The New York herald., 1876-02-22
PHILADELPHIA.

PHILADBLPmA Feb. 81 1876.
washngton's Birthday win be celebrated TO- morrow
with unprecedented enthusiasm. The programme Of
pageantry for the day and the preparation for the
decoration and illumination OF public and private
establishments are on scale worthy OF the centennial
year. Never before have there been such indications
OF patriotic fsrvor similar occasion. Dealers
naes bunting and lanterns declare that she demand for
these articles has been 90 great for this fes-
tvaL Over $500 900 has been sold within the past few
days The streets nlled with wagons and porters
carrying flags and patriotic decorations and thousands
OF pedestrians their way homo from business are
burdsned with similar articles His Honor the Mayor
has issued proclamation requesting that national
sautes be red that all places OF business be closed
that ctizens observe the day with display Of aags
and ounting and that they illuminate their houses In
the evening Every indication shows that this call
upon their patriotism will be responded 10 by the
masses with fervor and that tho day will be general
festival. By act Of Assembly IL is legal holiday and
all public offices will be closed and all business
penoed- -
-v'e THE PROGRAMME yos TIE pAH
To-morrow's dawn will be dshefed ID BY the ringing
Ot church BELLS and at daybreak national salutes will
be pred by the Keystone Battery and at the military
and naval stations OF the vicinity At the bell in
Old Independence Hall will be rung for half hour
not the original prophetic old bell that proclaimed
liborty throughout all the land but its modern
successor In accordance with Mayor stokeiy's sug-
gestion other bells will chime in all the city In
dependence Hall and the State House will be decorated
during the day and grand illumination will
take place there In the evening In the illumination
number of lanterns of unique design with be used
The lanterns nearly three feet in height and
constructed Of coored glass. The sides Of these Ian
covered with beautiful scroll work. illustra-
i've i've o. events n the hs.ory o Sonera washington
superb medallion twelve feet In diameter representing
the Goddess OF Liberty placing the laurel crown upon
Washington's head This will be Illuminated by rays
nom calcium light placed upon the roof Of an ad
joining building.
There will be large handsome turnout Of the miti-
The Veteran corps OF the First regiment will make its
first parade, and will march to Concert Hall, where
there will be martial music and addresses by General
J. W. Latta and Coonei William McMichaeL His Ex-
ccllency Governor Hartran will bc present. and the
ceremonies will bo Interesting The artillery corps,
Washington Greys time -honored body that has never
failed TO parade the 22d Of February, will unite in
the procession with the Weccacoe Legion, and com
pany Sixth regiment N. G. Of N j., yof Beverley,
N. j. when they will meet at the depot The crack
First Regiment, Of this city, will also turn out
nor nor Hartranft to and from rom concer. nc Hail Hall
The soldiers OF 1872 will gather their rapidly dimin-
Court House They will listen TO addresses the read
ing of Washington's Farewell Address and toast each
other their country and their gallant comrades who
dead The Grey Reserves will also parade In Ger
mantown and other outlying precincts OF this large
city will have their own demonstrations.
The alumni OF the Polytechnic College OF the State OF
Pennsylvania will celebrate the day by series of
erciscs in which addresses and musical selections will
| be the prominent features.
St. Francis Ladies' Aid Society win give q musical
the proceeds TO be devoted 70 the Cath
| Ollie 7. A b. fountain fund
The pupils OF Girard College will celebrate the day In
| becoming manner In the evening several distin-
| guished gentlemen will address the young folks.
Other public Institutions will observe tho day In a
fitting manner the theatres will all give matinee per-
formances and several excursion parties from other
cities will visit the Centennial grounds Special trains
will come from New York and Baltimore Tho most
noteworthy Of the evening will be the carnival OF
authors at the Academy Of Music under the auspices
OF the Women's Centennial Committee. II Ia 10 be a
fancy ball, in which the participants represent the
famous characters of ncton those from one portion OF
while others represent the heroes and heroines OF
Scott Thackeray Cooper and other popular noveliss
and poets