The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1876-07-27
THE CENTENNIAL OPENING.

THE CENTENNIAL OPENING.
Scenes and Incidents OF the Great Day at
Philadelphia.
From the Chicago Tribune Special Telegram.
> PHILADELPHIA, May 1O.-In the
memory of every citizen OF Philadel-
phia this day will remain forever green,
and also red, white and blue, for never
has there been such display of bunt-
ing along her streets as on this 10th OF
MAY. For miles and miles, from house.
tops, from windows, and in windows,
from doorways and car roofs, and even
from the heads of numberless horses,
our national standard has been dis
played. 1t is safe to say that tonight
every Philadelphia might sleep in
starry and stripy manner and have sew
eral thousand to spare.
MORNING DAMNED INAUsPICIOUsLY,
as the rain was falling, and promised
to do 80 continually. But, soon after Z
o'clock, the clouds broke, and by the
sun was shining. Every possible horse
and steam conveyance was in requisi-
ton. The street-cars were crowded
like herring boxes, and for hours they
followed each other with great rapidity.
Carriages, hacks, breaks, and wagon
cites did fine business. Butcher-carts,
furniture-cars, and baggage vans were
fitted with temporary seats, and, in one
instance, the owner of a secondhand
hearse turned it to profit by removing
its top and inserting seats for four per-
sons.
Soon after the invited guests began
to arrive, and before 10 o'clock the plat
form was full. Rarely has there been in
America such
AN ARRAY OF HEAVY SMELLS,
where the public could look at them,
as there was to-day. The holding ca
pacity of the platform had been over
estimated, so that it was crush there
as every where else. Secretary Fish ell
bowed the Austrian minister, and Gen.
Sheridan stepped on the toe of the
Turkish Ambassador. Judge Pierre
pont shared a chair with the French
Minister, and there was whole row of
Presidential candidates on a single set
tee. There were officials enough to
stock half a dozen Governments liber-
ally and then have fifteen present to
spare. The list of invited guests, begin
ming with President Grant and ending
with Cyrus w. Field, makes two col
umns Of solid nonparel in an evening
paper, SO please excuse details.
The invited guests mounted the plat
form. There was some decorous cheer
ing whenever any of them were recog-
nized. The most applause was given to
THE EMPEROR OF BRAZIL,
who happened to arrive just as the
orchestra played the Brazilian hymn.
Those whose acquaintance with kingly
dress is limited to that on the ordinary
playing were somewhat disap-
pointed to find that his Majesty wore
only plain suit, and was as devoid of
ornament as freight-car. He was in
troduced to several of his fellow-digni-
taries, and gracefully accepted COM
mon chair, such as may be found in
many American bar-rooms and lecture
halls. The national airs by the orchestra
formed a pleasing amusement, and serv-
ed to occupy the time until
THE ARRIVAL OF THE PRESIDENT,
which was, of course, the occasion of
much cheering. Every body became
silent, or reasonably so, during the
prayer of Bishop Simpson, and the other
features of the programme, of which the
Associated Press has doubtless given
you full account.
Bishop Simpsons prayer was given
in a loud and distinct voice, and so was
the address of Gen. Hawley. Mr.. Welch
was not master of the situation, and
could not be heard very far, and the,
voice of the President, who was evident.
ly annoyed with his manuscript, was in
still lower key. As a professional
reader he is not likely to attain great
renown. The assemblage became some
what disorderly during this part of the
programme, but
BROKE INTO A WILD CHEER
when the President ended his address
by declaring that the Exhibition was
open. 1t was just II o'clock, or very
near it, when the flag was run up, and
the great event of the year had its be-
ginning. Almost Immediately the as
semblage began to dispense, and the
dignitaries to leave the platform for the
procession through the buildings.
THE MUSIC.
The musical part of the programme
elected universal praise. Whittier's
hymn was magnifcently rendered, and
the effect was majestic. Words and
music were well adapted to each other,
and in the hands of an excellent chorus
and orchestra under the baton of Theo-
dore Thomas, they doubtless surpassed
the expectations of their composer. The
cantata by Lanier, with Dudley Buck s
music, was equally fine both in compo-
sition and rendering, and the splendid