Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1876-07-14

" with another Continental Congress, the
people from early morning we're passing in
a constant and oEderly stream through the
ancient room. The frateEnal greeting
with which Boston surprised the nation .
year ago was not the salient feature Of this
national gathering. It was not needed;
but its fruits were here IN full harvest, and
men szW without comment or murmur 4
Confederate general leading the troops Of
the united colonies through the streets Of
Philadelphia.
The parade in point of numbers was the
largest ever seen in PhiladelphiA though
no larger than the writer has seen at SIX
O'Clock in the morning on the 4th Of July
in New York, where the city regiments all
turned out. But it vas brilliant psrade
because composed almost entirely Of crack
organizations from all parts of the country.
The Centennial Legion received one cOntin-
nal ovation all along the route, and the
southern regiments in it, under command
of Gen. Heth, were greeted with applause
on every hand. The march was long and
the heat almost intolerable which caused a
number to drop out from exhaustion, but
there were no serious cases.
The exercises were conducted in Indepen-
dence Square which could hold only frac-
ton Of the thrOng upon the streets. Upon
the platform sat the Emperor of Brazil,
Dom Pedro, Sir Edward Thornton, the
British Minister, Prince Oscar of Sweden,
Governors Hayes, Hartranft, Secretary
Cameron, Generals Sherman, Sheriden and
Hancock, and host Of other officials. The
music was under the direction Of the ire
pressible Gilmore and Theodore Thomas.
Acting Vice President Ferry presided in
the absence Of the President. His remarks
on being called to the position were full Of
the spirit Of that declaration so familiar tC
every American. The oratiOn by Vim. n
Evarts, Of New York, was worthy of ths
occasion; but no doubt most Of your read
ers viii have perused it thoughtfully ert
this letter reaches them. If they have not
let me advise them to do so.
These extra occasions interfere with ny
regular descriptions Of the exhibits on th'
Centennial grounds, and already have
some interesting notes in my book for nexi
weeks letter. 1t is estimated that ESQ, ,O0(
strangers were quartered in the city on tht
nightof the Fourth, and their presence hal
told upon the Exhibition in the succeeding
days. Notwithstanding all the other st
fractions of Tuesday, every avenue of the
wondrous city at the Park was throngeC
with delighted guests, and the various
structures on the ground seemed for thu
first time actually crowded. So great wa
the influx of sight-seers, that though bOtl
steam and street cars almost doubled theil
carrying capacity, they were still unsblt
to transport the multitude as fast as they
congregated at the various stations along
the routes, A careful inquiry into tn
character Of the attendance showed thai
although large proportion Of the guestl
were from Pennsylvania and adjoining
States, one-third of the whole came from
towns and cities very far distant from
Philadelphia, while net few had but re
Gently arrived from the other side Of the
Atlantic. In the afternoon the attendance
was still more increased by the arrival oi
excursions from the Eastern and Middle
States, and at the close, the department re-
ported the paying admissions at A, 7S7.