Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-05-19
OUR CENTENNIAL LETTER,

L successful opening of the EXpOsittOu n
| "A Gala Day An PhiladeIphIa-Lota
of Bunting and Crowds of People
The military Display and the Oere-
monies.
The deed is done. The festal day has
come and the great Centennial Exhibition
is opened. This great panorama which is
to be at once an exposition of the growth
during its first hundred years of the great
est nation on Earth, and of ttie correspond
ing progress in art, science and civilization
of the whole world, has begun its evolu-
tions. The Ceremonies and the success of
the occasion were commensurate with the
Importance Of the event. It was a gala
day for Philadelphia, and proud day for
the bird of freedom, Probably such an
immense concourse of people never throng-
ed the streets of the city before, it being
estimated that at least, 1000 were IN at
tendance, the assembled multitude com
prising citizens Of nearly every country on
the globe. The display of bunting and
the flag decorations of the streets and
buildings exceeded anything ever witnessed
on any occasion before, lending an inspira-
ton of beauty, life and gayety to the scene.
The day was ushered in by the ringing
of bells, and the firing of cannon, and
seemed like our national holiday-the 4th
of July. For nearly two days previous the
rain had poured down in torrents, and the
night before was portentous of mud and
water for the opening. Yet old Probs said
it would be fair, and the people stood
round the hotel lobbys and under the avn
ings praying that he might be right, or at
least be able to effect an arrangement with
the clerk Of the weather But the morn
ing dawned unpropitious, and the militia
ry which had been ordered to rendezvous
at half past seven were tardy in falling in
to 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 tassled
and festooned with the flags of every ma
tion, which shook of glistenning drops;
and the sounds Of drums and bugles down
dozen streets betokened the marshaling
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 Gov. Hartranft.
and Gov. Rice, Of Massachusetts. with
their respective staffs and about 5000 men
in line, some Of the most notable organiza-
tions being the Boston Cadets, the Boston
Lancers and the Pennsylvania State Fenci-
cibles.
From s o'clock. till nearly the middle Of
the afternoon, every street-car, every steam
car, and every avenue leading to the Exhi-
bition grounds was crowded and thronged
with an eager mass Of humanity, bent upon
seeing what there was to behold. People
rode the entire distance-over three miles
from the Centennial Hotel-with one foot
resting upon the platform Of street-car,
and one hand caught somewhere above
80 anxious were they to reach the grounds.
The hour for opening the gates had been
ixed at 9 o'clock, but long before that time
he main entrance was besieged by an i'm
'atient throng, which never grew less but
vas constantly augmented till late in the
law. As l went from one gate to another to
witness the efforts Of the eager multitude
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