Middletown transcript., 1876-05-13
International Exhibition Of 1876 open to the

propriate. upon this Centennial occasion, to
bring together in Philadelphia, for popular
inspection, specimens of our attachments 10
the industrial and fine arts, and in literature,
science, and philosophy, as well as in the
great business Of agriculture and Of COM
merce.
That we may the more thoroughly appre-
ciate the excelIencies and deficiencies OF our
achievements, and also give emphatic ex-
preston to our earnest desire to cultivate the
friendship Of our fellow members of this great
family of nations, the enlightened agricul-
tural, commercial, and manufacturing people
Of the world have been invited to send hither
corresponding specimens of their skill to ex-
hibit on equal terms in friendly competition
ith our own. To this Invitation they have
generously responded for SO doing we render
them our hearty thanks
The beauty and utility of contribution 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 nations win afford TO you unal-
loyed pleasure, as well as yield 10 you a
valuable pra actical knowledge Of so many
of the remarkable results of the wonderful
skill existing in enlightened communities.
One hundred years ago our country was
new and but partially settled. Our neces-
stiles have compelled US to chiefly expand our
means and time in telling forests, subduing
prairies, building dwelling, factories, ships,
warehouses, roads, canals, machinery, etc,
etc. Most of our schools, churches, libra
ries, and asylums have been established with
in an hundred years. Burthened by these
great primal works of necessity, hich could
not be delayed, we yet have cone what this
Exhibition will show in the direction of rival
ling older and more advanced nations in law,
medicines, and theology; science, literature.
philosophy, and the fine arts. Whilst proud
of what we have DONE we regret that we have
not done more. Our achievements have
been great enough, however, to make it easy
for our people TO acknowledge superior merit
wherever found.
And now, fellow-citizens. hope a careful
examination of what is about to be exhibited
to you will not only inspire you with pro-
found respect for the skill and taste of our
friends from other nations, but also satisfy
you with the attainments made by our own
people during the past one hundred years
invoke your generous cooperation with the
worthy commissioners to secure brilliant
snccess to this International Exhibition, and
10 make the stay of our foreign vistors-to
whom we extend a hearty weclome-both
declare the international Exhibi ton now
open.
HALLELUJAH.
AS the President pronounced the last words
of his address, the signal for the multitude
was given by the unfurling of the flag. The
chimes began to ring, the first gun of the
salute of one hundred guns was fred, and the
great choir began to sing Hallelujah Chorus
to the accompaniment of orchestra and organ.
During the performance of the chorus the
Foreign Commissioners passed into the Main
Building and took places upon the central
avenue, before their respective sections.
THE PROCESSION.
The President of the United States, con-
Quoted by the Director General of the Exhibi-
ton, and followed by the guests of the day,
then passed into the Main Building, and
thence to the Machinery Hall. The process
sion was in charge of Mr.. 7. Fl P. Dixey, the
Master of Ceremonies, and his 25 aids.
THE MACHINERY MOVES.
On arriving at the great Corliss engine in
Machinery Hall, President Grant, assisted by
Mr.. George H. Corliss, the inventor and
builder of the engine, put the monstrous
machine in motion, with all the vast collec-
ton of machinery connected with it.
THE PRESIDENTS RECEPTION.
After this no formal order of procession
was observed, but the invited guests mingled
with the multitude, aud President Grant
proceeded to the Judges Pavilion, where he
held a general reception.
DISTINGUISHED PERSONS PRESENT.
Among the hosts of notable persons
present were President Grant and his
cabinet and the various leading officials
of the different departments Chief
Justice Waite and the Associate Judges
of the U. s. Supreme Court: the Min
listers from foreign countries and their
attaches the Emperor and Empress Of
Brazil and their escort; Hon. T. w.
Ferry, President of the U. S. Senate
and acting Vice President Of the United
States: Senators Thurman, Conkling,
Morton and others. Senator Bayard
is said to have been present, but we
did not see him, and hence cannot say
positively that be was there] Speaker
NJ. G Kerr, ex-Speaker Blaine; Gov
ernor Hartranft, Of Penn Gov. Bedle
of New Jersey. and hundreds of others.
THE DAY IN THE CITY.
Wednesday was gala day for Phil
adelphia. The State Legislature hav-
ing made it a public holiday, all bust
ness places we're closed, every kind of
work was laid aside, and the entire
population-harring, of course, the
keepers Of saloons, boarding houses and
hotels-went off on general spree -
Everybody seemed to have been seized
with fever for decorations and from
every house we're displayed the flags
of all nations. in honor Of the foreign
guests. Immense flags were suspended
across the streets, and SO profuse was
the display that-especially in Chestnut
street-it was frequently impossible to
see the length Of square at time
A perfect forest Of flag poles arose from
the roofs of the houses, and thousands
Of flags Aoated in the breeze. The
whole city was enveloped in "a mass and
maze Of bunting
1t we're utterly impossible to give in
words anything like an adequate des-
cription of the scene; the language will
not afford it, 1t was grand and mag
ni6cent beyond description. Only sight
could form any realization of it.
THE NUMBERS PRESENT.
The number Of people is variously
estimated at from $50, 900 to 800, 900.
The Philadelphia Times. after careful
estimate, based upon the number of
tickets taken at the gates and the invi-
tations issued. fixes the number at about
250,000 within the inclosure, which
would probably be an under rather than
an over estimate.
ORDERLY CONDUCT.
To the credit Of the people it was
matter Of most general notice that the
orI.r a. .c.:..