The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1876-05-13
THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION
OPENING CEREMONIES.
MILITARY AND CIVIC DISPLAY.
one Hundred Thousand psrsous Present.

VIC hundred lnOubhuu IerS0nb TTbsonbs
The great Centennial Exhibition was
inauguratcd at Philadelphia on Wodnes-
day, the 10th inst. with imposing cere-
monies. The number present has been
officially stated at 10000. The day was
bright and sunny until the ceremonies
were ended. The city was gaily decorated
with the flags of all nations, aud put on
its brightest festal appearance. The prin-
cipal thoroughfares were crowded with
moving masses of people all conyerging to
one common centre, the pageant one Of
the grandest and most imposing the world
ever behcld, everything looking bright and
joyous in the clear atmosphere Of the beau
tiiul May morning.
The platform was erected in front of
Memorial Hail. The stand was very large,
with wings on both sides at angles. On
the opposite side terrace platform was
put up against the Main Building for the
orchestra and chorus. The distance be-
tween the two stands was about five hun
dred yards. Twenty five hundred singers,
male and female, and superb orchestra,
all under the direction of Theodore Tho
mas, occupied the seats of the music ter
race.
The grand stand was overcrowded with
dignitaries. Care had been taken to d.
vide the platform into sections for the
different classes Of official personages re-
serving the central place for the President,
and seats below in the front centre for the
representatives of the press.
Before ten o'clock great concourse of
foreign ambassadors and ministers, mem
bers of Congress, Governors of States and
their stats, centennial commissioners wear
ing their badges of office, army and naval
officers, ladies, foreign commissioners, &c.
were crowded together on the grand stand.
The collection of representatives from over
thirty governments Of the world, and Of
many colonies, besides the chief officers of
the American Union and Of many of the
States thereof, formed an assemblage such
as has never been equaled in this country
before. H
The grand platform, with its numerous
distinctive national representatives, COM
prising upwards of three thousand indiyid-
uals, furnished ample material for obser-
walton, but as the morning hours wore
away attention was diverted from them to
the steadily increasing multitude of Ameri-
can citizens gathering in the vast arena
between the music stand and that in front
Of Memorial Hall. This space, compris-
ing upwards Of thirty acres of ground, was
packed with people, The two colossal
winged horses that stand on granite pc
destals to the right and left in front of
Memorial Hall were alive with men. The
swaying assemblage in the arena, the CO.
lossal statuary, the vast building piles,
the main hall of glass and iron, and Me-
mortal Hall of stone; the bright spring
weather, the glittering uniforms, combined
to form most magnificent and imposing
spectacle.
President Grant appeared on the scene
Of the inaugural at 1870 o'clock. He had
been escorted from the residence of Mr..
George W. Childs by two brigades of
Pennsylvania volunteers, headed by de-
tachment of United States marines and
the sailors of the United States frigate
Congress as infantry. The personal escort
of the President was the First Troop Phil
adelphia City Cavalry, who wear helmets
with enormous sable-crests. The military
display as it entered the grounds and
wound around Elm avenue was very cred.
table indeed. President Grant rode in an
open barouche with Gen. Hawley, Mr..
Childs and Secretary Fish. When the
President made his appearance the stands
were crowded, and passageway across the
intervening space had 70 be kept open by
a double line Of soldiers, who were scarce
ly able to the duty The Boston Cadets,
and the City Troop, dismounted, and bat
TALON Of infantry were assigned to that
duty. As General Grant emerged from
the passageway under the music stand the
orchestra played Hail to the Chief, and
the assemblage cheered the President.
Dom Pedro, the Emperor of Brazil, and
the Empress and Mrs. Grant were already
on the platform The President shook
hands with the Emperor and others. He
then took his seat at the front Of the plat
form. Gov. Rice, of Massachusetts,, and
a numerous staff rode Immediately behind
the presidential party. His Excellency
was escorted by the Boston Cadets, four
companies, in white Austrian coats, blue
trimmings, and blue pants, and by the
Boston Lanccrs, in red coats and helmets.
The troops were well mounted, and carried
lances with pennons at the lance-heads.
Their band was also mounted. No other
Governors were in the military procession.
The cadets are finely drilled and splen-
did looking body of young men. On
reaching the grounds the infantry was
massed between the main building and
Machinery Hall.
In the glittering pageant, Maryland was
represented by her Centennial Governor,
John Lee Carroll, grandson of Charles
Carroll Of Carrolton, whose commanding
person, attended by ten Aides de Camp,
all in handsome new uniforms, was the oh.
ject of the eager gaze of the multitude.
The presence Of Maryland's Governor was
not the least important incident that rem
dered the opening of the exposition so
suspicious, and he was repeatedly cheered
us he approached the grand stand.
At signal from Gen. Hawley presi-
dent of the United States centennial COM
mission, the orchestra played the conten-
NAL Inauguration march, composed by
Richard Wagner, and was applauded
Bishop Simpson, of the Methodist Epis.
copal Church, made the opening prayer.
Then came the hymn of Whittier. The
music of the hymn is by John X. Paine,
Of Massachusetts,, a stately air, sung by the
great chorus in the accord and admirable
time, accompanied by orchestra and an
organ.
The music throughout the programme
was the great feature of the day, eliciting
hearty applause and concentrations from
the cultivated auditors on the grand plat.
form, many of whom, the foreigners es-
pecially, were amateurs and judges. The
cantata, the words Of which, by Sidney
Lanier, of Georgia, was the conspicuous
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