Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-07-21
Centennial First IMPRESSIONS.

Centennial First Impressions.
Correspondence OF the a., K odlla Gazette.
PHILADELPHIA, July ~ -Standiug aoue
for the first time WITHIN the VesliUule of this
charming hall, auid the manifestations of
civilization that bad it's dawn amoog the mists
Of hosry antiquity, aud which his run down
athwart the ages in diverse streams uutll now;
amid all this pompuus 81 mLoIism of man; amli
this bewllderlng array OF the operations OF bis
hands, as embodied in Oriental, medieval and
modero device; amid this motley grouping of
The kindreds and tongues aud people; amid all
this, sentiment AKIN to that august exordium
10 which Feuelon began the funeral GRAFTON
over the remains of the graud monarque, will
eoho 10 the heart of the mute beholder, There
is nothing great but God; there is nothing sol,
emo but etei nity." 1t Was an universal in
stinct that prompted The toIm Il ioauguraticn
of our lands great assize upon itself with
| Gloria 10 Excelsis For just as the hidden
springs Of all human thought have their ult
mate source 10 the fountain OF mystery, SO does
| the elimination OF man's powers and achieve
ment find its EXPRESSION 10 au anthem. Asy0u
gaze down this Immense hall, as far as the eyr
may scan, you descry, floating above all TINS
magnificent museum, great banners that seem
to watt to you the mystic outlines of an Did pri.
meval tae-the almost etfaced Legend Of the
Persia" "Japau," "Cbua." "Sweedeu,'
prussia" "Frapce," Austria" Great
Britain" Ireland, aod the "Uoited States. -
And as you 0ger on the spot with tremuous
yet exultant emotion, the thuuderous rythm OF
the great organ sweeps dowo the Thousand
aisles, subduiug, Christening, filling all. These
are my first impressions of the Centennial, and
| have none other now. chose to iudug
this puslDg and to come away with it's bar
mony untouched. Presently shall begin "
study in detail, and If | snail be so Fortunate as
to afford to the readers of the Gazette couu-
terteit presentment OF my consecutive expert
ences shall be mJst gratifed. My almost r-
resstible fascination will be to turn aside aud
watch the people. l shall want to follow the
mercurial Frenchnsn from his bazaar Of Vertu
and of pride and TO hear him chaut his charac.
terstc philosophy 10 cafe, or TO pursue the
sa,uruine German from his COZ quests aod his
Ksiscrs and laugh at him burt out over his
lager:
''Uf you Wish to got unjayment
! Uut blenty of goot fresh air
just 70 down init der coDndry
Ven der soommtr time var dere.
Or again yet to linger over the mcihuous
patojs of i,in If Tuscany or TlvoIi:
II love the language, that soft bastard latin
That melts lika kisses from a female mouth
With syables which should be writ on satin,
That breathe in accents Of the sunny South.
| came here to eujny tins presentation, aud
| shall unatfectedy do it. | despse the faSti-
dious hyDercrlticsm Of the Atlantic Monthly,
which, like its prototype, who stood on Liba-
nus anu told Noah to drive on his machue,
the shower Was nt even 6rst-clasa. | have
heard but the expression of one sentiment
here-that the exhibits were exceptionally
credItable. 1t is Indeed gathering Of the
clans uuvitiated by igDobie sentiment. Any
display in this angus, coocIaye OF local or par
tisau preposs3sSlou were as narrow as IL were
unworthy. As time stands forth amaiu and
waves his sceptre over these, bis children,
vouchsafug blessing unto all, let 90 one OBJ
trude the impertinent soleclsu, who is great
estp Let 90 one mar hIsprcsencc; let 90 one
break the heart Of this immemorial vsiiaDt
let 20 vain regret write against itself
lyon eagle towering 10 his pride OF place
Was by a housing owl hawked at and slain. y
| could with fitting emphasis enlarge upon
the figure, for the feet OF him here are like
those Of him who bears the glass and scythe.
He is buried Onward, onward. The impress
sions of to-day are eHaced by those of the NOR
row, aud perchance he sollt' qulses regretiul'y,
"On YeStreen $ grave the grass IS growing,
Good Lord the world ways on apace.'
MIR. Webster 90 one occasion, to give effect
to the extent Of our domain, used the figure :
1.-The path Of the huoter lay across mighty
MOUNTAINS shall utilize the spirit Of the
metaphor in trying to illustrate the spread Of
the vast enclosure, 10 observing that the pant
ing locomotive with its peopcd train stratus
it's ceaseless rounds amid the shadows OF coios
sal structures. Good for our country! Hail
0 Hesperus It's az inspiritiDg sight to De-
hvd great republic stripped like au athlete
upon the stadium, spring forward for the race
that shall know 40 pause for yet a hundred
years And when another century shall have
Waned; when we who usher in IT'S moon shall
have laid aside our mortality ike vestment
that fadeth, and when those who shall write
their superscription upon the coming on OF
time snail have laid them down to sleep. may
their requiem be that Of Washington and
franklin, Of Otis aud Mason,
The good kolghts are dust
And their swords are rust
And their souls are with the saints we trust. -
A. S. NJ.
Receivership of the Midland Rail-
road.
The Valley Firginian, 10 commenting upon
the late appointment of Mr.. j. S. Barbour to
the recevership of the Midland Railroad.
says: This action Of Judge Keith was emi-
Dently proper, and insures the faithful, efficient
aud economical administration of the affairs of
the improvement. Mr. Barbour is oue of the
most sagaclous aud prudent railroad men in