The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1877-05-17
Opening of the Permanent Exhibition.

PHILADELPHIA, May, 10. The streets
were crowded, and the prominent build
ings and nearly all private dwellings in
town were covered with bunting.
At 10 o'clock President Hayes with his
cabinet breaktasted with Col. McAIichael.
At about one o'clock the President and
party took carriages to the exhibition
grounds, escorted by the city troops
The city council committee having in
charge the arrangements for Gen. Grants
reception accompanied him to the Union
League House, where Gov Hartrantt and
other officials were gathered, and from
there the party started for the exhibition
grounds.
The Presidential party arrived at the
central entrance of the exhibition build
ing at 2.l5, and were at once escorted to
the platform where the ceremonies OF the
day began, according to the following
programme
Prelude, national airs, during which
the Gov. of Pennsylvani and staff enter
ed and took position on the platform: re-
ception of the President of the United
States; festival overture; prayer by Bish-
OPP Stevens; announcement Of the open
ing by Clement NJ. Biddle. president OF
the exhibition company: chorus, "Angel
OF Peace" proclamation by the President
of the United States declaring the eXhi
bition opened: hallelujah chorus; address
by John Welsh, president OF the centen-
NAL board of finance: chorus, "Alarch Of
the Men Of Columbia )" address by AL
fred T. Goshorn. director general of the
Centennial exhibitions chorus, ''Whit-
tiers Centennial Hymn" sung at the
opening of the Centennial exhibition.
Benediction invoked by Bishop Simpson,
marked the conclusion OF the ceremonies.
The music on the occasion was by $500
,choirists, accompanied by the great Boosc
Welt organ and by the exhibition orchestra.
People had been gathering in large
numbers in and around the exhibition
building since II O'clock, and all avail
able space within sight of the platform
was packed. 1t is estimated fully 10000
people were in the structure.
While the display is mainly American,
it comprises exhibits from most of the
two-score foreign nations which were re-
presented at the centennial, aud the al
engagements in the main building are
more nearly perfected than were those
in the same structure on the 9th of May,
1876. Fine agricultural displays are
made by Norway, Sweden, Denmark,
Tunis, Turkey, Spain and Brazil, and
general exhibits, equally interesting, by
China, Egypt, Japan, France. Belgium,
Switzerland, Mexico. Brazil, Austria.
Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Ger
many, Italy, Norway. Orange Free State.
Portugal, Russia, Turkey. Tunis, and
Venezuela. The longitudinal avenues Of
the building are wider than before, it
having been noticed during the centen-
NAL that the streams Of visitors flowed
principally through them, while the ira
verse alSleS remained almost deserted.
On every side the eve falls upon some ia
miliar landmark of the centennial There
is the old log cabin and New England
kitchen, where the pretty Yankee girls,
disguised us old maids OF Colonial times,
will again furnish continental dinners and
receive visitors, under the superintcnd-
ence of Miss SouthWck OF Boston, who
has added many new attractions to that
we'll remembered feature of the ccnten-
NAL. OF in the other direction are the
old wind mill from agricultural hall, the
grlndStone monument from machinery
hall, and the nammoth Kansas liberty
bell, formed of agricultural products and
suspended from the roof Briefly it may
be said that the permanent exhibition is
the Centennial deprived Of the more Oh
jectionable with nearly all that was ad
mirable boiled down and consolidated.
A novel feature of the exhibition is a
large aquarium covering ll,MO square
feet, and containing both salt and fresh
water specimens. The educational Sec
ton is also very complete, including Il
model school house, school furniture, and
collection OF natural history. The musical
pertormaL IS will constitute a permanent
attraction, special facilities being afforded
to the musical societies. associations and
schools for public concerts and rehearsalS
The attendance to-day reached over lO0,-
600 persons, there being over $4,000 dur
ing the opening ceremonies.