Smyrna times., 1876-01-05
How Now Years uas Ce1oh....a

The ushering in of 1876, inasmuch as i,
was our Tooth anniversary, was celebrated
with great eclat all over the country.
In Philadelphia, at midnight, in the pre.
sence OF an enormous multitude. Mavor
William 5. Stokley raised the " Centennial
Flag upon independence HalE The
streets, the square, the hOuse.tops and
windows were filled with people. As the
flag rose in the air fireworks were set off
and salute fired. The flag reached the
top OF the staff, were it was Illuminated bv
calcium lights just as the clock begon
striking twelve, when the crowd set nm o
shout OF welcome to the Centennial Yeor
Then the bell rang " 1-7-7.G-l-S.7.6."w which
caused another shout, and then, for half
hour, there was bell.ringing, shouting. the
nrlng OF cannon, guns and crackers. mar
tlal music, and such noise as has never
oeen heard around Independence Hall
before. The streets in the ncighborhood
OF the State House were crowded until
after two o'clock Saturday morning, and
when the Ledger went to press the festivi.
TIES bade fair to continue until daylight.
In New York, if less imposing in other
respects the night was perhaps as noisy as
III fhlladelphla. Nearly all the bells and
steam Whistles on Manhattan Island and in
brooklyn were sounded simultaneously at
midnight, while the steeples of Trinity and
Grace Churches rang out their chimes.
runs and lire crackers were also set off
IeleSrams from Cincinnati, Louisville.
Cleveland, indianapolis, Jersey CITY. Wilkes,
barre, Saratoga, GETTYSBURG. Iebanon
Pa, and other places reJort similar iub;'
lations. In Cincinnati, Cleveland and
Wllkesbarre, salutes of 100 guns were fred
there were torchlight parades. and bniId'
ings were Illuminated. ACentennial soluto
was also fired in Louisville. In Indianono.
lis, the advent of the IIundredth Year was
preceded by meeting Mt the Academy of
Music, which was addressed by Governor
liendrlcks, who dwelt upon the progress of
the Republic. lie said immigration had
contributed largely to produce the results
enjoyed, ana that it was an interest which
had never been sufficiently valued. A
foundation had been laid for a system Of
iree schools which within n quarter of n
century would surpass those of other conn
tries' The free schools must be
regarded as the foundation of American
ss'aoiilty, and the people should treat rs n
zoe any who would bring the. system i'm con.
troversy with view of iniuring its effician.
cy. In the war Of Independence. the
foreign war and the civil war. the co,,ntrv
had borne itself successfully against its
enemies, and had preserved its institutions
and ITS Integrity. He said, in conclusion.
that the sentiment embraced in tho idca
Ihat, The Government rests upon the
consent OF the governed" would eventually
end IN every man being free.
The Presidents New Year rccention ~,
saturday was the event of that day in Wash. |
ngton. The presentations took place in
me Blue Room, in the following order .
Members OF the Cabinet, Diplomatic Corns.
Justices of the Supreme Court, Senators
'nd Representatives in Congress. Judges of
he Court of Claims, city officials of Wash, |
ngton, officers of the army and navy. assist. |
mt secretaries and heads of Bureaus, Yete. |
ans OF 1912 and Of the Mexican War
Jldest Inhabitants Association, and fbe |
general public. The foreign representa-.
iveswer mostly in court dress some of
mem iei were splendidly attired, and blozed
WITH decorations of honor.
---sse -
P'eks Floral Guide for 1875 is as hand.
ome as usual, and contains many useful
iints on the cultivation of flowers. The
rontlspiecc in the first nun,ber is n hoont;