The New York herald., 1876-07-04
ONE HUNDRED YEARS.
Close Of the First Century Of
American Freedom.
GRAND CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The Sister Cities Gayly Deoked
and Illuminated.
Torchlght Procession Of twenty-five
Thousand Men,
Magnificent Illumination of the
Streets and Avenues.
UNION SQUARE A BLAZE OF LIGHT.
Midnight ClangOr of Bells and SalvOs
of Artillery.

When Franklin expressed wish that he might be
awakened in 100 years, to how the country had
progressed his iondcst hopes for the future Of the
land could not have led him to the extreme which was
yesterday attained. The tales of the Persian Mag
but place realities compared with the achieve
ments Of the people during the century just closed
Where, short span of time ago. bloomed artistic gar
dens and great stretches OF prmcya forest last night
there passed over broad smooth avenues, between
endless lines OF palace houses throng almost equal 10
the army which the colonies place among the
nations. Could Franklin have taken up his place
tho cupoa OF the Post Office, to view the
ry yesterday what wonders would have met
his gazey Millions OF flags proudly streaming from the
housetops shroud for every the nation lost
boundless of brilliant color apitating in
the sunlight; miles OF imprisoned rainbow impatient
10 be tree rising falling, quvering with air that
blew; motley throngs OF human beings garbed In gay
attire moving hither and thther through the great
thoroughiares full OF wonderment at the bewilderng
display the town spread out; the city itself trimmed
about by jungle taperng mas,s flying the coors of
all the nations of the earth; nexricabe tangle Of
wire through which IS passing, by dot and dash,
messages borne by the power of the element he ma
hipuated with his kite and key; forest OF church
Bteepes where he waving the stately syca-
more; portiy, overhangng cornices, proudcapped
pillars veirg the spendors OF Athenian architecture
Dutch Gaoe cnds anu modest porcheS OF
long ago; all this and thousand other wonders would
have led his sight And the illumination OF the
n,ghtl Its splendor and vnstness would have aston
ished his good old eyes.
APPEARANCE OF THE CITY,
Never before has New York displayed such
wealth OF bunting aud flags. Dollars in untold thou
sands expended in the decoration, and IN many
Instances will be below gas fixtures
were erected at great expense, in order to properly
celebrate the great Centennial 1t Is notable fact
that, the east sde whore is centercd the majority
OF tho foreign element the population the decora
tons more plentiful and arranged with more
artistic taste than in other quarter of the town
In part of the there a noticeable lack of
observance, and in the poorest precincts
effort ut decoration noticeable Every tenement
had, somewhere III its neighborhood, the stars and
stripes displayed.
The lever Of the occasion extended dress and
many little girls abroad decked dresses of red
white and blue. Every second had miniature
nag pinned to the appel OF his coat, and many pro-
nounced enthusiasts wore hat bands OF the national
coors
NIGHT.
The sceno at night beyond comparison the
grandest ever vouchsalcd the citizens OF New York
The myriad lanterns swaying in the night air from
every house sight had most peculiar effect and AS
night grew darker and the twinkng jets shone out
brighter the prospect was grand indeed. The torch
light procession magoincent success. Viewed
from u bousetop in the vicinity OF Union square its
magniGcence beyond description. The street had
the appearance OF being occupied by stars dress
parade. and the moving armament passed up along
the street and the shouts OF tho multitude below
scared slowly up tue effect thrilling. The music
Union square fred the enthusiasm of the assembled
thousands, and when the people Joined IN the patriotic
airs shout went up which rent the heavens ln all
respects the celebration of last night grand
eess