Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1876-05-18
Correspondence Gallipolis Journal.
Exposition Topics.
PHlLADELPHIA, May 18th, 1876.

Correspondence Gallipolis Journal.
Exposition Topics.
PHILADELPHIA, May 18th, 1876.
The great show has begun. The
chick has burst its shell, and stands
forth fully hedged. Wednesday, thu
10th Of May will never be forgotten by
any one who was so fortunate, or unf0r-
tunate as to be in the City on that day.
The gates were opened at nine O'Clock,
but long before that hour the entrances
were besieged by a struggling, pushing,
anxious mass Of humanity, all provided
with the requisite fifty cent piece in
scrip or coin. Joining the rather ir-
regular line Of your fellow importu-
mates, with your money tightly clenched
In one hand and your umbrella in the
other, you fight your way to the gates
which described in q previous letter,
and when inside at last have time to
count up the killed and wounded, as 1t
were. Unless you are unusually lucky
you are splotched with mud, shoes coat
ed with the same, and your raiment in
various degrees of disarrsngement.
But the struggle is not over yet. You
make your way to the space between
the Main Building and Memorial Hall,
aud find yourself part of the largest
crowd you ever saw. You are between
two fires, one musical and the other ora
torical. Against the Main Building is
platform occupied by Theodore Thomas
and orchestra of $50 pieces, and a chorus
of between 800 and 800 voices. Through
the open windows in the rear you catch
a glimpse of a forest Of organ pipes,
belonging to the great organ. The
grand stand was just opposite, in front
Of Memorial Hall. To the right and
left were seats for invited guests and
members of the press. At half-past ten
O'Clock Thomas grasped his baton, gave
a few preliminary fiourishes, and then
Mt his signal the orchestra began to play
a medly of national airs. No. Is,
ssHail Columbia" was reached and just
then Gen. Sheridan appeared, and was
greeted with cheers of welcome.
Soon after the President arrived and
took his seat amid rounds of applause,
while the band played "Hail to the
Chief" The President was escorted by
General Hawley, followed by members
of the Cabinet, officers of the Centen-
NAL Commission, Officers of the army and
navy, members of the foreign commits
sions, foreign ministers and embassa-
dors, and other distinguished guests.
Dom Pedro, Emperor Of Brazil, to-
gether with the Empress and his suite,
occupied prominent positions son the
platform; as soon as the guests were
seated the orchestra rendered Rich
ard Wagner's Centennial Inauguration
march, in most excellent style and then
Bishop Simpson offered fervent prayer.
Whittier's Centennial Hymn, the mu-
sic BY John X. Paine, was then sung
by the chorus. 1t is beautiful hymn
and the music is In keeping with its
solemn and stately numbers. Mr.. John
Welsh, President of the Board of FL
nance, then formerly presented the
buildings to the Commission. General
Hawley replied in behalf of the Com
mission, and then the chorus and Or
chestra rendered the cantata, words by
sydney Lanier, music by Dudley Buck.
Mr., Buck had a somewhat difficult task
but his work is above criticism, mine
at least, and at the conclusion he was
forced to show himself to the people be-
fore the exercises could 60 on. Mr..
Myron W. Whitney's bass solo was
very fine and he was compelled to repeat
1t.
General Hawley then presented the
Exhibition to the President in fitting
speech, to which General Grant replied,
and then declared the Exhibition open.
At this moment the flags on all the
buildings were unfurled, and salute
fired from Georges Hill.
At twelve O'Clock the President be-
gan the tour of the Main Building and
Machinery Hall. The order of the pro-
cession in full would occupy half col
umn. r
When the procession had entered Ma
chinery Hall, the President. assisted by
Geo. Ii. Corliss, set in motion the great
engine. and the machinery conn ected
Herewith. The two buildings were
then opened to the public.
The military display was creditable,
embracing two organizations from Bos-
ton in addition to our own troops. There
were about 1000 men in the line, which
occupied an hour in passing. The line
was formed down town, and after escort
ing the President to the grounds, the
boys in uniform did good police service
in keeping back the crowd.
The tills at the entrance gates con-
tanned nearly 100000, which showed
that, with the exhibitors, dead heads of
all sorts and laborers, there were up
wards of 100000 people on the grounds
during the day.
Notwithstanding the general stam-
pede towards the Park, the streets all
over the city were as crowded as ON the
opening Of the New Year or ON Wash
lington's Birthday. All the streets were
gorgeously decorated with flags, shields,
streamers and bunting arranged in a
thousand different ways, Independence
Hall being the chief attraction, and ip
the evening fine illumination closed
the celebrations of the opening day.
On Thursday night all the music was
repeated at the opening of the Thomas
Concert Garden. at the residence of the
late Edwin Forrest, under the auspices
of the Woman's Centennial Commits
sion.