Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1876-05-19

we render them our hearty thanks. The
beauty and utility of the contributions Will
this day be submitted TO your inspection
by the managers of this exhibition. We
are glad TO know that view of specimens
of the skill of all will afford TO you unal-
| loved pleasure, as well as yield to you
valuable practical knowledge of so many
Of the remarkable results Of the wonder
| ful skill existing in enlightened communi-
tics. One hundred years ago our country
was new and but partially settled. Our
necessities have compelled us TO chiefly
expeud our means and time in telling for
ests, subduing prairies, building dwellings,
factories, ships, docks, warehouses, roads,
canals, machinery, ETC., etc. Most of our
schools, churches, libraries and asylums
| have been established within an hundred
years. Burthened by those great primal
works OF necessity, which could not be de-
| layed, we yet have done what this exhibit
| tiOn will show in the direction OF rivaling
older and more advanced nations in law,
medicine and theology, in science, liera-
ture, philosophy and the fine arts. Whilst
proud of what we have done, we regret
| that we have not done more. Our 9chieve-
men's have been great enough, however, TO
make II easy for our people to acknowledge
superior merits wherever they are found.
"And now, fellow citizens, hope care
| ful examination of what Is about to be eX-
hibited to you will not only inspire you
with profound respect for the skill and taste
| OIL our ITleDuS from Ot0ef nhllOUs, Dul dlsO
satisfy you with the attainments made by
our own people during the past 100 years.
| / invoke your generous cooperation with
| the worthy commissioners 10 secure bril-
liant success to this international exhibit
tion, and to make the stay of our foreign
| visitors, to whom we extend hearty well
| come, both pleasant and profitable TO them.
/ declare the international exhibition now
OPEN"
When the President had finished read
ing the address, and said, "The Exhibition
is open," sign was given from the plat
form, and the United States flag was at
once raised on the main building. Then
the chorus with its thousand voices sang
the "Hallelujah chorus" bells and organs
joining in the grand cadences of the tri-
umphal melody. During the performance
of the chorus the foreign commissioners
| passed from the platform into the main
building and took their place upon the CEN
| trail aisle before their respective depart
ments, after which the procession started
from the platform and moved slowly
through the files of soldiers to its destina-
| tion. The commission led and were fol-
lowed by Grant, with the Empress of Bra
zil upon his arm, and the Emperor Of Bra
zil, supporting Mrs. Grant, Immediately
behind. Then came Gen. Sherman and
Gen. Sheridan, followed by the governors,
the diplomats and plenipotentiaries. 1t
was very long procession, comprising as
it did some 5000 or 1000 persons. 1t moved
slowly across the area into the main part Of
the main building, and when the head
reached the interior one of the great or
| gans tuned up grand march, which was
continued until the procession had got out
of the building. They entered the ma
chinery hall, where the President turned
on the steam for The big engine and set the
machinery going. This act ended the for
malities Of the opening, which was mag
nificent success in every particular. The
procession broke up in tho hall and then,
about l o'clock, all the buildings were
thrown open, all restrictions removed and
the great multitude allowed TO enter and
inspect to their hearts contcnt.
A GLANCE AT THE MAIN HALL, AND WHAT
CAN BE SEEN THERE.
The great point of interest to the general
observer is the main building so-cAlled.
This is not devoted to any thing specially,
as are most of the other structures on the
grounds. Here one sees an endless varie-
ty of things, covering about 20 acres of
floor room. II would be absolutely impos-
sible for any one in ten hours of good hon
est pcdestrianic and occular industry, with
no obstruction in the way of crowd. to alb
sorb and print on memory more than a
tithe of the interesting things to be seen in
this room. Looking down upon it, from
the organ loft at the east end, it has The APP
pearance of cosmopolitan city. Thence
one secs the long broad central aisle, which,
like a main street in a well laid out city,
follows straight line, is made in prospec-
tive TO seem narrow and diminutive at the
other extremity; for, be it remembered, it
is nearly third of mile in length. out
of 1t run at right angles many avenues
about One-fourth its own length, and these
are all built upon like the cross-streets of a
city. The eye rests upon inuumerable
roofs representing the upper architecture
of nearly score of nations. Mansards,
mosques, paGodas, steeples, eic., blending
all the rainbow tinls in their embellish-
ment and ornamentation, which is done in
the highest style of the architectural art.
Flags, bannerets, streamers, and ornamen-
tai signs indicating the location of the diff
ferent nations, add brilliancy 10 the scene
and make 1t pleasing, independent of the
building itself, which relies alone upon its
architectural beauty for a reputation. To
these attractions Incidental 10 a ramble
through any beautiful city, fancy dense
population, all in good humor, fitting
about hither and thilher, animated by some
purpose which keeps them moving, and
one can, in Imagination, at least enjoy a
birds eye view of the scene presented.
The exhibition here represents all the ma
lions contributing tot Q enterprise. Aside
from America, the more prominent exhib-
its are those from France, England, the
Netherlands, Australia, China, Japan, Dem
mark, Austria, Germany and Brazil. Each
has generous allowance of space, each is
independent of all the others, each has pre-
sented its finery as relating to science, man
ufactures or education, and each has its
large corps of representatives in their or
dinary costumes SO that the American
visitor hears all sorts Of language aud dla-
lects, and realizes al once that he is not for
the moment entirely at home. The Amer
lean exhibit Is chiefly at the east end of the
building, and it is notsurprising that Phil
adelphia eclipses all other cities in what il
displays. It's contributions are magnif-
cent, both in number aud quality, and a
whole day among them alone would be a
day of pleasure. New York is behindhand
in getting ready but what she shows is
not less attractive than Philadelphia's con-
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