The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-05-24
KENosHA, WISCONSIN, THURSDAY, MAY "a, 1877


until in 1876, she suddenly developed
into a metropolis. All the world was
then amazed at the unexpected indica-
lions of Yankee enterprise and energy
everywhere visible The inertia of
other years was apparent only and the
Centennial Exhibition was the natural
outgrowth of a modest, quiet, but not
dormant spirit already felt in number
less directions of human effort. The
sweets Of public recognition and adula-
ton, once tasted, the Centennial season
had scarcely closed before ten thousand
tongues clamored for the perpetuity of
the superb cosmos of wonders, and ere
the eyenful year faded into the mighty
past, the Exhibition was no longer a
vague suggestion, but q predestined
fact. A company with capital of
$s500000, was formed; thousands Of
exhibitors Immediately offered con-
tirbutions; the Main Building was
purchased for $250,0OO, its 20 acres of
floor space rearranged for varied uses );
the elaborate displays properly install
ed; hundreds Of noted personages res
pended favorably to the invitation to
be present, and on the 10th Of May,
1877, the anniversary of the great Cen
tennial inaugural, the permanent Inter
national EXhibitionWas opened to the
world. To convey any adequate idea
Of the enthusiastic reception which in
this city greeted the new enterprise
would require not newsletter, but a
series of descriptive articles, aided by
the combined powers of photographs,
paintings, dioramas and the latest i'm
proved telephones.
Mete0rologically the day differed but
little from it's memorable predecessor.
Old Probabilities telegraphed the night
before that the weather should be clear !;
but he must have found considerable
difficulty in keeping his promise, for
the sky was overcast with threatening
clouds from the hours at which the
almanac asservated that the sun rose
and set, and the entire force of the
Weather Bureau could not prevent a
few trickling tears escaping Dame
Nature during the afternoon. Staid
old Philadelphia however has recently
seen too many monster celebrations to
be frightened by an ominous cloud, and
therefore, notwithstanding the dusky
light, every street in the city was in
gala-dress; myriads Of flags and stream
ers of all imaginable shapes, sizes, and
nationalities futtered in the breeze /;
+, heavy festoons of red, white and blue
/ bunting ruStled about the larger build
ings, while from innumerable flag
poles gaily waved the American colors.
AT an early hour the air was vocal with
the hurrying roll of nuberless vehicles
en- route to the Exposition grounds ;the
street-cars heavily freighted bowled
along at double speed; merry shouts Of
Joyous laughter mingled with the tread
Of steeds and ceaselees rumble of
carriages, and ever and anon the rever-
berating thud Of q bass drum, the
enlivening rattle of smaller but noisier
instruments of torture; the shrill,
piercing notes of accompanying flies and
the distant harmonies of brass bands
all combined to tell the story Of gener-
al rejoicing. Neither a national nor
a municipal enterprise is the new Ex-
hibition, and yet it was very evident
that last Thursday the great public had
determined to give it good send off,
and they did. BY halfpast nine o'clock
the aspect Of the Centennial grounds
wildly recalled the gayest of red-letters
days Of 1876. Barring the absence Of
few red-turbaned Turks, outlandishly
attired Moors, dark-skinned Tunisians,
black-eyed Egyptians, monogram-back-
ed japanese and pig-tailed Cinnamon
the general appearance of the scene was
delightfully."-, yet in some respects pain
T fully suggestive Of a glorious season
which cannot in our lifetime return.
The Main Building, in which the pres
ent Exhibition is held, Machinery Hall
and horticultural Hall still stand in
all their prestine wonder of architecture
al expanse and beauty. The Judges
Pavilion, the Japanese, Swiss, German
and English buildings also remain and
here and there can be seen the several
State cottages presented to the city.
All the statue, monuments and foun-
tains including the marble statue of
"Washington crossing the Delaware"
the equisitely beautiful group of"Relig-
Gus Liberty" presented by the Hebrews
societies, the artistic statue Of ''Colum-
bus erected by the Italians and the
monster fountain and collection of
statues contributed by the T. A. b.
Union, still adorn the gracefully Dor
dered avenues while the absence of the
unsightly fence and scattering booths
give the place park-like and cosmopoli-
tan air previously unknown. Through
this vast and now truly magnificent
space, the crowds roamed at will,
Except that they looked less care-worn
and traveled-stained, they differed little
IN general appearance from those seen
last year;) but at II o'clock the signal
was given for opening the East and
West doors of the Main Building, and !
then followed the usual rush for the