The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-05-17
FIFTY THOUSAND SPECTA'
TORS.
"THE NEW WORLD GREETS
THE OLD WORLD"
Nature Relenting Smiles Through
Her Tears The Crowd,
Speeches, Music and
Display Immense.
YANKEE boobies DAY.

YANKEE boobies DAY.
4 RAINY MoRNING-THRoNGs OF VISITORS
PHILADELPHIA ON FIRE WITH ENTFrUsT-
AsM-THE CLOUDS YIELD TO THE Sun
THE PLATFORM AND WHO WAS ON IF--
wHITIIER's cENTENNIAL HYMN-BIsHoP
SIMPSONS PRAYER-PREsIDENr HAw-
LEY's PRESENTATION sPEECH-PREsI-
DENT GRANTS RESPONSE.
PHILADELPHIA, May 1O-1O A. M.-The
morning was very rainy, with prospect
of a steady, rainy Gay, but the indications
are now that the clouds will break, the
rain cease, and the original programme of
the opening cersnsonies be carried out. The
city is crowded with visitors, the trains
last evening and this morning baviuR
come from ell directions with crowds of
passengers from abroad. The streets are
all ablaze with Gags, and notwithstanding
the rain, patriotic decorations are numer-
Gus and fne. The exposition opening Is
the only topic OF conversation. and since
early In the morning thrones of people on
foot, in the street cars, carriages, wagons
and steam cars have been passing toward
the Centennial grounds, in anticipa-
ton of she opening of the gates.
This morning early the military
parade, comprising portions of the
first division, took place, passing Through
the principal streets OF the city. The dis
play was &ne, though not nearly so large
as would have been had the weather been
favorable. Ii the weather becomes clear
the opening of the exposition will be q
great success.
1880 A. 1.-THE sky has cleared, and the
weather is beautiful and snmmery, but
not too warm. The grounds are in very
good condition in spite of the hard and
long continued rains, though there is
much mud. The gates were opened at a
little after o'clock, and crowds have
been pouring in ever since. 1t Is roughly
estimated that
FIFTY THOUSAND PEOPLE
are now on the ground, and still there is a
constant rush of people through the gates.
The favorable chsnge in the weather will
permit the original programme to be car
ried out, though arrangements had been
partly made % conduct the Inauguration
ceremonies in the main building in case of
continue rain. A spacious platform has
been erected at the side of Memorial Hall,
north OF center OF the main building. Seats
are arranged on the platform for official
and ether invited guests. AT the right of
the center are the seats of the president of
the United States and members of the cab
met, and further to the right the seats OF
the United States senators, members o; the
House OF Representatives, governors of va
rious states with their stsffs, governor ofthe
state, officers of the Supreme Court and
Legislature of Pennsylvania, and represen-
tstives of the army aud navy, Smith
sonisn Institute, United States judges, and
officers OF the executive bureas and men,
bers OF the women's centennial committee.
On the left center are the seats of the United
States Su oreme Court, and further to the
left are the seats for the members of the
ka.e ~ a.
tennial board of finance, women's execu-
tive committee, foreign commissions,
mayor and council and other officials OF
Pbiladelphia, the mayors OF other cities,
state centennial boards, board of award,
judges of yacht and ride clubs, etc. Along
the front of the platform are seats for the
press. The orchestra of $50 pieces and
CHORUS OF 1000 VOICES,
under direction of Theodore Thomas and
Dudley Buck, are stationed directly in
trent of the platform at the side of the
main building. The space in front of the
platform, except that needed for passage
ways, is open to the public. Until after
the Inauguration the main building, ma
chinery hall and memorial hall are re-
served for invited guests and closed to the
pubic. A III the guests pass through the
main building, entering at the east or west
end or the south side, and thence through
the center door st the north side to the
platform. The space about the platform,
and for such distance that to see and hear
are impossible, Is crowded densely with
people waiting for the opening exercises.
IL BOAT IL the presidential party accom-
panied by the officials previously desig-
mated, proceeded to the platform, the pre-;
ideDt having been escorted to the grounds
by Governor Hartranft with division OF
military The nlatfnrn W af
crowded, and all the surrounding space
and all available points of elevation in the
neigh borhood were already occupied by
Gro wds of visitors. The orchestra, while
seats were being secured, played national
airs, and after the party on the platform
bad arranged themselves, played Wag-
ner's Centennial March, which was re-
ceived with applause. Bishop Simpson,
OF the M. E. church, then delivered the
folio wing a1
OPENING PRAYER:
Almighty and everlasting God, our
Heavenly Father: Heaven is Thy throne
and the earth is Thy foot-stool. Bsfo E
Thy majesty and holiness the angels veil
their faces, and the spirits of the just
made perfect bow in humble alteration.
Thou art the creator Of all things, the pre-
server of all that exists, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities or
powers. The minute and the vast, atoms
and worlds alike attest the ubIquity sfThy
presence and the omnipotence OF thy sway
Thou alone art the Sovereign Ruler OF
cations. Thou raiseth up one and casteth
down another, and Thou givest the king
doms OF the world TO wbonisoever
Thou wilt. The past with all its
records is the unfolding OF Thy
counsels and the realization OF Thy
grand designs. We hail Thee as our right
full Ruler, the King Eternal, Immortal
and invisible, the only true God forever
more. We come on this glad day, o Thou
God of our fathers, into these gates
with praise. We bless Tnee for Thy
wonderful goodness in the past, for the
land which Thou gsvest TO our fathers,
land yelled from the ages, from the