The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-13
OUR philadelphia LETTER.
IRON OUR REouLAK KcoRREsroSDENr.] ]

/ decorated , myrlAus OI strangers nOCk lts
narrow, vile and sloppy streets, and mil
lions Of flags drOop from its windows.
Representatives Of every dialect that
drove Pagans mad at tho tower of Babel
may be heard now on Chestnut street and
in the principal hotels ; the soft Italian,
the gutteral German, harsh Scandana-
Wan. and mondescript MongoliAn tongue
all seem to be saying something tnat l
suppose somebody understands.
This morning, at sunrise, your CORES
pOndent was awakened by voice that had
been silent for . hundred years the
cracked and ancient tones Of Independence
Bell. The cold rains that had been falling
for thirty-slX hours proved ineffectIal to
dAmpen the enthusiasm Of the transient
and local population. in three hours
every car and cab going to FAIrmont Park,
was crowded, while the streets leading in
that direction were thronged with military
and civic professions, or with pedestrians,
male and female, young and old, hurrying
to witness the grand opening.
An immense platform had been erected,
bounded on one side by Memorial Hall
and on the other by the main Exposition
Buil1ing on the side nearest Memorial
Hall were arranged elevated seats for the
President Of the United States, his Csbi-
net, Justices of the Supreme Court, Sen
Ators, and members Of the House, Minis
ters and attaches Of foreign legations, Gov
ernors Of States, and other distinguished
personages. Below and in front of these
we're seats for half thousand representa-
tives of the press. On the opposite side,
agaist the Main Exposition Building, were
arranged terraced seats for Thomas Orches-
ira and the choir, consisting Of nine hun
dred persons. By nine O'Clock these seats
and the broad area between the two build
ings were filed by crowd variously esti-
matea at from 90, 0OO to 100, 900 persons
The rain had ceased, and the sun beamed
gloriously on the occasion. The enthusl-
asm of the immense crowd Was intense,
but not discreet they cheered everybody
and everything, and from the hundred
boys who had scaled the colossal bronze
horses and establis he'd points Of observA-
ton upon their heads, necks, backs and
tails, to Thomas music, drownIng IN their
applause its grandest strains. The cere-
monies were introduced by melody OF
National airs, well rendered by the
Thomas Orchestra, but indIstInguishable
to most persons. Each nation WAs hon
ored with a single stABEA- The Emperor
Dom Pedro came upon the stand about the
time of the Brazilian hymn, with
dramatic effect, as great as If 1t had been
prearranged The music Of the National
airs was too long-a fault that could not
be helped. The prayer Of Rt. Rev. Bishop
Simpson that followed was also too long
fault that might have been helped
After the prayer, followed the hymn
composed for the occasion BY Whittier, and
sung by the choir the address Of John
Welsh, President Of the Centennial Board
of Finance, presenting the buildings to
the United States Centennial Commission
the cantanta, composed by Sidney Lanier,
Of Georgia. and sung by the choir with or
gan and orchestral accompaniment the
presentation Of the Exhibition to the
United States, by Gen. Hawley; the Ad-
dress of the President, proclAimihg the
opening of the Exhibition the hallelujsh
chorus with orchestral and organ accom-
panimenr q salute Of one hundred guns,
and ringing of the chimes During this
performance the foreign commissioners
passed into the Main Building and took
position upon the central avenue before
their respective sections, while the Presi-
dent OF the United States, followed by the
Cabinet, Supreme Court, and other per
sonages mentioned above, passed through
the Main Building and thence into the
Machinery Hall. No further formal cere-
mony was maintained, and the crowds dis
persed to see the various exhibits, of which
| will write more particularly IN the fu-
ture.
A noticeable feature in these inaugura-
tion ceremonies and scenes was that the
element most necessary to give the whole
affair its greatest effect-the effect tacitly
desired by every One-the element of im-
mensity, vas there. Every thing was on
large scale, 30 much so that no one could
expect to see all that passed.
Every occasion Of this kind has its eli
mActeric, q moment when enthusiasm IN
magnetic and spontaneous and reaches in
purest highth. The climateric Of this oc-
caslOn was the solo Of LAnier's csntata,
sung by M. W. Whitney, Of Boston. The
words are as follows
Long thine art shall love true love:
| Long As thy science truth shAll know;
Long a. thine eagle harms dove.
| Long thy lAW BY Law shall grow;
Long thy God is God above
| Thy brother every below.
| So long, dear land u all nv love,
Thy name shall shine, thy fame shall g:owgT
These lines were sung with immense
volume Of voice, amid the profoundest
silence Of the multitude, and in the earn
est continued applause that followed, com
pelling Mr.. Whitney to repeat the solo.
There was more than delighted musical
taste the desire Of the nation at this
moment for true life spoke out.
President Grants speech had the merit
Of brevity, like all his other productions,
quality for which those who heard him
were never more thankful iewAs evident
ly his own, showing more polish and care
than usual. 1t dwelt more on the in
dustrial and useful, which on the whole
was, perhaps, more in accordance with the
character and spirit Of the Exposition.
Mr.. Welsh, President Of the Board Of
Finance, was Preeted with applause, the
just due Of the man on whom the greatest
burden of the Exhibition has fallen.
Gen. Hawley's was the only address au.
dible, except to those very near the grand
stand. His elOcutiOn was almost - re-.
markahle for vocal fnrca An una Mr. Whit.