Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1882-10-14
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The Penn Celebration.

The Penn Celebration.
Since the Lexington and Bunker Hill
celebrations, In the spring of 1875, the
centennial business has been more or
less overdone and the general public has
from time to time been somewhat wear
led with the subject. The greatest of
all these anniversaries, which was OBJ
served in Philadelphia, was one of such
magnitude and brilliant success that
there was very general disposition at
its close to take good long rest. Pub
lie interest was, in fact, so worn out
that the local pride of Philadelphia was
not equal to the task of maintaining any
substantial relic of the great exhibition
except Memorial and Horticultural
halls, and the contents OF these today
give but the rnerest glimpse of the inter.
national glories Of 1876.
When, therefore, it was first suggested
that there should be celebration in
honor of the founder of Pennsylvania
the public response was anything but en-
couraging. and the project dragged itself
along for ayear or two in the face Of the
popular indifference and was beset with
many difficulties. But few patriotic
spirits systematically agitated the idea,
in quiet way, Even the press of Phil
adelphis lent but little effective aid to
the scheme and seemed to be impressed
with the belief that the proposed cele-
brat ion would Le u very tame affair, if
not, indeed, a lamentable fizzle. But the
cI 81. corporation known as the Been
irl.niai association piOdded along, and at
last it presents what appears to be quite
an attractive programme, in its way,
though there will be more or less criti-
cism as to the general appropriateness
of the contemplated display. One of
the principle features, if not, indeed,
the most imposing and attractive one,
for instance, will be the military turn
out. This in itself has already called
forth from the Quaker poet, Whittier, a
timely and earnest protest. Remember
ing Penn as preeminently a man of
peace and not of war, the suwmOning of
military organizations from all parts Of
the country to celebrate his landing
does seem to be little out OF place, it
must be confessed.
But this display will be no more
inconsistent than the gathering in the
harbor of u fleet Of war-ships, with their
laundering salutes, certainly something
tina. would have very much astonished
the little company on the good ship
Welcome. Then, too, some three thou
sand members of a secret order, the Red
Men, are to participate in the parade,
and also ten thousand Knights Templar.
There will be a number of musical testi'
walls, a series of grand balls, or what will
amount to the same, brilliant displays OF
tableaux, and, finally, fireworks of the
most elaborate and costly description. II
the simple idea of appropriateness should
b. rigidly adhered to as governing the
celebration all the features above refer
red to would have to be left out entirely,
In fact, to do this would be to insure an
observance of PENIS landing of a very
primitive character, indeed. The quaint
ness of such an affair would in a measure
offset its tameness, as regarded from a
nineteenth century standpoint, but it
would require very skillful management
to prevent it rom becoming an object of
ridicule and burlesque.
Under all the circumstances the Bi.
Centennial association has done very
well, and it is to be hoped its patriotic
efforts will be duly appreciated and sus-
tained. The general idea of the celebra-
tion is that Of jubilee, and it will be
one that the people of our great COM
monwealth can participate in with gen.
uine pleasure. The whole of the festiv-
tiles will be crowded into a period of
Ourdays and four nights, beginning Oc-
tOber -. The city of Penn will he az
rayed in holiday attire. There will be
ample accommodation for all strangers
at reasonable rates, special excursion
fare on all the railroads for the week
and, altogether, the event promises to he
second in importance to the great Cen
tennial.
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