The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-05-19
pnIIAnrLrn1A. MAY 16, 1876.


The deed is done, The festal day has
come and the Centennial Exhibition is open
ed. 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, aud of the corresponding progress in
art, science and civilization of the whole
world, has begun its evolutions. The cere-
monies and the success of the occasion were
with the Importance OF the
event. 1t was a gala day for Philadelphia,
and proud day for the bird of freedom.
Probably such an immense concourse OF peo-
pie never thronged the city before, it being
estimated that at least 100000 were in at
tendance, the assembled multitude compris-
ing citizens of nearly every country on the
globe. The display of bunting and the flag
decorations of the streets and buildings ex-
ceeded anything ever witnessed on any oc-
casion before, lendisg an inspiration of beau
ty, 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, rain had
poured down in torrents, and the night be-
fore was portentous 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 an arrange
ment with the clerk of the weather. But
the morning dawned unpropitious, and the
military, which had been ordered to rendez-
vous 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 tasselled and
festooned with the flags Of every nation,
which shook off the glistening drops and
the sound 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 George w.
Childs, where the President and Cabinet
Immediately took a position at the head.
The military escort consisted of Gov. Hart
ranft and Gov Rice, of Massachusetts,, with
their respective stats and about 5000 men
in line some of the most notable organiza-
tons being the Boston Cadets, the Boston
Lancers and the Pennsylvania State Fenci-
bles.
From o'clock till nearly the middle of
the afternoon. every street-car, every steam
car and every avenue leading to the Exhibi-
ton 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 Continental Hotel with one foot
resting upon the platform of a street car, and
one hand caught somewhere above so anx-
ious were they to reach the grounds. The
hour for opening the gates had been fixed at
8 clock, bu. long before that time the main
entrance was besieged by an impatient throng
which never grew less, but was constantly
augmented till late in the day. As went
from one gate to another to witness the efforts
of the eager multitude to gain admission, it
seemed to me that the facilities for ingress
and egress 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 juror, whose
expenses will be as many thousand dollars,
were upon the grand stand waiting to begin
their labors when the President of the United
States should open the Exhibition. Nearly
three times the number of States originally
asserting to the sublime insubordination OF
Independence were represented by their conf
missioners. The speeches were short and
without indelicate individuality, and Ameri-
ca, at peace with the world produced the
martial tunes of every great nation, which
were cheered without discrimination by her
multitudes. Beauty, as well as rank, graced
the festive place. There sat near her hus-
band the Empress of Brazil and daughter OF
the King of the Sicilies. The Presidents
wife was neighbor of the beautiful lady OF
the Spanish Minister. A Quaker poet wrote
the hymn of pious congratulation:
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!
The grand basso voice of Mr.. Whitney, oi
Boston, rose above the thousands of heads
producing an encore, while the tones OF
prayer from Methodist bishop fifty express.
ed the undiscouraged aspirations of the
America Of the second century. "May the
new century be better than the past. More
radiant with the light of true philosophy
warmer with the emanations of q worldwide
sympathy. May capital, genius and labor
be freed from all antagoDism by the estab'
lishment Of principles of justice and equity
One thousand voices accompanied the grea,
organ. In the interludes the military band'
| doomed over the wide enclosure where the
soldiery rested on their arms. Then there
was silent signal, and shaken out from
minaret and flagstaff along the vast profile'
of the buildings hundred banners of al
nations blew in the wind. The Exhibition
of 1876 was opened.
Descending from the great stand, tn,
President walked through the two principa
buildings on the arm of the Director General
accompanied by his guest of Brazil and hi
family, and followed by the Chief Justice, tn
President of the Senate and the Speaker 0
the House. Cannon saluted the advancin,
party, and before each nations display o
products the commissioners thereof bowed Il
the American officials. At the centre O
Machinery Hall stood the giant engine, grin
and silent, its doubled levers yoked to thu
mighty wheel which was to move all thos
miles of shaft and betting and start to lif
hundreds of machines of all descriptions, AM
thousands of spools, shuttles and spindles
The President having taken hold of tn
yalve-lever of Cne engine and the Empero
of that of the other, both gave the turn 81
multaneously. In an instant the grea