Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-05-25

n " 1tU DoY '' l. ttoo'"O,p't1o"-
Lots of Bunting and Crowds of
people-The Military Displau and
the Ceremonies.
PHILADELPHIA, May s, 1876.
The deed is done. The festal day
has come and the Cenntenial Exhibition
is opened. This great panorama which
is to be at once an exposition of the
growth during It's first hundred years
of the greatest nation on Earth, and
of the corresponding progress in art,
science and civilization of the whole
world, has begun its evolutions. The
ceremonies and the success of the oc-
casion were commensurate with the
Importance of the event. 1t was a
gala day for Philadelphia, and proud
day for the bird of freedom. Proba
bly, such an immense concurse Of peo-
pie never thronged the streets of the
city before, it being estimated that at
least $50, 900 were in attendance, the
assembled multitude comprising citi-
zens of nearly every country on the
Globe. The display of bunting and
the flag decorations of the streets and
buildings exceeded anything ever wit
messed on any occasion before, lending
an inspiration of beauty, life and gay
ETY. to the scene.
The day was nshered IN by the ring
ing of bells, and the firing of cannon,
and seemed like our national oliday
the 4th of July. For nearly two
days previous, rain had poured down
in torrents, and the night before was
portcntious 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 pray
ing that he might be right, or at least
be able to effect an arrangement with
the clerk of the weather. But the
morning dawned unpropitious, and the
military which had been ordered to
rendezvous at half past seven were
tardy in falling inio line. An hour
later however, the clouds broke away
and old Sol came out in all his splen-
dor. Then the sight was grand and
beautiful. The city was all tasseled and
festooned with the flags Of every
nation, which shook off the glistening
drops; and the sound of drums and
bugles down a dozen streets betokened
the marshalling Of troops. 1t was
nine o'clock when the head of the line
reached the residence of Geo. W.
Childs, where the President and Cabi-
net took a position at the head. The
military escort consisted of Gov. Rice.
of Massachusetts,, with their respect
i've stats and about 5000 men in line,
some of the most notable organizations
being the Boston Cadets, the Boston
Lancers and the Pennsylvania State
Fencibles.
From s o'clock till nearly the mid
die Of the afternoon, every street-car,
every steam.car and every avenue lead
ing to the Exhibition Grounds was
crowded and thronged with an eager
mass of humanity, bent upon seeing
what there was to behold. People
rsde the entire distance-over three
miles from the Continental Hotel
with one foot resting upon the platform
of street-car, and one hand caught
somewhere above. so anxious were
they to reach the grounds. The hour
for opening the gates had been fixed at
9 o'clock, but long before that time the
main entrance was besiged by an i'm
patient throng, which never grew less
but was constantly augmented till
late in the day. As I went from one
gate to another to witness the efforts
of the eager multitude to gain admis
sion, it seemed to me that the facilities
for ingress and eyer S were entirely
inadequate, at least for this occasion.
The exercises of the opening were
simple and dignifed. A thousand
men in uniform, freshly organized,
studded the landscape as police. Two
hundred and fifty jurors, whose ex-
penses will be as many thousand dol
lars, were npon the grand stand wait
ing to begin their labors when the