The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1877-05-18
Burlington, VT, Nav Ia. 1877.
From the Centennial City.
PUIIADEIUIA Nav II I

From the Centennial City.
PHILADELPHIA, May IL, 1877.
EDIToRs REGIsTER.-Yesterday be-
ing the first anniversary of the opening
of the great Centennial and Information.
al Industrial exhibition, it was well and
fitly commemorated, and a worthy COM
pendulum Of its now historic antecedent.
Although not as great q degree of pres
tige, perhaps, attended its Inauguration
in all respects, yet the attendance, the
interest and the enthusiasm exceeded the
anticipatlons Of even the most sanguine.
The day was suspicious, although most
ly overcast, yet the sun occasionally sent
down its radiant beams as if to recog-
nize the fairy scene, and the air was cool
and bracing. The public ceremonies
incident to the occasion commenced at
two O'Clock in the afternoon. During
the previous half hour, the dignitaries
at intervals arrived and took their seats
on the platform in the vast auditorium.
directly in front of the great Roosevelt
organ, north of the central portion, or
transept Of the main building. Space
forbids an entire enumeration of the
distinguished guests. On the front
seat of the speakers platform sat his
excellency, the president of the United
States, and ex-President Gen. Grant,
Gov. Hartranft, Secretary VIM. NJ. Ev-
arts, Bishop Simpson, Mayor Stokely,
Bishop Stevens, Hon. Mr.. Biddle, pres
ident of the permanent exhibition, Gen.
Goshorn and Hon. John Welsh, the dis
tlnguished and worthy chairman of the
Centennial board of finance last year.
In rear of the foregoing and informing
led with other guests, were Secretary
John sherman, eX-Secretary Boutwell,,
eX-Postmaster-General Jewell, Hon.
James &. Blaine, Gen. Sheridan, Fred
Douglass, and "Walt Whitman" The
author of "Leaves of Grass etc, and
many other %well-known names in civil
life. The army and navy were well
represented, and a number of foreign
ministers and consuls, as well as foreign
centennial commissioners, were on the
platform.
After an organ prelude OF number
OF national airs, the venerable Bishop
stevens of the Protestant Episcopal
church of this diocese, offered the inaue-
nral prayer, the vast multitude rising.
President Biddle then made the e
ing address; the full chorus orchestra
and organ accompaniment then render
ed, "The Angel of Peace" after which
President Biddle introduced President
Hayes TO the countless throng; after
rounds of applause had partially subsid.
ed, the president made the following
brief speech, or proclamation, 81 now
declare the International Exhibition for
the season of 1877 opened" then re-
sumed his seat amid renewed applause.
Many thought he beat or excelled ex-
President Grant in bcvity of speech. but
II was enough for The occasion.
Then followed the address of Mr..
Welch and Mr.. Goshorn, after which
Whittier's Centennial hymn was re-
produced by organ, orchestra, and
choral singing society; then the hallelu-
iah chorus was inspiringly rendered,
and the public services were brought to
a close by the benediction being pro-
nounced by the Reverend Bishop Simp-
son..
Through the influence of the "Regis-
ter" and the courtesy of Mr.. Torrey,
chief of bureau of management and
general agent Of the exhibition, | was
rendered a special card of invitation,
and assigned a seat among the reporters
for the press, in ncar proximity TO the
front of the speakers platform, which
afforded a fino opportunity of witnoso-
ing the interesting inaugural ceremon-
les, After the benediction, the vast
crowd that were so closely impacted
began TO loosen and TO partially disin-
tegrate, for the purpose of taking a cur
sorry and hurried view of the "great
show" Mr.. Editor, | only wish YOU
could have been present and caught the
inspiration of the hour, as IL would have
enabled you TO have penned n more in
telligent and insplrited account of the
view oftthe exhibits than | can hope
to do. Space forbids at this time more
than a brief allusion TO a few of the
leading points in the magnificent main
building, this colossal temple of nation
al and international industrial art and
invention. There Is one view of artis-
tic grandeur that is singly well worth
the admission fee to this great Coliseum.
] refer to a scenic view of the surrender
OF CORVALLIS at Yorktown, a painting
Oh canvass; | have been informed IL Is
over two hundred feet in length, and
thirty feet in height. 1t hangs 10 aper-
pendicular position, but presents to the
eye a nearly horizontal appearance. 1t
Is q perspective view of tr%anscendent
beauty, and presents to the vision most
marvellous proportions, The view is
nearly a semi-cirele, and gives gu appar-
ent sweep of vision of at least ten miles
TO my optical sense a gentleman at
my elbow in viewing the great dioramic
scene, suggested thirty miles instead of
my estimated ten miles; if he is an as
tute critic, surely my estimation cannot
be extravagant. In the far distance
ahoye The horizon is seen the blue arch
of sky, heoked with heecy clouds and
slanting mists, and beneath the low
Virginia mountains; still nearer l. seen
the town of Yorktown, skirted on the
left by immense sand hills, or a contin-
nous line of sand banks, keeping back
the waters of York river, whose surface
is dotted with ships of war, that were
commanded by that heroic Frenchman,
Count De erase; still nearer are seem
vast columns OF the victorious allies, the