Birmingham state herald., 1896-06-02
RAIN COULD NOT DAMPE N Enthusiasm of TenneSSeanS at
 Nashville Yesterday. AN UNA JAAFIED SUCCESS The Centels l of the Volunteer State Was
 Mosic propriateIy Commemorated. rHlRTYg HousANO MEN WERE IN LINE Throns.Yl 5raved the Driving Downpour. The-tuzzas of 5000 School Children
 Fan the Flame of Enthusiasm.
 The Band Plays "Dixie.'
THlRTYS HousAND MEN WERE IN LINE

l Nashville, Tenn, June 1-Despite the 1 most fnclement weather conditions im- agina ble-unless a St. Louis cyclone had | struck the viciniry-Nashville and Ten- | nessee today observed the ceremonies so much talked about incident to the great international exposition which 1t Is the | purpose of the people of the state to give next year. ! The inaugural was grand success from every standpoint, and though 1t raIned all the morning while the great parade was forming, every available space in tho streets and windows along the line of march was occupied, and conservative estimates fix the size of the number of spectators and participants at 150,000 peo- pie. There were not less than 80, 900 who participated in the parade, being com- posed of the Red Men, the laboring men, the Knights of Pythlas and many other prominent secret orders, besides many civic organizations which wield a power Tn all the walks of life In Nashville. It was a magnificent demonstration of the interest which Tennesseans take in enterA prises born of pure patriotism; and, by the way, 1t is well to state that a hearty interest was manifested from all sections of the union by the presence of prominent representatives from abroad.
 Gen. Charles Thurman was chief mar shal and Col Thomas Claiborne was ad- jutant-general, and both worked hard to make the inaugural parade grand suoA cess. There were four divisions to the parade, which consisted of national and state soldiery, including both cavalry, and artillery. It was grand sight to see the procession moving down Broad street en route to Central park, and every time the United States marine band or any of the other local or visit ing bands played some bit of music like Dixie" or America" shout went up to which genuine rebel yell Is rustic of soft green leaves in June
 The state of Tennessee was 100 years old today, and as is pretty generally un- derstood the object of this celebration was a commenoration of that epoch in Tennessee history. The idea is the favor- ed child of sentiment incidentally, and the concentrated labor of several years, which has been done by enterprsing and leading spirits in Tennessee. The en- terprise has undergone many ups and downs, but now the expansion which has attended this week amounts to an expo- sition international instead of show of contrasted limited importance and scope.
 There were about 5000 children on either side of the line of march, who greeted the guests as they filed into the beautiful grounds. While the grounds were mud- dy, the crowd was not beld back by any means, and continual flow of people
  inspecting the grand buildings which are now about constrYcted and the sites which are set aside for those to come hereafter.
 The first business on the programme after the ceremonies began was the dedi- cation of the grounds to the purposes which are embodied in the charter of the company. This was done in an eloquent speech by Maj. J. w. Thomas, who Is president of the company, and as he con
 IA Wa I aA IT, man unfurled the stars and stripes to a pretty sentiment on their meaning from Major Thomas.
 The programme carried out in the morning was by the children and after the dedication the exercises a the audito- rum were proceeded with. The feature of that part of 1t was the speech of Hon, J. M Dickinson. He was really the orator of the occasion. His speech was upon the growth of Tennessee and the mag nificent record which the Volunteer State has piled up for herself during the cen- tury The Marine band furnished the music for the occasion, and this was no small feature of the programme
 The woman's board, headed by Mrs. Van Lee Kirkman, its president, held formal meeting, at which the building set aside for them was accepted and Mrs. George w. Fall, one of the most promi- nent figures in social circles of middle Tennessee, made a pretty and timely speech to the large cfOWu, WHiSh "oechh- bled to see that all was well done, when she turned the keys over to Mrs Kirk man. Mrs. Eflen Henrotihg, president of the national FederAtion of Womens clubs, also addressed the audience.
 The largest body Qf troops from the United States army which ever attended such an affair Is here. and these men, with the entire state militia, made a grand showing in the parade. There will be another one tomorrow, and that will conclude the exercises of the inaugural ceremonies.
 The large body of Washington corre- spondents, who were guests of the local Bohemian or Press club, will be held over until tomorrow, and they will take in Bell Meade, that famous home Of thor oughbreds, and several other of the more interesting historical places with which the Nashville vicinity abounds.
 HAMMOND RELEASED ON PAROLE. The American Mining Engineer Allowed to
 Visit His Sick Wife.