, 1876-07-03

tEhIENAlAL FESTIVITIES YESTERDAY.
A three days Centennial festival commenced
at Wright's Grove yesterday, under the auspicc:
Of the Chicago Turngcmcindc. It looked like
rain In the morning, and during the afternoon
the clouds came up, all Of which initiated
against as large an assemblage as the exercises
deserved. The music was excellent, and the
platform provided for dancing was comfortably
filed during the afternoon. There were proba-
bly, GOO or 700 people at the Grove during the
day, but in tho evening the number swelled to
nearly 1000.
The afternoon was devoted to the light fan
tastic1 and concerts, aud promcnadcs through
the Grove. ootingg-egallcrles abounled; the
wheel Of fortune bnzzed its invitation, and u
dozen more devices for the encouragement Of
| enjoyment were on hand. The Singing Club
was there, and marched through the
grounds caroling glccs. The trees were
decorated with German and American
flags. and huge sentincl5 painted on canvas and
dressed in tic Continental costume Of 177D
mounted guard over the beer stands scattered
up to the top notch Of enjoyment, and when in
tho evening the display Of fireworks was an
nounccl, tic crowd grew wild with excitement
as they lodged the sparks and shouted in admi-
ration at tue ambitious sky-rockct; ,r
The festivities lasted until midnight The
grove Was illuminated, and the dancing-dour
crowded
To-day the features will be the prize gy1n-
nastics by the pupils, and grand concert in
the evening. Tomorrow the festival will cul-
r1inatc in grand Fourth of July celebration, EN-
bracing parade, speeches BY the Hon. Bob In
gcrsoll, and the Hon. Emil Rothe, OF Cincinnati.
Johnny Hands Centennial Band has been en-
gagged, and during the afternoon the balloon
ceremonies and a very reliable anchor rope In
the evening the Groye will be illuminated, and
more than ordinarily fine display Of tirew orks
presented.
AT oGDES's GROVE.
Over 4 thousand people came together at
Ogdcn's Grove on Clybourn avenue yesterday
afternoon. The occasion was grand midsunl-
,ncr festival, given by the Hanoycrian Relief
Society in aid Of the German Relief Society
Several other organizations Joined i'll the enter
formed at Clark and Michigan streets, under tls
command of Conrad Fo!z. The column march,;
cd up Clark to Division, along Division to Wells:
through Wells to North avenue, and west o.!
North avenue to the Grove, whe1e it arrived at
1880: large number Of e7@ursionists had
already assembled, but, as the afternoon wore
on, Icsh acccssions poured i'll until the Grove
WIS we'll filed 4 platform l,:l been erected
for the speakers and the band, and close by
another he'd bscn laid down for tue dancers.
Consul, opened the entertainment in brief
speech Of welcome, delivered in German, and
Of which the following is Translation:
Ladies and gentlemen, l hare the honor to vel
come you in The name OF the German Relief and
the uanovezian Relief Society. IN fulfilling my
duty Us Chairman OF the Committee, must tell
you don't saInte ypu alone in the names OF all the
Germans Of this their adopted country That the
members Of the Hanovcrian Society belong to the
Germans Is testified in their arrangement Of this
entertainment for the German Relief Society.
They a!so showed it in the war OF 1S71.
Welcoming you once more, I hope the festival
will end in harmony, aud hereby declare the fes-
tiral open.
M7. francis A. Hoffman, Jr., also made an ex-
celleut speech which was hcartily applauded.
There were dancing, and music, Instrumental
The afternoon was pleasantly passed, in the
orthodox picnic way, now and then ealivcned by
some very tine rrapczc performances By nenl-
bers of the organizations Fireworks lighted up
the evening, and at midnight the festivities
were over.