Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1882-10-31
Letter from PHILADELPHIA.

Founding Of the Commonwealth Of Penn
sylvania, has been literally immense in all
respects. Everything in preparation and
execution in connection with tho occasion
has been on Il grand scale. 1t extended
from the 22d to the 9th instant, inclusive.
On Sunday religious services were held
and sermons preached in nearly all the
churches commemorative Of the great event.
Monday penn's landing at Chester IL few
miles below Philadelphia was appropriately
observed.
Tuesday there was representation of the
landing of Penn at Dock street wharf, with
decorative display of the ocean ard river
craft in the harbor. During the day there
was procession of civic organizations, and
of the old and new fire departments At
night 4 display of fireworks in Fairmount
Park.
Wednesday. there was parade Of Trades,
exhibiting the industries OF the State, and
grand concert OF ! 500 voices Of competitive
singing by the Welsh. At night there was
Il procession through the streets of Histori-
cal Tabeaux, representing striking scenes
in the progress OF the State; also alegoric-
al, classic and poetical legends, with electric
lights and torchlight parade.
Thursday there was Il grand Musical
Festival, by the various singing societies OF
the city and State; parade in the dav and
reception at night, of the Knights Templar;
Regatta Oh the Schuylkill bicycle meet and
review in the park; displays of the National
sports Of the nations that settled the State,
with prizes to the most successful partici-
pants
Friday there was a military display, with
review Of land and Naval forces receptions
| At night in Academy Of Music and Horticul-
tural Hall. and general illumination.
The weather could not have been i'm
proved for all active participants in the
| preparations for the demonstration, and in
| the parades; but it was little too crisp on
Tuesday and Wednesday for the comfort of
mere spectators. There seemed to be a
thorough and hearty cooperation in the
spirit and activities ofthe celebration on the
part Of the entire population of the city, do
ing everything in their power to make it q
success, and to interest the multitude Of
strangers within their gates.
On landing day, Tuesday Tug.
beats, steam harges, and other vessels,
10 the number Of nearly two hundred, were
! formed i'll line off from League Island the
| United States naval station, vemiles south
Of the city, and escorted in due form the
mimic ''Welcome,' Il Danish bark fitted up
10 rcprcDrescnt the vessel on which Penn
came over This convoy was appropriately
sa'Iltcd i'll passing up the river to Dock street
wharf. where the unprecedented Founder"
stepped ashore, amid the changing of bells,
the screaming fstcam-whistleS, the firing
OF guns. The playing of bands of music, and
the vocltcrltions OF the swaying crowd
| Ia L.
! persons attired to represent the Swcdes,
Dutch, indians, and others, who welcomed
the original Penn on The same spot two hun
drcd years ago.
\ scene of indcscribable confusion, noise.
and pcturesqueness was here presented by
| the thousands Of men, women and children
| who shouted and crowded. us the mock dis
linGulshed arrivals strove in vain to reach
the old Blue Anchor Inn, in order fully to
carry out the planned imitation Of the an
Gent landing represented. The molly mass
finally moved off to form the line of parade
on South Broad street
The column was headed by a platoon of
police. Then came the Chief Marshal and
his staff, followed by United States troops.
under command Of Gen. Hancock, detach-
ments from the North Atlantic squadron
under command Of Rear Admiral Geo. H.
Cooper; tableauN representing military CD
uipagc of l7I6; 4 commissary wagon used
during the war, that had travelled $4,000
miles with military guard; cadets from the
schools for soldiers orphans children from
the Indian school at Carlisle, and an Indian
Band Gen. J. F. Hartranft, heading the
Custom House division; Marshall w. J.
Pollock heading the Internal Revenue divis-
ion Gen. A. l.. Snowden heading the divis.
ion from the United States mint with ma
chncry showing the various operations of
coinage: the division from the Postoilicc.
with mail wagons. and tablcaux represent.
ing the operations of the postal service in
! its various stages from then till now: Gov
ernor Hoyt and members of the Legislature;
Mayor King and the city officials; the fire,
police and other city departments the Off
GERS and committees of the Bi-Ccntcnnial
Association the landing party Carpenters
company OF Philadelphia and University of
Pennsylvania Improved Order of Red
Men; German associations, with tableallx:
volunteer liremen, about 5000, mostly from
the interior of the State, with representa-
tives from Virginia, Rhode Island, Della
ware and New Jersey butchers, about 1900,
with decorated wagons and tableaux: indie
pendent Order of Odd Fellows Italian Ben
cticial Society, with tablcaux, and civic So
cleticS.
The line was estimated to have been at
least eight miles long, requiring four hours
to pass any point. Along the entire route
the streets, sidewalks, windows doorways.
roofs of houses, and stands erected for the
purpose, were crowded with people. Flags,
bunting. pictures Of Penn, notices, UNIQUE
decorations in flowers, evergreens, canvas,
lights, &C.. were witnessed on every hand
Bands Of music were SO numerouslv inter
spersed throughout the marching column
that the strains of one would not cease ti.l
those of another fell on the ears.
Among other matters of interest there
were to be seen mingling in the crowd some
of the most grotesque convcyances from the
rural districts, which in contrast with the
elegant teams of the wealthy, very greatly
intensified the entertainment of beholders
The display of fireworks at night in Fair
mont Park was fitting finale to the mag
nilicent exhibitions of this first day. The
chief interest was in the six set pieces, viz
Landing of William Penn; portraits of Lin
coin, Washington and Garfield; PENIS