Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-05-19
From the New York Tribune.
The Centennial.

BAYAHD TAYLoR's ACCOUNT OF THE OPENING.
PHILADELPHIA, May 10. The American
people may justly congratulate themselves.
Energy, and power Of steady endurance
rarely so tested before, have atoned for all
manner of indifference. negligence, and ac-
cidental hinderance the elements, threaten
ing until the last moment. became glorious
| ly benign and radiant a hundred thousand
people met under the dappled dome Of the
May-day sky and with prayer grand orches-
trail music and still grander choral song brief
and fitting official formalities. and the clos
ing jubilation Of bells, cannon. instrument,
and voices, the International Exposition OF
1876 was opeled. Ii was superb, a won-
| derful success. No such spectacle has ever
before been witnessed in this scountry-prob-
| ably none grander IN all the essentials of ex-
pressive show anywhere in the world, since
the triumphs OF the CGsars came to an end.
Thus auspiciously begins the commemora-
| ton of the Centennial year.
VIEW FROM The PLATFORM.
There is no great public spectacle in my
memory with which | can compare it. The
parallel lines of the two halls framed the
picture on the north and south but to the
east and west, over few detached build
ings, there was only fringe of pale green
tree-tops against the sky. All this space,
nearly half a mile in length by at least go
yards in breadth, seemed to be filled with
people. The greatest crowd within view at
any time could not have been much less
than l0O, 900 persons.
1t was already evident that the thought
less eagerness of the masses to get nearer
the central point of interest would lead to
! trouble, if not to danger. The space reserved
10 hn Cd taIr ha b
er's platform was invaded by hundreds who
broke through the lines. 1t seemed quite
impossible to restrain the tremendous i'm
. pulse Of the crowd. Gen. Hawley, promi-
| nent by his strong, manly face, a little pale
from the weight of the responsibility rest
ing on him. gave few quiet orders. the
effect OF which was soon visible. Ii seemed
as If the efforts of the single line of police
men to stay the surglng mass and the slow
| ly stretching rope would be like Mrs Part
, ington attempt to mop up the Atlantic
Ocean; but they worked manfully, and all
together, and the avenue for guests became
clear again. The unhappy spectators in
front could not really help themselves; each
man was the head of line, thousand men
deep, resting upon him. Had they not SIN
cerely respected the authority which re-
strained them, they might have instantly
swept away the representatives of the law
it was like strong horse submitting to the
will of child. When the first backward
| push was made there were screams of terror
and suffering. and presently a man in
dead faint was handed ever the rope For
tunately there was no more serious acci
| dent. and saw no signs of riOtous resist
ance in that part of the crowd
The appearance OF such mass of human
lty was something remarkable. 1t took on
strange, enormous individuality, now
seemingly agltated by general tremulOus
motion. now writhing and undalating like
the muscles under the scaly skin of dragon.
! Out OF the vast dark sea of heads arose the
I two granite pedestals, upon each of which
some thirty or forty persons had climbed,
and there were daring boys on the bronze
backs OF the horses, ,clInging to their stumpy
wings, or perched on the heads Of the
MUSES.. The sun burned upon all with
su!iry fire which denoted more rain in store;
but every cloud brought cool and grateful
breeze from the West.
ARRIVAL or GUESTS.
All this while there was constant stream
of invited guests from the Main Building,
through the narrow lane between the two
/ great masses OF people, and up the steps OF
/ the platform. They must have numbered,
| in all, hardly less than 1900; and a COM
| pany at once so distinguished and 50 pic
| turesque has never before been seen in this
country. They came with an irregularity
which was far more quaint than any inten-
tiOnal contrast could have been-Spani.h
and French officers, japanese in cooked
| hats, Congressman and Senators in fall
| dress and the most nonchalent reverse, dip
lOmatic uniforms. Egyptians. Morse, Chinese,
ladies with lifted paraso!s, soldiers, and
even broad-brimmed Quakers. Many famous
persons passed undiscovered. but the people
were sharp-eyed, and never failed TO give
notice of every one whom they detected
| Gen. Sherman was one of the first TO be
popularity hailed then. after a few
politicians, Gen. Hancock succeeded to
the greeting. A little after 10. the
Emperor and Empress OF Brazil -
the latter in morning costume Of pale
I blue sIlk-came out from under the musi-
clans gallery. Dom Pedro's fine, frank,
intelligent face, and towering stature,
were at once recognized, and be was heartily
eheered along the way. lie lifted his hat
and bowed repeatedly, with q bright.
friendly smile, as if he felt the existence of
hearty goodwill among the people.
Not long afierward, a gentleman with a
grayish beard had nearly reached the steps.
when somebody called out " Blaine ~ and
then followed a burst Of cheers. Secretary
BristOw was not recognized until after the
ceremonies were over, when the call of his
name brought an equal response. On the
right, man with duskY face became
conspicuous for his efforts to penetrate the
crowd. and the air of combined strength
and dignity with which he resisted its jost-
ling. The policeman helped him over
the ropes. somebody said Fred
Douglass and he was loudly greeted as be
mounted the platform.
There was temporary interruption in the
arrivals. caused by the irresistible rush q
the crowd on the right. between the Mair
! Hall and the bronze horses. The policemen
lost their ground a company of the BOstor
Cadets was sent to their aid. and for few
minutes there was scene OF great con
fusion The Cadets charged gallantly int
the very heart of the crowd; bayonet
glittered. blne-and-w uniforms becam
scattered among the dark civilians, and tn
Draye Young fellows seemed to be gettlnI
} the worst of IT for little while. de
tachment of cavalry soldiers went to thei
aid. and company of armed seamen iron
the Congress formed a wall on the oppOsit
side. After that there was peace until tn
close. IcOuld not learn that any one wa
injured, beyond the usual pomnellng II
such cases. but il is marvel that ther
were not many deaths from pressure an
heat.
THE CEREMONIES.