Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-01-18
From Correspondence Of the New York Times.
.IVCIDEVT.S OF THE CENTENNIAL
OPENING
FEATURE NOTICED BY FOREIGNERS.


Those who are least acquainted with American
ways and American character were particularly
impressed with the marked responsibility OF the
crowd that came together yesterday. Standing in
the diplomatic section of the grand stand, and
looking out upon the vast sea OF well.dressed men
and women who listened with rapt attention, and
what was better, with evident enjoyment and ap-
probation, to the performance OF the Thomas Or
chestra and the grand chorus, q member OF the
German Commission, who has only been few
weeks in America, said to me, in amazement,
"But in my life have never seen so many OF the
better classes assembled at one time. We have
very mistaken notions Of you Americans. Then
after q moments pause he continued: "One
thing wonder At, however. You talk SO much
about your liberality to all classes, why have you
to-day excluded all the poor people, In this
crowd see nothing but the rich ind very we'll
dressed" assured him-as was the fact-that
men and women from all classes were well repre-
scented in the throng. This was, indeed, the nth.
The multitude was made up Of all kinds Of people.
Rich men there were in plenty. but there were
also workmen and working women; carpenters,
shoe -makers and blacksmths, clerks and statesmen,
lawyers and doctors and ministers, brcklayers
and lager beer saloon keepers, farmers and man
utacturers, were all mingled together in the good
American fashion. When this became clear to
my German acquaintance he was almost beside
himself with establishment. "What," he said
CHOSE we'll dressed women not all rich ladies;
and among those men all with cloth coats there
are many farmers, stone-masons and cobblers |!
But, Mein herr, where are your common people,
your peasants :" 1--WE are all common people,
rpiied, "and we have no peasants" Again the
genteman looked at that American crowd, and
continued to do SO, shaking his head in aUaze-
ment and muttering at intervals, "Der tie6er Him
mel, what country A hundred thousand people
in crowd and not one peasant"
TIE STARTING OF THE ENGINE.
| Next to the grand stand, at which the opening
ceremonies of the day were held, the greatest
point of interest was the Machinery Building, and
the rush of visitors ANXIOUS to see Presiden Grant
| setting the great COrlss engine in motion was
simply irresistible. The scene shortly after the
1 Fl esident arrived was indeed an impressive one,
and calculated to excite the inter est of intelli
gent people. 1t was known that the giant ma
chine had been erected at cost OF 600 and
that fourteen acres of machinery and thousands Of
miles Of betting and shafting were to be driven by
it, and it known also that successful trial
of its capacity to do The work had already been
made. But had nothing happened since thes,
and were the great boiler, the wheels and valves
sll 10 running Order? were the thoughts Of the
crowd aaoibly expressed. Each individual seemed
to take deep pei SOL al interest in the success Of
the national undertaking, and the greatest anxiety
prevailed. Amid an almost breathess silence Mr..
George II. CJrliss, the builuer Of the engine, q
thoughtful man, tall, thin sns gray haired, and
very pale, but calm and self-possessed, conducted
President Grant and the Emperor of Brazil to the
two levers by which the now breathless monster
WAS to be made thing Of life. Then by slight
exerion Of these rulers of two nations the giant
arms began to move slowly at first, and then with
. velocity that was tremendous in it's force and
majesty. One great sigh came from the huge
iron chest, the belts and shafts moved in all d.
rectons, thousands Of machines became active,
the great engine was a grand success, and then
sach shout went out from the hearts of the pe0-
pie IS is seldom heard in human life time. The
American multitude reloiced at Its own success in
the triumph of the great American inventor.
Machinery Hall will continue to be for many per-
sons the most interesting part of the exhibition.
II is honor to the nation, and IN it native of
The United States need blush for his country. Re-
garding the opening Yesterday, Sir Edward Thorn
ton, the English Minister. very appropriately
said; sit was grand success; II was majestic
triumph"