New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-24
CENTENNIAL SKETCHES.
BY cHR1sroPmER cRAYon.

The opening day OF the exposition has
come and gone, leaving nothing but pleas.
ant memories behind. OF weather We had
several varieties-sunshine after rain, snd
rain after sunshine. Unfortunately the rain
fell in the evening of the great day, and
drsggled skirts and very tired looking flags
told their own melancholy tale; but during
the day "all went merry as marriage
bell" and, indeed, thoughts and words and
deeds, banners and emblems, all indicated
"Union." Flags of all nations might be
seen somewhere, but the 'stars and stripes"
were everywhere. They floated from win
dows and tops of houses; were woven into
festoons and futtered from trees: we're
formed into arches OF triumph, and made
solemn mules seem lively ~ kids. This
universal Haunting may have been the cause
why burly Englishman, strong in his be-
liefs and traditions, cried ont that after all
the American flag was not
The battle and the breeze"
To this Methodist pars0n, with . gift
for tagging rhymes, Immediately replied:
"But-
IT'S the q sg that for q hundred years
Has made the BIitoRs sneeze."
Thus, with much good.natured chaf6og
and some poor wit, the morning wore away.
Toward nine o'clock the sun broke through
q rift in bank OF cloud, and at his bright
presence the mists were rolled away. Dur
ing the whole OF the ceremonies the weather
was all that even Louisianisn could de-
sire. Force of description can no further 60.
Now comes the msrshsling to arms. And
to the good people and the peaceful this
was very interesting and imposing. Police
and hussars, marines and sailors, ''boys in
blue" and ''boys in gray" two troops Of
(colored) Invincibles, and Home Guard
for the President, made very fitting show.
Following the military we're Governors Of
States who had accepted the invitation.
Among these the representative of the Peli-
can State, Governor Kellogg and his bril-
liant staff, were recognized.
Judge Dibble and Colonel Wright
seemed spelling tor an Irish fight.
The march to the exposition was tardy
and the Presidents arrival late; but his
reception was hearty and, following the era
of investigating commisteee. encouraging.
There is something in the electric shock of
nations gratitude and something in the
cheer In which country's heart and voice
unite. Mere popularity, however, is q
tricksy thing, and he who lives for it falls
far below the ideal man. The impression
deepens everywhere that the President
seeks to do the right thing everywhere and
always. To such men all the world over
Zone self approving hour whole worlds outweighs
OF stupid stare 70 and of loud huzzas.
And more true joy Marco lus ex'led feels
Than lRsar with senate 1t his heels"
The scene on the dais erected for the in
vited guests was attr active. Behind the
President and ON either hand were repre-
sentative men of all the nations. Here ie
the Emperor of Brazil (his pseudonym re-
duced irreverently by the multitude to
Tom Peedro') and here turoaned Turk.
Here is French officer, brilliant in uniform
and with his breast literally covered with a
dozen orders, and near him is Fred Doug
lass. Here is the Eagl;sh ambassador and
here the Japanese embassy. Scandinavian
and Canadian, Methodist bishop and Span
ish don were all together blent and bent on
celebrating the great and glorious event.
The programme of the day was rapidly
gone through. Bishop Simpsons prayer
was fitting if ornate, and Whittier's hymn is
marvel. Classic but not cold, simple but
NO: bald, it admirably met the occasion.
Despite much adverse criticism, l must
think that Mr. Paine has welded it to noble
music. It has the swell and harmony of
the best of all the schools of sacred music,
that of the German chorales, and will live.
1t is purer and more satisfying than
Mr.. Bucks treatment of Mr.. Lanier's ode.
Whatever is good in this has suspicion Of
Handel in it, and whatever is probably
original lacks the inspiration Of master r.
Wagner's march, for which he received
$4,000, is very wonderful. 1t suggests
thunder and lightning, and might be rem
dition in music of the battle between the
gods and the Titans. The greatest musical
success of the day was unquestiOnably the
"Hallelujah" chorus from the messiah" "
A thousand singers and a hundred and fifty
instruments rendered the great chorus
magnifcently.
Now came the marching round. Amid
the unfurling of flags and the pealing Of
cannon the President and the Empress Of
Brazil, the Emperor and Mrs. Grant, fol
lowed by 1000 invited guests, made the
grand tour" Down the central aisle Of
the main building and out to Machinery
Hall the long procession swept. When the
President opened the valve of the stupen
dous Corliss engine Q5OO horse power)
every wheel and lathe and spinning ma.
chine in the vast hail began to whirl as il
touched by magic. The engine itself is q
study-vast and noiseless, it is we'll nigh
omnipotent; thing of beauty, it seems al
most thing of life. No visitor can
withhold his admiration from this
splendid proof of human ingenuity and
skill. Thus was the centennial" opened
A day fulfilling many days and day OF
hope for brighter and grander days in the
time to be. Already the exposition he's had
an Illuminating influence upon foreigners.
1--WE had not expected SO much" is often
heard or ''the half was not told u.s." Thus
the ark that holds our country's good has
reached peaceful Arsrat. Through the
weltering waves Of revolutionary seas and
amid the shoals and quicksands of after
a.
century.