Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1876-05-17

In Philadelphia On Georges Hill
A Glance Of Five Hours at the
Centennial Exhibition on Open
ing Day.
If ever there was = gathering on the
american Continent to equal the gath
eriug at Philadelphia last Wednesday,
on the occasion of the ceremonial open
ing of the Centennial Exposition, 1,
must have taken place in prehistoric
times. Who knows who lived here
when the pyramids iu Egypt 4.O0O
years ago we're built. Who knows
that just such jubilees did not take
place on the banks of the Schuylkill
under the civilization of the days o.
1000 years ago. Four thousand 5 ear:
hence, who will know Of the FIRST Gen.
tenuial show that the nations Of the
world have joined us in honor of the
one hundredib year of the Republic ol
the United States of America.
The wisest and most learned sigb
over the realization that the vast limit
less past is a blank to us all. With
the exception Of few historical books
that relate chiefly to vars, for place
for and against religions of the rise
and fall of individuals, Of families, ol
GynsstIes, and of the conquests ol
n1tions there is nothing to tell ol
the pursuits of the people generally,
and the inner ways of their everyday
life, Of the things, ways and pursuits
that most interest a people whose pol
itics, religion, and social system are
organized as here in the great Ameri-
can Republic. But while the far of
vista of the past narrows down to q
blank, the world is living IN q certain
knowledge of the fact that the Yankee
nation of the American Republic is
celebrating its one hundredth birth
year at Philadelphia, now.
PHILADELPHIA,
on the morning Of the Centennial E1-
bibitiOn opening day presented an
unique appearance, and as We rode
down Market TO Third street the i'm
preston that the whole town was in q
futter, futtering in sea of Auttering
flags, could not be suppressed; it was
self evident.
The pavements we're crowded with
people. The streets we're thronged
with vehicles Of every description. The
horses that drew them were bedecked
in flags, and bunting Aoated from the
top of almost every carriage, cart, and
street car. The streets seemed mass
of flags that were dashiug hither and
thither in jig dance in honor Of the
day. From windows and doorwsys,
up from the pave to the cave of
houses flags of all nations on this earth
foated lazay and seemingly with reluc-
tance after the rain tha. had subsided
in the early morning of that day, and
the storekeepers inside of their houses
were Ike the Gags, disposed to futter.
They attended to customers with an abb
stract air, rolling their eyes street.
wards, to the customers, and thence to
the goods. 1t was plainly evident that
the Centennial opening day had struck
the business Of Philadelphia With a
feeling of unrest. the stately whole
sale houses closed their doors one By one,
and BY 8 o'clock most of the business
houses Of that class we're as silent and
majestic in quietness as On the Sabbath
day.
By 9 o'clock the streets we're filled
with multitude Of surging people that
seemed to have neither beginning nor
end. 1t is worth ones while once in a
lifetime to get out into such a moving
stream of human kird, and be borne
along in its surging tide full FIVE miles,
as we were, from Third street to the
Centennial grounds. 1t was full ii
o'clock when we reached the show
ground. The Inauguration ceremonies
had been opened long before, and if We
mad desired to avail ourself of the ten
lered means for q place on the plat
'orm, it was then too late, for tens of
thousands of people intervened, and
Every available space was densely
packed, but we we're in accord with the
'pirit of the people. 1t was not de-
ire to witness ceremony that had col
ec;ed the masses. The American peo-
,le are year By year realizing more
definitely that there is nothing in cere
nony, further than means Of organl-
alton, consequently the vast multitude
'eing not directly connected with the
rganizatios that was managing the ex-
ibitien, cared nothing whatever for the |
eremony. and turned to sightseeing.
Passing around the exhibition enclo-
ure to
GEORGES Hill,
re found thousands of people assem-
lied there, booking eastward, feasting
heir eyes on . picture of exceeding
'eauty. The Centennial grounds lie
lose up the bill, and while they are
arge they seemed small in comparison /