The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1876-07-20
pnILApE1ruIA Julr Z. 1s76.

tury of nation founded upon Liberty
and Law viii fad their appropriate
pages IN history and we shall not at
tempt portrayiug their exceptional
grandeur We shall, as promised in
our last, eonfine ourselves TO the inn
pressiye scene enacted upon the same
sacred spot where liberty was pro-
claimed one hundred years ago. All
through the lanes aud alleys, as wellas
the streets, men shouted in patriotic
excitement and women and children
sang patriotic songs the day long but
Independence square proved the sane
tam sanctoram.
The old building known as hide
pendcnce Hall, where the Continental
Congress held its sessions, fronts north
on Chestnut street. Back of IL is a
small park maybe six hundred feet
square. Against the back Of this build
ing and facing the square was erected
the grand stand, in the shape OF au am
phithealrc, with capacity of probably
four or five thousands persons. AT
the front Of this platform was small
space cut OF for the notables, speakers
and reporters. At the south side of
the square was the music stand, upon
which was Gilmore's band of 120 pieces
and a chorus of twelve hundred sing
ers found their place. The Intervening
space, as well as the surrounding
streets, trees and roofs Of buildings,
contained the multitude, which was
from every State in the Union and
many Of whom were from foreign
countries.
OF the many prominent men of this
and other countries who were there, of
course we knew but a small number,
but the following persons of note we
either knew by sight or they were
pointed out TO Us, at least they are all
we can recollect: Governors Hartranft,
Of Penn; Rutherford b. Hayes, of
Ohio; J. J. Bayley. Of Mich; Rice, OF
Mass; Conuor, of Maine Peek, of Yer
mont; Lippitt, of Rhode Island Car
roll, OF Md; Chochrane, Of Delaware;
McCleary, of Kentucky; Brogden, of
North Carolina the Centennial Com
mission of twenty foreign nations,
many generals, among them Generals
Sherman. Sheridan and Gen. Hawley,
President of The Centennial Commits
sion, Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia
Dom Pedro and wife, Judge IIoar, OF
Grants first cabinet; Rochambeau, q
noted French statesman Ferry, Vice
President OF the United States; VIM.
NJ. Eyarts, of New York Bishop Simp- |
son, and many others whom we cannot
recoliect.
After the grand opening overture by |
the orchestra spoken OF, General Haw-
ley introduced the Vice President as
the presiding o1ficer.of the day, both of
whom made very appropriate minute
speeches. They were followed in a
prayer by the Right Rev w. b. Ste
vens, d.. D., Bishop of Pennsylvania.
The welcoming hymn, by Oliver Wen
del Holmes, commanding
Bright on the banner Of lily aad rose,
10, TIE las! san Of tie century seis!''
was sung by the twelve hundred voices,
accompanied with instruments.
Next came the reading of the Decla-
ration Of Independence by Lee. When
the mayor Of The city stepped forward
and presented the original document
such a cheer as went up from that va5t
multitude we never heard. ii seemed
the browning period Of a momentous
history. Beneath the shadow of the
same walls that sheltered the colonial
patriots, upon the same sacred spot of
earth, within the same charmed circle
that echoed back the peals of the old
Independence bell. now, after cen
fury of growth and triumphant expe- ,
rience, with all the contacts and asso-
Citations of the place, the original actors
all gone, but their immortal deed, by
their own hands, before US, all COM
bined 10 render the spirit and clio
qucnce OF the occasion beyond and ;
above the powers of pen or language :
to describe.
The reading of the declaration was :
succeeded by Brazilian hymn, CON- =
posed for the occasion, at the request ;,
of the emperor. Aud let us say right h
here before we forget it that old Dom @
Pedro is a solid, enlightened ruler. SO b
plain and quiet is he that if he should n
drop down in Wichita he would be set
down as a Methodist or Baptist preach "
er. The bigness of his heart shines f,
out through every feature of his face. r,
as for Mrs. Dom, she looks ike Ger n
man lady and likes her lager beer. d
The National ode, by Bayard Taylor, a,
must be read to be appreciated. 1t 81
will live in the poetry of the nation. Il
Bayard recited ii from memory with T
Inc effect. W
Following the ode came the triumpal Il
march entitled "Our National Ban @,
ier," the words commencing fl,
..o'er The high and Ger the lewly al
Floats thar banner bright and holy
IN the rays Of Freedom SUM- al
The Grafton Of Hon. VIM. NJ. Evarts til
vas loudly applauded. Ills the produc- sll
ion of one of The greatest minds of this st
.ountry, and was grand in every par /
ocular. There was little of impassioned m
,loquence in it, but scholarly aud phil th
sophie Foughout-nothing of the 81:
pread-eagle, but wholly of the learned tn
urist. SC
Such is a tame outline of The cerc- la!
monies of the eveniful day, and now oil
0 other things. all
In going up 10 the park the other do
lorning whom should we see but co
immy Black and his estimable wife, ha
10Th were happy, and we had a good
and-shake and pleasant talk. We to-
let Sol. H. Kohn the other day, too of
lie had been TO New York and was VIC
Ill of all that he had seen. w. c. Ph
Foodman and wife, with whom we sic
ined to-day, leave for home to-mor- sin
DIV evening. W. C. says he hasn't col
adj half enough of it, but business liv
likes him back 10 the 4" Happy Val Yo
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