Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1876-05-17
Opening OF the Centennial Exposition.

had dispersed, and the weather was clear and
pleasant The city was crowded with visitors,
and the number of people in attendance upon
the opening ceremonies OF the Centennial
Exposition is estimated TO have been in the
neighborhood OF 10000. The streets OF the
city were all ablaze with flags, and the pa
triotic decorations were numerous and fine.
Public buildings, stores, churches, colleges,
railroad depots, parks and private residences
were literally covered with flags, banners,
statuary and devices. Flags OF all nations
were floating in the breeze, but conspicuous
above them all waved the Star Spangled
Banner.
At the Exposition grounds spacious plat
form had been erected at the side of Memorial
Hall, north of the center of the Main
Building, and seats were arranged on the
Platform for official and other invited guests
At eleven o'clock President Grant and his
party, accompanied by numerous Govern
ment officials and other prominent individ-
uals, proceededs to the platform, the Presi
dent having been escorted to the grounds by
Gov. II artranft. At the right of the center Of
the platform were seated the President Of the
United States and the members OF the Cabi-
| net, and further to the right were the seats
of United States Senators, members of the
| House OF Representatives, the Govern
ors OF the various States, with their
| stats, the Governor of Pennsylvania
and State officers, the State Supreme Court
and the Legislature, and representatives of
| the army and navy, the Smithsonian Insti-
| tute, United States Judges, officers Of the
Executive Office and the bureaus and men,
beers of the Womau's Centennial Committee.
| On the left of the center were the seats of the
| United States Supreme Court, and further to
the left the seats of members of the Diplo-
matte Corps and members of the Centennial
| Commission, the Board of Finance the
Womans Executive Committee, Foreign
Commissioners, the Mayor, Council and other
officials OF Philadelphia, Mayors of other
cities, State Centennial Boards, the Board of
Award, and along the front of the platform
| were seated the members of the press.
The orchestra of $50 pieces and chorus
of 200 voices, under the direction of Theo-
| dore Thoma. and Dudley Buck, were sta
| toned directly in front of the PLATFORM at the
side OF the Main Building.
| The platform was at once crowded, and
all the surrounding space and all the availa-
BILE points OF elevation in the neighborhood
had been already occupied by crowds of Wis
| itors.
| The orchestra, while the seats were being
| secured, played National airs, and after the
party on the platform had arranged them
selves, played Wagners Centennial March,
which was received with applause.
| After the opening prayer, by Bishop Simp-
| son, OF the Methodist Episcopal Church, and
| the singing of Whittier's Centennial Hymn,
| the presentation of the buildings took place,
the Board of Finance, with appropriate
| speeches and ceremonials, turning over the
| buildings to the Commission
The following is the Centennial Hymn sung
| ~ m oh ~.
| for the occasion by John &. Whittier:
Our fathers God from out whose hand
| The centuries fall like grains OF sand
| We meet to-day, united, free,
And loyal to our land and Thee,
To thank Thee Tor the era done,
And trust Thee for the opening one.
Here where of old, by Thy design,
The fathers spakc that word of Thine
Whose echo is the glad refrain
or rended bolt and falling chain,
To grace our festa time from all
The zones or earth our guests we call
Be with us while the New World greets
The old World throngng all it's streets
Unwilling all the triumphs
by art or toll beneath the sun;
And unlo common good ordan
This rivaiship OF hand and brain.
Thou who hast here in concord furled
The war hags OF gathered world,
Beneath our western skies fulfill
The 0rents mission of good will,
And freighted with Loves golden fleece,
Send back Its Argonauts of peace.
For art and labor met in truce,
For beauty made the bride of use
We thank Thee; but, withal, we crave
Inc anstere virtues strong TO save,
Inc honor proof to place or gold,
The manhood never bought nor sold
Oh make Thou us, through centuries long,
N 81
Around our gift of freedom draw
The safeguards of Thy righteous law;
And, cast in some divlner mold,
Let the new cycle shame the old!
Next followed the singing of Sidney Ian
ier's cantata by q full chorus, accompanied
by the orchestra. The applause OF the vast
crowd was enthusiastic, and portions OF the
music were eRcored
The presentation of the Exhibition to the
President Of the United States by President
Hawley, of the United States Commission,
then followed, President Hawley making an
| elaborate and heartily -applauded speech.
When President Grant rose to respond, he
was greeted with enthusiastic and long-co
| tinued applause. He then read his response,
as follows:
1t has been thought appropriate, upon this
Centennial occasion. 10 bring together in Phils-
delphia, for popular inspection, specimens of
our attachments in the industrial and fine arts
and IN literature, science and philosophy, as well
~ IN the great business OF agriculture, and OF
commerce, that We may more thoroughly sppre-
ciate the eXcellenccs and deficiencies of our
achievements aud also give an emphatic express
sion 70 our earnest desire TO cultivate the friend
ship of our fellow members of this great family
of nations. The enlightened agricultural. com
mercial and manufacturing people of the world
have been invited to send hther corresponding
| specimens OF their skill, to exhibit on equal
terms, in friendly competition with our own. To
this invitation they have generously res ponded
aud Tor SO doing we tender them our hearty
thanks The beauty aud utility Of the CoGtribu
tons VIII this day he submitted 70 your iuspcc-
ilnn by the Managers ot this Exhibition. Weare
glad Ia know that view of the specimens Of the
skill of all nations will afford to YOU uualloyed
pleasure Is well a yield 10 you valuable praC-
teal knowledge Of the remarkable results Of the
wonderful skill existing in enlightened commu-