New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-05-11
THE CEREMONIES OF OPENING.

Exhibition IN the Main Building OF the former Centennial
Fair opened tbs afternoon In the presenc OF vast
concourse OF people Tie morning dawned cool ana
cloudy but not drop OF rain fell during the day Cen
tennal flags and banners TAKEN at the request OF
the Mayor from the shelves on which they have lain
during the Winter and to-day the city was almost IA
gayy decorated year The hotels and principal
shops well nigh hidden by the bunting which they
displayed Stores were closed at early hour, and the
city kept almost universal holiday. In the morning
long lines of vehicles and crowds of persons on foot
began moving toward Fairmomt Park and the horse
cars running thther were filed to overlooking.
It had been decided that the gates should
not he opened until IL O'Clock put
before throng surging about them was 80
great that it determined to relieve the pressure at
once Without the grounds the scene vas almost as AMI
mated as a year ago to-day. The Main Bu ldins pre-
sented precisely exterior appearance as when
the worlds Fair opened. 1t does not show the
years wear and the fronts and towers were as bright
with flags
About O'Clock the organist began pOtpOurl or ma
toua airs the midst OF which Gov Hartranft and his
staff took their places the platform JUST below the
tiers of seats which been built from the floor to the
organ gallery Half hour later ex-PFesident Grant
arrived accompanied by Mayor Stokley and James W.
Paul his host The ex-Prcsdent greeted by long
continued applause he took the seat on the eight OF
that placed for President Hayes. and many gentlemen
stepped forward and shook hands with him. II re-
marked that ne looked uncOmnony vigorous and sew
eral years younger than couple OF months ago
Meanwhile, away from the grounds, the details OF the
Presidents escort had been arranging and multitude
OF persons had gathered the Hobbies of the Continental
Hotel and on the neigbboring sidewalks, awaiting the
march OF the procession TO the Exhibition Al O'Clock
the President appeared at the hotel entrance and sepp'd
forward To his carriage. and enthusiastically greeted
The Presidential party consisted OF the President and
his son lWebb c. Hayes, Secretaries Eyarts, Sherman,
noy nd Ill
Boxer Accompanied by the Reception Committee, the
President and these gentlemen proceeded to the Ceuten
NAL grounds under the escort of the LIST City cavalry
troop, commanded by Col SnOwdeh. They reached the
Nam building at 2l4, after the entire audience had
assembled As the President stepped upon the PLATFORM
the which had followed hs passage through the
crowd swellcd into universal and hearty greeting no
less significant because it not boiserous, and
battery on Georges Hill bred salute OF 81 guns
The President and the exPresident shook hands
and engaged in moments cordial cohNers''
ton while hats and handkerchiefs were wav-
ing A general Introduction to the distinguished
gentlemen upon the platform followed, the organst
accompanying the saluatons with Lo, the Conquerng
Hero Comes The President then seated, with Gen
Grant Bi,hop Simpson, gen. Goshorn, Gov. Hartranft
and James c. Blaine his right. and on his lett Glenn
ent NJ BiIdle president Of the Exhibition Company,
Bishop Stevens, John Welsh Samuel j. Randall ana the
members of the Cabinet On the main platform we're the
"A
yania army and navy officers in full uniform and Tor
ecn officials Frederick Douglass was also there Every
one of the 5000 seats in tho main auditorium in front OF
the platform was occupied and the st1nding multitude
stretched far back the right and left and almost 10
the further end the south tansept Il was estimated
that when the exercises began 1000 persons were wth
in the building and that $1,000 were present during
portion Of the exercises.
The formal opening of the Exhibition was Impressive
nc spectacle rather than as ceremony, for only the
reporcrs Immediately in front OF the speakers heard the
addresses distinctly while not solitary syllable OF te
reached the ears OF vast proportion OF the audience
This was due chiefly to the ccascess and perhaps una
yodabe noise OF G0Odnaturcd but weary ana reSVes'
crowd Tie scene presented to the eye however, was
an imposing one The distinguished guests and the vast
general audience, the noble lines OF the building the
varied architecture Of the Interior presenting every adj
vantage to be derived from harmony and contrast the
cav coors OF the flags and bunting against the sonper
gray OF the roof and the long vstas opening IN every
direction combined TO form an Impressive ana uleoia
bic spectacle
THE Festival Overture, by the Exhibition orchestra
with or,ap accompaniment, followed the arrival OF the
President Bishop stevens offered short prayer, Iny0k
inc the benedctIon Of Heaven upon the completed enter
urise ard then Clement NJ Blde, president OF the com
many announced in brief address the pau and purpose
Of the Exhibition Oliver Wendell Holiness ch'fa,
" ANGEL Of Peace" TO the music Of Keer's American
HYMN then rendered by the full chorus, WIN OF
ebcstral and organ accompaniment, rolled clear and
srong over the auditorium filling all the nearer parts OF
the binding with ricb harmony. At the conclusion or
the choral President Hayes amid the repeated cheers OF
the multitude stepped the front OF the platform ana
made the proclamation 4" now declare the lnterna-
ronal Exhibition for the season Of 1877 open" The
Halcluiah Chorus, conGratulatory address Dy JoAh
Welsh president Of the Centennial Board OF Finance
eth ain. with the words Of Prof Clarke's March or
tbe Men of Columbia" commemorative address by Al
fred J. Goshorh Drec0rGeneral OF the Centennial Tx
hinton and Whittors Centennial Hymn, completed the
formal programme, and Bishop Simpson then pronounced
the benCdictiOn