pennsylvania aud Philadelphia the
honor due them for what they have done TO make
the great Exhibition success. Gen. Hawley did
not detfact from what the people Of other States
have contributed, but for this State and city he
claimed what will universally be accorded them, the
credit of having carried the enterprise forward in
the DAYS when il was not rs popular as it now is.
The Hon. b. II. Brewster, the orator of the day,
touched briefly on the most shining points OF the
history of Pennsylvania, introducing just enough
statistics 10 make what he said forcible and not
enough to make il bewildering. lt was delivered in
pleasing style, and was singularly appropriate for
the occasion. Short speeches were afteFward made
by sey era OF the exGoyernors of the State, and by
the Senators.
In the afternoon Gov. Hartranft held public re-
ception at the Pennsylvania Headquarters, Mayor
Stokely at the Philadelphia Building and the lady
managers of the Women's Department at the Judges
Pavilion. Each Of these places was thronged during
the whole time and thousands were unable to gain
admission. In the evening the display of fireworks
ON Georges Hill. visible from the Centennial
grounds the illumination OF the Exhibition build
ngs, and the other entertainments were very sue
ceSsful.
he wonderfully good order that everywhere
preserved in Paramount Park this afternoon is one
Of the most remarkable features OF the day Two
hundred thousand people ard more gathered To-
gcther, jOstng and crOwdng each other, struggling
each others shoulders vain efforts 90 the more
interesting exhibits weary to the last degree, ready
to drop upon the pavement with tntgue, ana uh-
able to find an opportunity to 81 down. could not
have shown more pOitencss and i0IDcarance. Row
dyism has been unknown, drunkenness is not seen,
and the police have had comparatively little TO do
except TO politely the questions OF strangers
The foreign gentlemen who expressed surprise at
the absence of peasantry cannot have failed To be
impressed with the fact that our people are also gen
tlenIen aud ladies. These remarks do not apply
alone to the crowds who have thrOnged Paramount
Park to-day, but were equally true on NeW-fOrk
Day. and on every other day when q large crowd
has been present. The arrangements IN every de-
partment have been excellent to-day. Everybody
has been as comfortable as it would he possible to
be in so great crowd aud " PennsylYanla Day
has been the most successful IN the hsIory Oh hef-
national exhibitions.