The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1876-05-18


lfrom eurRcgular Correspondent
PHILADELPHIA, May 18th, 1875.
The deed is done. The festal da,
has como and the Centennial Exhi
bition is opened. This great pan.
Drama which is to be ut once an OK,
position of the growth during it,
first hundred years of the greatest
nation on Earth, and of the CORES.
ponding progress in art, science and
civilization of the whole world, ha.
begun its cvolutions. The ceremu.
monies and the success Of the occa.
sion were commensurate with the
Importance Of the event. 1t was a
gala day for Philadelphia, and a
proud day for the bird of freedom.
Probably such an immense con.
course of people never thronged the
streets of the city before, it being
estimated that at least 25O, 900 were
in attendance, the assembled multi
tude comprising citizens Of nearly
every country OH the globe. The
display of bunting and the flag dec
orations of the streets and buildings
exceeded anything ever witnessed
on any occasion before, lending an
inspiration of beauty, life and gay
city to the scene.
The day was ushcrcd in by the
ringing of bells, and firing of can
non, and seemed like our national
holiday-the 18th Of July. For
nearly two days previous, rain had
poured down in torrents, and the
night before was portentious of mud
and water for the opening. Yet
old Probs said it would be fair, and
people stood round the hotel lobbys
and under awnings praying that he
might be right, or at least be able
to effect all arrangement with the
clerk of the weather. But the morn
ing dawned unpropituous, and the
which had been ordered to
rendezvous at half past seven were
tardy in falling into line. An hour
later however, the clouds broke
away and old Sol came out in all
his splendor. Then the sight was
grand and beautiful. The CITY was
all tassclled and fcstooned with the
hags of every nation, which shook
off the glistening drops; and the
sound Of drums and bugles down IL
lozcn streets bctokcned the mar
of troops. 1t was nine
o'clock when the head of the line
reached the residence of Geo. w.
Childs, where the President and
cabinet took position at the head.
The military escort consisted of
iov. Hartranft, and Gov. Rice, of
Massachusetts,, with their respective
'taffs and about 5000 men in line,
'ome Of the most notable organiza-
ions being the Boston Cadets, the
Boston Lancers and the Pennsyl-
'ania State Fencibles.
From 8 o'clock till nearly the
middle ofthe afternoon, every street
ar, every stcam-car and every av-
nue. leading to the Exhibition
rounds was crowded and thrOnged
nth an eager mass of humanity,
ent upon seeing what there was to
chold. People rode the entire dis
three miles from the
Hotcl-with one foot
esting upon the platform of a street.
ar, and one hand caught somewhere |
bovc, so anxious were they to reach
he grounds. The hour for open-
lg the gates had been fixed ut 0
clock, but long before that time
nc main entrance was besicgod by
n impatient throng, which never
rev less but was constantly aug
rented till late in the day. As l
ent from ono gate to another to
illness the efforts of the eager null
tudc to gain admission, it seemed
me that the facilities for ingross
nd csress were entirely inadequate,
least for this occasion.
The exercises of the opening were
mple and digniicd. A thousand
eli in uniform, freshly organized
uddcd the landscape as police.
wo hundred and fifty jurors, whose
ipenses will be as many thousand
'llars, were upon the grand stand
aiting to begin their labors when
Q President Of the United States
oull open the Exhibition. Near
three times the number of States
iginally asserting to the sublime
subordination of independence
'rc represented by their Commits
'ners. The speeches were short
ID without indicate individuality,
ID America, Mt peace with the
'rld, produced tho martial tunes
every great nation, which were
eered without discrimination by
r multitudes. Beauty, as we'll
rank, graced the festive place.
lcre sat near her husband the
npress of Brazil and daughter of :
@ King of the Sicilies. The Pres.
ent's wife was u neighbor of the
autiful lady of the Spanish Min .
err. a Quaker poet wrote the I.
Inn of pious graduation:
Our fathers God! from ont whose hand
The ceniurirs fall like grains OF sand. 4
We met. 10 day. united. free, =
Aud hysl to our land and Thee L
The grand basso voice of Mr.. b
hitney, Of Boston, rose above the a