Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-03-30
The Opening of the Exposition.
Philadelphia Letter in New York
fIiIhps

The simplicity of Republican in
stitutions will no doubt make the
opening ceremonies of the Centen-
nial Exhibition less brilliant than
those which have taken place at Lon
don, Paris and Vienna. There will
not be here, as in these cities, such
brilliant uniforms, such dazzling
aiguillettes, crachets, stars, and gar
ters, and jeweled orders. Bat the
American guests who participate will
be in themselves the best exponent
of how truly America lives up to her
principle. The holy truth that Ia
Dor is honorable with us will be ex-
emplitied by many men out of the
great list of the invited guests, that
will include all the Governors and
their stats, all the Congressman, all
the Presidents of the great colleges,
all the leading lawyers, such as
Evarts, and O'Conor, and Jeremiah
5. Black; all the famous engineers,
such as James B. Eads, Of st. Louis,
and Ericsson, of New York; all the
great journalists, the leading archi-
tects, the few great painters and
sculptors-in word, all the men
who stand at the heal of their pro
fession. The President and his staff
and the two hundred judges will be
there er oEcio. There will be few
brilliant uniforms, there will be no
diamond stars, no grand crosses nor
cor,lons, but there will be thorough
and complete illustration of the dig
nifty and lordiness of work.
The programme is in course of
preparation, and will be very simple
and devoid of much speech making.
General Hawlev, the President of
the Centennial Commission, has this
work upon his shoulders, and can be
relied upon for brevity and for effect
iveness. 1t is agreed upon that the
place where the platform shall be
erected must be midway between the
Memorial Hall and the grand north
ern entrance of the Main Hall. The
proceedings will be commenced with
chorale, for which great amateur
choir is in present practice, and there
will be a brief prayer. There will
be cantata by an American COM
poser; with bass solo for a famous
Philadelphia singer, and a march
composed by Carl Wagner for the
occasion, for which he was paid $500
will be performed by the orchestra of
Theodore Thomas. Then the -Presi-
dent of the Centennial Commission,
General Hawley, will address the
President of the United States, Gen.
Grant, in brief speech. rehearsing
the prominent facts connected with
the occasion, and will engage him to
formally open the buildings. The
President, who, like General Hawley,
can be relied on for being brief and
effective, will reply, and then, taking
the arm of the President of the Cen
tennial, they will descend the plat
form, followed by the guests, and en-
ter the main building. They will
pass half way down to the eastern
end, recognizing France and the
United States, which occupy that
quarter, and then, retracing their
steps, will traverse the nave to the
western end, and emerging at that
point will cross the flowers and as
phalt of the intervening square and |
enter the Machinery Hall, where the
official part of the business will termi- r
nate. The cortege will then disband
itself, and each individual will be at
liberty to follow his own bent and
90 whcresoever he chooses. The can
non and other firearms will be dis
at the moment that the
President leaves the platform, and