The source of this uncorrected OCR text may be viewed in the DjVu format at: http://fax.libs.uga.edu/T825xB1xI5/ or http://purl.galileo.usg.edu/ugafax/T825xB1xI5/ THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION, DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED, BEIKG A CONCISE AND GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION OF THIS GRAND ENTERPRISE, COMMEMORATIVE OF THE First Centennarj of American Independence, INCLUDING History of the Centelmlal from Inception to Final Closing Ceremonies, Description of tie Principal Buildings, Foreign Pavilions, Booths and State Buildings, with their inter esting displays, Exhibits of resources and products of the Nations cf the World | the most ingenious devices in Machinery Hall, Woman's Work in Woman's Pavilion, Jttineralogical, Archaeological and Geological Collections from all States of the Union, the Wonders of the Swiss Watch Department, the Centennial Live Stock Exhibition, Memorial Parades and Anniversaries of various Orders, Great State Days, Awards to Exhibitors Foreign and American, and numerous other subjects showing the magnitude and character of the New World's Fair, and illustrating the best achievements of human genins, industry and skill from all lands and all peoples. THE WHOLE PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED. Prepared with Great Care frem Official Sources and Material gathered on the Ground, BY J. S. INGRAM. PUBLISHED BY H "CT B B .A. E, D JBiaOS., PHILADELPHIA, PA.; SPRINGFIELD, MASS.; CINCINNATI, O.; CHICAGO, ILL. K. D. THOMPSON & CO., ST. Louis, Mo. A. EOMAK & CO., SAN FBANCISOO, CAL. A. H. HOVEY, TORONTO, OUT. Entered according to Act of Congress, In the year 1876, by H:rrB3B^E,D BKOS., In tbe Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D, 0. PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. "XTEVER before in the history of mankind have the civil- -L^ ized nations contributed such a display of their peculiar treasures as has been seen during this year at the great Centen nial Exposition, which, for six months past, has daily drawn its tens of thousands of visitors from all parts of our own and other lands. Never before have the achievements of the indus trial arts, the fine arts, and the sciences generally, shone with such lustre as gilds this epoch of the nineteenth century. Being the fruits of prosperity and peace, and in our case certainly due in no small measure to the high civilization which our glorious institutions secure, they will be specially fliemorable to the American people. Appreciating in some measure these facts, and with a sense of the universal desire for a reliable work giving a true history and an illustrated description of this great Exhibition, we have labored earnestly to place before the public just such a volume as should fulfil their desire and command their approbation. In its preparation, therefore, regardless of the course pursued by other publishers, it has been our rigid purpose to conform to a popular presentation of only those things possessing novel or superior ^attractions, without the least partiality or slightest (5) 6 PUBLISHERS' PREFACE. pecuniary consideration, lest it should bias our author in the manner of treatment of special exhibits. We have also refrained from issuing this volume before the end of the Exhibition, in order that the history should be com plete and the grand closing ceremonies fitly included. Aware that books purporting to meet this prevalent want have been rushed upon the market long prior to the close of the Exhibition, we invite careful scrutiny as to completeness before purchasing. Trusting that our book shall approach to the ideal at which we have aimed, so nearly as at least to merit the patronage of a generous public, we submit it to their kind consideration. HUBBARD BROS. CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. SKETCH OF WORLD'S EXHIBITIONS. .PAGE The Exhibitions of Imperial Eome—The International Fairs of the Mid dle Ages—The Fair of Nijni-Novgorod—The First French Exhibition of 1797—The Last Exhibition during the Napoleonic Empire—An International Jubilee—Prince Albert Struck the Key-note in 1849— The First London World's Fair of 1851—New York Exhibition of 1853—The Dublin Exhibition of 1853—The Paris Exposition of 1855—The Great International Exhibition at London of .1862—The Paris Exposition of 1867—The Vienna Exposition of 1873........... 21 CHAPTER II. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION—PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST IN PHILADELPHIA. The First Originator of the Idea—First Resolutions Introduced in Phila delphia Councils—Memorial Presented to Congress in January, 1871— List of United States Centennial Commissioners—Centennial Board of Finance—Location of Exhibition—Peculiar Claims of Philadelphia— Estimated Cost of Exhibition—Eatio Apportioned to each State—Ap propriations by Foreign Countries—Appointment of Board of Eevenue —Independence Hall—Carpenter's Hall—Old Swedes Church—Frank lin's Grave—University of Pennsylvania—United States Mint........ 41 CHAPTER III. OPENING CEREMONIES, MAY 10, 1876. May 10,1876—The Decorations in the City—The Opening of the Exhibi tion Gates—The President of the United States—His Military Escort— Arrival on the Grounds—The Scene around the Platform—The Distin guished Guests—Dom Pedro II., Emperor of Brazil, and Empress— ' Bishop Simpson's Opening Prayer—Whittier's Centennial Hymn— Address by Mr. John Welsh—Speech of President Hawley—President Grant's Address—The Exhibition Declared Opened—Grand Procession through Buildings—The Corliss Engine get in Motion by General Grant...v.................................................... 73 7 CONTENTS. CHAPTER IV. DESCRIPTION OP FAIRMOUNT PARK—PRINCIPAL BUILDINGS OP EXHIBITION. PAGE Extent of Fairraount Park—Water Works—Lincoln Monument—The Zoological Gardens—Location of the Exhibition Buildings—The Main Building—Machinery Hall—Agricultural Hall—Its Annexes—Live stock Exhibition Grounds—Horticultural Building—The Gem of the Exhibition Buildings—Memorial Hall—Its Galleries and Art Annex— —.Women's Pavilion—One Hundred and Sixty Smaller Buildings—State Buildings...................................................... 101 CHAPTER V. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS——GOVERNMENT BUILDING. Signal Service Bureau—Old Probabilities—How Weather Beports are Made—Light-House Service—Different Kinds of Lanterns—Fog Signals —Gatling Guns—Breech-loading Guns—Torpedoes—Ordnance Depart ment—Eifle-making Machinery in Operation—A Twenty-inch Bodman Gun—Geological Survey Exhibits—Pre-historic Mural Bemains—In teresting Arctic Eelics—Patent Office—The Printing Bureau—Centen nial-En velope-making Machine—Centennial Post-Office.............. 119 CHAPTER VI. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS—MACHINERY HALL. Sewing Machines—" The Little Wonder "—Bifling Gun Barrels—Type- Casting Machine—Process Described—Lockwood Envelope Machine— How Envelopes are Made—Envelope Gumming and Folding Process —Silk Twisting and Spooling Machines—Process of Spool Stamping— Grapple Dredging Machine—Gunpowder Pile Driver—Ferneries and Aquaria—Wall Paper Printing Press—Tailoring by Steam—A Stone Crusher for Eoad Metal.......................................... 157 CHAPTER VII. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS. Car Wheels—Nevada Quartz Mill—Diamond Stone Saw—Diamond Drill- Shingle Cutting and Sawing Machines—Brick-making Machines—The Process Described—Belting Exhibits—Mammoth Thirty-inch Double Belt—Type Casting and Setting Machine—How it was Operated—The Pomp Annex—Miniature Niagara Falls—Five Hundred Thousand Gallons of Water—Hydraulic Earn—Niagara Pump................ 191 CONTENTS. CHAPTER VEIL UNITED STATES EXHIBITS. PAGE Eotary Blowers—Bucket Plunge Steam Pnmp—The Little Water Witch —Noiseless Air Engine—Power Hammers—Locomotives—The first ever Bun in America, in 1833, on Exhibit—The Gatling Gun on Tripod —Gatling Gun for Naval Use—Campbell Printing Press—Gold Pen Exhibit—Hardware—Police Nippers and Clubs—Cutlery—Process of Needle-Making—Buckeye Mower and Eeaper—Dexter Carriage— General Washington's Carriage—Modern Plows—The Webster Plow— The Old Windmill—The Silsby Fire Engine........................ 214 CHAPTER IX. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS. Eotary Fise Engines—Fire Escapes—Chemical Fire Engines—Hoisting Apparatus—Combined Band Saw and Jig Saw—Scroll Saws—Moulding Machines—Veneer Chairs—Butland Marble—Terra-Cotta. Statuary and Vases—"Apollo Belvidere"—A Crystal Fountain Seventeen Feet High —Process of Manufacturing Glass—Stained Glass—Soda Water Foun tains—Magneto-Printing Telegraph Instrument—Automatic Printer— Electro-Magnetic Mallet—Burglar Alarm—Typographic Machine— The "Centennial" Organ—The Century Vase—The Brewery......... 263 CHAPTER X. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS. Ice Crushers—Centennial Photographic Co.—Combination Desk and Book Case—National and Empire Transportation Cos.—Iron-works—Hot Water Apparatus—Poughkeepsie and Point Bridges—St. Louis and Fairmount Bridges—Wood Carving by Women—Improved Flower Stand—The Complete Darner—Blast Furnace ^Charging Apparatus— Eubber Machinery—Automatic Alarm Gauges—" Plantation " Wagons —Farm Wagons................................................ 327 CHAPTER XI. UNITED STATES EXHIBITS. Stone Sawing Machines—Eailway and Horse Cars—Gas Works Charging Apparatus—Tobacco—A "Monitor" Cable Three Hundred Feet Long —Pacific Slope Exhibits—The Big Trees of California—The Great Seal of the State—Silk Cocoons—Jacquard Looms—The Process of Pattern Weaving—Needlework — Useful Inventions by Women— Coston Telegraphic Night Signals—Specimen of Wood Carving—"The American Soldier "—" The Minute Man of 1776 "—Eogers' Groups— "Battle of Gettysburg."........................................... 3o3 10 CONTENTS. CHAPTER XII. EXHIBITS OF GEEAT BRITAIN. FAGK Portable Steam Cranes—Agricultural Locomotive Steam Engine—Steam Koad Eoller—Coal Cntting Machine—Self-Acting Eeader for Jacquard Loom—English Sewing Machines—Galloway Boilers — Iron Orna mental Pavilion—Whitby Jet—Cairngorms—Eailway Signals and Switches—"Illustrated London News"—"London Graphic"—Doulton Pottery Ware—Prometheus Vase—English Furniture Display—Elking- ton Silverware—Carriages........................................ 387 ' CHAPTER XIII. BRITISH ART EXHIBITS AND COLONIAL EXHIBITS. The Queen's Pictures—" Marriage of H. B. H. The Prince of Wales"— Frith's "Eailway Station"—"The Banqnet Scene from Macbeth"— Gibswn's " Venus"—Colossal Group of America—Canadian Furs—Edu cational Appliances—New South Wales Exhibits—The " Jackass," or Settler's Clock—Queensland—Tasmania—Australia—Gold and Silver Work—Bahama Islands—Bermudas—Jamaica—Eoyal Needlework... 417 CHAPTER XIV. THE GERMAN EXHIBITS. Eoyal Porcelain Manufactory—Germania Vase—Victoria Vase—Bronzes —Frederick the Great—Ivory Display—Cameos—Jewelry—Schwarzwald Clocks—Church Organ—Chemicals—Eau de Cologne—Bavarian Toys —Woollen and Silk Fabrics—Linen Goods—Cotton Manufactures— Krupp's Monster Gun—The Krupp Manufactory—Pyramid of Spiegel Iron—Book Trade—"The Bed Cross"—The Land of Lager—Statuary —Paintings—Stained Glass Window—Gas Motor or Engines......... 429 CHAPTER XV. FRANCE. The Bronzes—"Negro Snake Charmer"—Clocks and Salvers—Porcelain Vases—Limoges Faience Ware—Decorated Porcelain Vases—Forty- Thousand-Dollar Diamond Necklace—Altar Pieces—Liliputian Watches —Gobelin Tapestries—French Carriage — "Cynophore" Carriage— French Pnblic Works—Enamelled Ware—French Art Pavilion— Lyons Velvets and Silks—Laces—Burgundy and Champagne—Toilet Soaps—Stained Glass Windows—" Eizpah Guarding the Seven Sons of CONTENTS. 11 CHAPTER XVI. EXHIBITS OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE. FACK Jewelry—Collection of Sazikoff, the Court Jeweller—"Adoration of the Magi"—Bepousse' Work in Silver—AvchinikorPs Niello Work—Mala chite Mantel-piece, Value $6,560—Lapis-laznli Tables—Block of Bough Malachite—Chopin's Bronzes—Furs and Fur Goods—Embroidered Ecclesiastic Vestments—Heavy Ordnance—Exhibit of Bine-making Operations—Models of Bussian War Vessels—Mechanical Tools—Bus- eian Type-Writing Machine—Agricultural Exhibits—Educational Ap pliances—Art Gallery Exhibits................................... 470 CHAPTER XVII. EXHIBITS OF SOUTH AMERICAN REPUBLICS. Mass of Mexican Silver, weighing 4,000 pounds—Minerals from College of Mines—Mexican Onyxes—Specimens of Coal—Maguey Plant— Paintings—Peruvian Mummies—Silver Ore—Guano—Chilian Pavil ion—Collection of Silver Ores—Wines and Liquors—Model of Machine for Amalgamating Ores—Chili Bridges—Carved Crucifix—Argentine Exhibits—Combination Travelling Trunk—Lay Figures—Venezuela Coffee and Cotton Exhibits....................................... 486 CHAPTER XVIII. THE EXHIBITS OF BRAZIL. Description of Enclosure—Display of Birds—Brazilian Bugs—Native Gold and Diamonds—Furniture—Jewelled Decorations of Dom Pedro I.—Educational Display—Pyramids of Ornamental and Building Woods—Hundred-weights of Cigars—Pavilion made of Cotton—Coffee Exhibit—Spinning Silk from Cocoons—Process Illustrated—Statistics 'on the Industry—Martial Display in Machinery Hall—Models of Steam Engines—Models of Men-of-war—Brazilian Mint—Caoutchouc— Herva Mate—Statuary—Paintings................................ 500 CHAPTER XIX. MINOE EUROPEAN STATES. Belgian Carved Pulpit—Valenciennes Laces—Magnificent Silk and Lace Dresses—Belgian Glass Exhibit—Woollen Goods—Sewing Machines- Electric Motor—Model School-house—Heavy Iron Forgings—Bock Drilling Machines—Corliss Engine—Landscapes—Historical Paint ings—Bronze Groups—Bohemian Glass—Meerschaum Pipes—Amber Chandelier—Largest Opal in the World—Spanish Exhibits—Cuban £-• 12 CONTENTS. CONTENTS. 13 and Havana Cigars—Italian Wood Carvings—Florentine Mosaics— Cameos—Twenty Thousand Dollar Ruby Necklace—The Castellani Collection—Marble Statuettes—Collection lent by Pope Pius IX...... 511 CHAPTEE XX. SWEDEN AND NORWAY. Wax Groups of Figures — Old Norse Galley—Silver Filigree Orna ments—Norwegian Iron and Steel Display—Palissy and Parian Ware— Porcelaiu Stove—Rich Furs—Lay Figures of Swedish Officers—Swedish School-house—Engineering Works of Netherlands—Lacquered Work on Wood—Exhibits of Dutch Colonies—Portuguese Manufactures—Pot tery and Porcelain Ware—Beautiful Wood Carving—Port and Madeira Wines—Swiss Watches—Smallest Watch in the World—Danish Ex hibits—Turkey Carpets—Attar of Eoses—Turkish Tobacco—Bazaar and Cafe.......................................................... 528 CHAPTEE XXI. EXHIBITS FROM AFKICA. Egyptian Section—Beautiful Gold Coffee Set—The Khedive's Horse Trappings—Antiquities and Curiosities—2,000 Samples of Cotton— Liberian Exhibit—African Youths in this Country—Display of the Orange Free State—Manufactures of Cape Colony—The Ostrich Incu bator—Tunis Steel Armor—The Bey's Mosaic—Turkish Pipes and Tobacco—Tunisian Bazaar aud Cafd—How to make Coffee............ 546 CHAPTEE XXII. JAPANESE EXHIBITS. Description of Japanese Section—Large Bronze Fountain—Bronze Vases—Porcelain and Pottery—A Pair of Vases ten feet high—Japan ese Porcelain Figures—Lacquered Ware—A Nest of Jewel Cabinets— Rock Crystals—Wooden and Basket Ware—Japanese Screens—Educa tional Appliances—Japanese Hotel—Japanese Bazaar—Chinese De partment—Hu Quang Yung—Enamelled and "Cloisonne" Ware— Wood and Ivory Carvings—Joss Houses—Chinese Pagoda—Hollow Ivory Balls—Lacquer Ware—Bamboo Articles—Tea Exhibit—Over Fifty Varieties—Rice Paper—Jade Stones......................... 559 CHAPTEE XXIII. ASIATIC EXHIBITS. Collection from the India Museum—Laterite Gold Ore Specimens—Coal Field of India—Salt Deposits—Pottery — Tusseh Silk —The Silk Worms—War Weapons in Use by the Natives—Wooden and Basket Ware—^Papier-Mache'Articles—Lacquered Ware—Process Described— Delhi Miniatures—Art Department—Dye Woods—Specimens of Indian Tea—Coffee from Ceylon—Siamese Exhibits........................ 586 CHAPTEE XXIV. STATE BUILDINGS AND STATE DAYS. New Hampshire—Vermont—Vermont Day—Massachusetts—Her State Day—Rhode Island—The State Celebration—Connecticut—Her Cen tennial Jubilee—New York—New York Day—New Jersey—" Jersey Day "—Pennsylvania—The Greatest of All State Days—Maryland— Delaware—West Virginia—District of Columbia—Combined Centen nial Celebration—Grand Tournament—Mississippi—Ohio—Ohio Day— Indiana—Illinois—Michigan—Wisconsin—Iowa — Reunion of Citi zens—Missouri—Arkausas—Kansas and Colorado—Very Fine Exhibit of Products—California.......................................... 600 CHAPTEE XXV. STATE DAYS, PARADES, ETC. Knights Templar Parade—July 3d, 1876—Torchlight Procession—Mid night Ceremonies—Fourth of July, 1876—Military Parade—Other Ceremonies—National Guards' Parade—Knights of Pythias Parade— Switzerland's Day—Parade of Volunteer Fire Department—Odd Fellows' Day—Canada's Day—Pittsburgh's Day—Reading's Day—Woman's Day. 650 CHAPTEE XXVI. THE LIVE-STOCK EXHIBITION. The Horse Show—About Two Hundred and Fifty Animals Shown— Sporting Horses—Bismarck—"Jenifer," au Arabiau Beauty—"Donald Dinnie," a Clydesdale Stallion—A Pair of Immense Cauadian Mares— The Dog Show—Horned Cattle Display—Canadian Bulls the Largest— The Queen's Cattle—Exhibition of Sheep, Goats and Swine—The Big gest Hog in the Show—The Display of Poultry—An Immense Show- That of Pigeous the Largest—Appliances for Hatching Eggs—Artificial Mothers...............................:....................... 673 CHAPTEE XXVII. SPECIALTIES. Catholic Memorial Fountain—Centennial Chimes—The Witherspoon Monument—"Old Abe," tbe War Eagle of Wisconsin—His Army Record—Kiosk of Stuffed Birds—The Elevated Railway—Electro-Mag- 14 CONTENTS. netic Orchestra—A Full Description—The Corliss Giant Engine— Blowing Engine—New England Log House—Centennial National Bank—The Bible Pavilion—The B'nai B'rith Monument............ 680 CHAPTER XXVIII. SPECIALTIES—CONTINUED. American District Telegraph Office—The Amount of "Work Accom plished—Fire Alarm Telegraph—The Kindergarten—The Hunter's Camp in Lansdowne Kavine—The Map fac-simile Telegraph—A Mar vellous Invention—The Columbus Monnment—The Egyptian Mummy— The Centennial Safe—The Smallest Steam Engine in the World...... 712 CHAPTER XXIX. HUMORS OP CENTENNIAL. Tke Deluge—How He Came to See the Centennial—Taxidermist—Mock Soldiers—"Take One"—The Centennial Liar—Doing the Centennial in One Day—Japanese Prices..................................... 727 CHAPTEE XXX. BIOGRAPHIES OF OFFICERS. General J. R. Hawley—Alfred T. Goshorn—John L. Shoemaker—Daniel J. Morrell—John Welsh—Wm. Bigler—Frederick Fraley—Mrs. E. D. Gillespie—John L. Campbell—H. J. Schwarzmann—David G. Yates. 734 CHAPTEE XXXI. DISTRIBUTION OF AWARDS AND CLOSING CEREMONIES. Distribution of Awards—Imposing Ceremonies—Address by General Hawley—Plans on which Awards were Given—Statistics of Admis sions, Daily aud Monthly—Grand Total of Admissions—Total of Cash Keceipts from Admissions—Number of Exhibitors—Closing Ceremo nies, November 10th—Prayer by Bev. Dr. Seiss—Addresses by Gen eral Hawley—Hon. D. J. Morrell—Mr. John Welsh—Corliss En gine Stopped by President Grant—Centennial Exhibitiou Declared Closed......................................................... 748 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. No. WE 1. Inside View Kansas and Colo rado Building........... 2 2. London Exhibition, 1851.... 33 ' 3. New York Exhibition, 1853.. 33 4. Paris Exhibition, 1855...... 34 5. London Exhibition, 1862.... 34 6. Independence Hall......... 55 7. Carpenters' Hall........... 55 8. Birthplace of Mberty....... 55 9. Union League.............. 71 10. Public Ledger Building..... 71 11. Masonic Temple............ 72 12. Bishop Simpson............ 83 13. John Welsh............... 84 14. DomPedro................ 84 15. Hemlock Glen............. 99 16. Fairmount Park............ 99 17. Wissahickon near Chestnut Hill.................... 100 18. View of Philadelphia from Fairmount Park......... 100 19. Wissahickon Drive......... 103 20. Fountain iu the Park....... 103 21. Chestnut Street Bridge...... 103 22. Monkey House............. 104 23. Bear Pits.................. 104 24. Main Building............. 107 25. Art Gallery................ 108 26. Agricultural Hall.......... Ill 27. Horticultural Hall.......... Ill 28. Woman's Pavilion.......... 112 29. Machinery Hall............ 112 30. Judges' Hall............... 117 31. Government Building....... 117 NO. PAOB 32. United States Post Hospital.. 118 33. Gunpowder Pile Driver..... 173 34. Grapple Dredging Machine.: 174 35. Patent Grapple for Dredge... 174 36. Window Aquaria......'..... 177 37. Arched Aquarium.......... 178 38. Table Aquarium........... 178 39. Croquet Settee with Folding Tent................... 181 40. Fernery with Folding Flower Stand................... 182 41. Fern Jardiniere....."....... 182 42. Stone-Crusher in Operation.. 183 43. Diamond Stone Saw........ 188 44. Archimedean Brick Machine. 188 45. TheOldWay.............. 203 46. The New Way............. 203 47. Power Press for making Joints. 203 48. The Old and the New....... 203 49. Belt Shop......... .......203 50. Modern Tannery........... 203 51. Band Saw................. 204 52. Pump Exhibit............. 209 53. Hydraulic Earn............ 210 54. Gatling Gun Mounted on Ship. 217 55. Gatling Gun on Wheels..... 218 56. Gatling Gun on Tripod...... 218 57. Celebrated Eotary Printing Press................... 220 58. Campbell Press Building.... 221 59. Blank Book Exhibit........ 227 60. Paper Exhibit............. 227 61. Show Case of Gold Pens.... 228 62. Police Battle and Whistle... 233 15 16 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. NO. PAGE 64. Police Shield. . ........... 233 65. Police Lantern.. ........ . 233 66. Police Club and Belt.. ..... 234 67. Police Clubs. ............. 234 73. Police Handcuffs. ......... 234 74. FileExhibit. ............. 237 75. Chemicals Exhibit......... 238 77 Buckeye IVtowcr 246 78. The Wonderful One-Hoss Shay.................... -249 79 The Modern Dexter 250 80. Two Seat Dexter. ......... 250 81. Single Seat Dexter.. ....... 250 82. Deitrich'a Perpetual Hay Press................... 253 83. Mr. Burnett's Crop of Snow- flakes.. ................. 253 84. The Daniel Webster Plow. . 254 85. Collins' Gang Plow. ....... 254 86. The Old Mill............. 259 87. Silsby Fire-Engine. ....... 260 88. Bigelow Engine.. ......... 260 89. Bethany Mission .......... 273 90. Old Depot used by Moody &Sankey... ............. 273 91. Perforated Veneer Seats.. . . 274 92. Apollo Belvidere. ... ..... 279 93. Exhibition Vase.. ......... 280 94. Gillinder's Glass House. ... 285 95. Photographers' Studio.. . ... 285 96. Druggists' Glassware. ...... 286 97. The Minnehaha ........... 289 98. The Fountain. . ........... 290 99. Anders' Magneto Printing Telegraph Instrument. . . . 293 100. Learner's Telegraph Instru ment. .................. 294 101. Family Electro-Medical Ap- 102. Bound Jar.. .............. 294 103. Electric Burglar Alarm .... 299 104. American Typographic Ma chine.. ......... ........ 299 105. Dentists' Electro-Magnetic Mallet................... 299 No. 106 107 108 109 110 111. 119 113 114 115. 116. 117 118 119 120. 121. 122. m 125. 126. 129. 130. 1 Q1 132. 133. 134 IQC 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 'Tvd. 155. 156. 157. 158. isq Centennial Organ.......... 300 The Celebrated Century Vase. 307 Silver Communion Service.. 307 Silver Pitcher............. 308 The Cellini Salver......... 308 Bryant Vase.............. 313 Aigrette.................. 314 Centennial Bronze Inkstand. 319 Thermometer............. 320 Exhibit of Kingsford & Sons. 325 Apple Parer.............. 326 Cherry Stoner............. 326 Slicer ................... 326 Low's Improved Ice Crusher. 326 Potato Parer.............. 326 Cahoou Broadcast Sower.... 326 Mrs. Stiles................ 331 Stiles' Desks (2 cuts)........ 332 Ellis'Self-Begulating Warm ing and Heating Apparatus. 337 Fall River Bridge......... 338 LeavenworthoBridge....... 339 St. Louis Bridge........... 341 Fairmouut Bridge......... 342 Thornton's Needle Exhibit.. 34 Homoeopathic Exhibit..... 376 Aveling & Porter's Farm Locomotive Engine...:.. 391 Double Engine Steam Ploughing Tackle........ 391 Koad Locomotive Crane En gine..................... 392 Liberian Ivory Display..... 551 Liberian Coffee Display.... 551 Liberian Coffee Huller..... 551 Liberian Products......... 551 Japanese Building......... 567 Spanish Building.......... 567 Japanese Paper Ware (12 cuts).................,.. 568 Massachusetts Building..... 609 Connecticut Building....... 609 N«w Jersey Building...... 610 New York Building....... 610 Delaware Building........ 621 Pennsylvania Building..... 621 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 17 No. rAOE 160. Ohio Building............ 622 161. Arkansas Building......... 622 162. Rhode Island Building..... 629 163. Philadelphia Building...... 629 164. Maryland Building........ 629 165. Old Virginia Building...... 630 166. Mississippi Bnilding........ 630 167. Wisconsin Building........ 630 168. Ice Water, free to all....... 681 169. Catholic T. A. Fountain.... 681 170. Frfench Restaurant......... 682 171. Kansas Building.......... 682 NO. FAGE 172. Old Abe, The War Eagle... 689 173. Kiosk of Stuffed Birds...... 690 174. The Corliss Engine........ 697 175. Blowing Engine........... 698 176. lolanthe Dreaming........ 703 171. New England Kitchen...... 703 178. Depl. of Public Comfort.... 704 179. Swedish School House...... 715 180. .Pennsylvania Ed. Building. 715 181". Empire Line Building..... 715 182. Hunter's Camp............. 716 INTRODUCTION. TT is the aim of this work to tell the story of the- grandest World's Fair that has ever been held, in a clear and simple manner, and to give a complete record of the many memorable events that were crowded into the short space of six months, which closed with so glorious a consummation on November 10th, 1876. The subject was so vast and comprehensive, and the difficulty of embracing in the compass of a work of this character any thing approaching to a satisfactory description of even the salient features of the enterprise, seemed at first so great, that it was with no little trepi dation that the author undertook the task. There was no doubt in his mind, that could a work be published which would give a complete yet concise account of the Exhibition from its conception, a description of the most prominent of its rich and varied exhibits, of our progress in the industrial arts and sciences, and a record of the many celebrations that were held in Phila- 18 INTRODUCTION. 19 delphia during the Exhibition, it would be welcomed by hundreds of thousands of the millions who saw the Exhibition, as a memorial of their visit. With this end in view, the present volume has been written, and it has been the aim of the author to give not a mere mass of statistical figures and facts, which would only confuse and weary the reader, but to de scribe those exhibits which more particularly marked the startling advancements that have been made in science, machinery and the fine arts. As will be seen, to the United States has been allotted a much larger space than to any other nation, and this was necessary in order to give anything like a fair de scription of the exhibition which was made, of the natural resources of our country and their development, and of its progress in those arts which benefit mankind, in comparison with those of the older nations of the world. All the foreign nations have been treated in order, seriatim, keeping each of their exhibits separate, thus rendering reference to any particular country that may be desired comparatively easy. A careful perusal will enable the impartial reader to judge for himself how successfully the United States competed in this grand peaceful contest, which was accepted by nearly every nation in the world, and how nobly Americans came forward to meet their foreign friends on this field. If any pleasant reminiscences of visits paid to the Centennial Exhibition are evoked by a perusal of this 20 INTRODUCTION. volume, or if some conception of the unparalleled grand eur and beauty of the display there made is imparted to any who did not witness it with their own eyes, then the author's task will not have been in vain. His acknowledgments for assistance received in ob taining authentic and reliable data are due, and are hereby tendered to Mr. John Wanamaker, a member of the Centennial Board of Finance and Bureau of Revenue, to Capt. W. C. Stewart, Assistant Superin tendent of the American District Telegraph Depart ment on the Centennial Grounds, and to other officers of the Centennial Commission who kindly responded to his application for official information. J. S. INGRAM. THE COMPLETE HISTORY OF THE • CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. CHAPTER I. SKETCH OF WORLD'S EXHIBITIONS. ri 1HE history of Exhibitions is full of deep interest. -L There has been a steady development of the original idea until the primitive acorn is quite lost in the wide-branching oak. Progress is the law of life, and Exhibitions, at once the outcome and the forebears of that very progress, have experienced its influence and have in turn reacted on it. Of local Exhibitions there have been many, but it is not our purpose here to refer their origin, as has been ingeniously done by some writers, to " the days of Ahasuerus " and the book of Esther, when " in the third year of his reign he showed the riches of his glorious kingdom and the honor of his excellent majesty many days, even an hundred and fourscore days," the normal six months, it may be here remarked, of all Internar tional Exhibitions. At this display in " Shushan, the palace," some five 21 22 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. hundred and twenty-one years before the birth of our Lord, were shown " white, green, and blue hangings, fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rings and pillars of marble; the beds were of gold and silver, upon a pavement of red and blue, and white and black marble, and .... the vessels of gold, the vessels being diverse one from another." This diversity in " the vessels of gold " is not only a proof of the perfec tion to which the Industrial Arts had attained, but also lends a color to the idea that this collection to a large extent was International, for Ahasuerus (said by some to be identical with Artaxerxes), as we are told, "reigned, from India even unto Ethiopia, over-an hundred and seven and twenty provinces," and the gold and silver work would point to India, as the purple would suggest the Tyrian dye, and the "fine linen " the Egyptian " byssus." Later on, when Tyre, Sidon, and Carthage became the marts of the world and the foci of Commerce, an everchanging series of indus trial marvels must, in commercial phrase, have been constantly " on view," for Tyre, says the prophet Isaiah, "is a mart of nations .... whose merchants are princes, whose traffickers are the honorable of tjie earth," and the prophet Ezekiel bears witness to the extent of her commerce, in the words " Fine linen with broidered works from Egypt, was that which thou spreadest forth to be thy sail." When the last of her rivals had disappeared, and Carthage had been blotted out, Imperial Home, the centre of civilization and the repository of art, held her public Exhibitions, in which were garnered together the spoils of war and the triumphs of peace, trophies of art borne by the conqueror from their Grecian homes, and luxuries ingathered from every clime where the THE FAIRS OF THE MIDDLE AGES. 23 Roman Legions had set foot or the Standard S.P.Q.R. had been planted,— Fine webs like woven mist, wrought in the dawn, Long ere the dew had left the sunniest lawn, Gold cloth so wrought that nought of gold seemed there, But rather sunlight over blossoms fair; Gems too they showed wrought by the hidden fire That eats the world; and from the unquiet sea Pearls worth the rausora of an argosy. But invasion followed division, and the Empires of the East and West alike went down before Hun? Goth, and Moslem, and dark days came when the sword was lord. 1 For many subsequent centuries, such an idea as a collective display of articles of either art or industry would have seemed a chimera beyond even the wildest dream of the most visionary enthusiast, for though the process of collection might and doubtless would have been tedious and uncertain, that of distribution would have been as rapid and effective as a high-handed pro cess of annexation by some robber band or neighboring potentate could make it. Nor could even a strong body of troops have been depended on to guard such treasures, for the greatest difficulty of all would have been " to guard the guards themselves." The true germ of International gatherings, whether known as Exhibitions, Expositions, or Weltausstellungs, must be looked for in the great International Fairs of the middle ages. The enterprise of travel begotten by the Crusades had permeated from the soldier to the trader,' and as security was found in society, the merchants of those days made commercial pilgrimages and interchanged merchandise at certain times and given places of resort. Some of these fairs survive to 24 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. our days, the most notable being those of Leipzig and Nijni-Novgorod. There is another fair as noteworthy, though not so noted, as Leipzig, as respectable too in its antiquity, for it can trace its origin back to the fifth Crusade, the thirteenth century, the defeat of the Crusaders, and the capture of Louis, Saint and King, and this is the great Egyptian Fair of Tantah. Seated in the heart of the Delta, on the direct railway route from Alexandria to Cairo, at the junction of the branch line to Mansourah and Damietta (the former the place where the Cross went down before the Crescent), and inhabited mostly by "fellahs," Tantah has neither houses to receive travellers nor bazaars to display goods, so the vast plain on either side of the railway is, in fair-time, studded by thousands of tents. Held at midsummer and lasting for a week, more picturesque in its surroundings than either Leipzig or Nijni-Novgorod, it is to the full as International in its concourse and commerce. To pass on from this, however, we come to the year 1756, when the British Society of Arts first inaugurated its series of Fine Art Exhibitions, by offering prizes for improvements in the manufacture of tapestry, carpets, and porcelain, the articles exhibited being ranged in competition. This was followed in the year 1761 by an Exhibition of agricultural and other machinery, in the rooms of the Society, for which prizes were offered, and a gentleman engaged to explain the merits of the various objects, this individual combining in himself the powers of a Board of Commissioners and the attributes of a showman, and with this ended any other attempt for many years to create a National Ex-. hibition. It is indeed to the year 1797 (the year V. of the THE FIRST FRENCH EXHIBITION OF 1797. 25 French Republic) that we must look -for the true initiation of National Exhibitions. In that year the Marquis d'Aveze conceived the idea of a collective dis play of the industries, originated by the kings, and protected, when so much went down, by the people of France. His conception was to mass together the pro ducts of the art factories of Sevres, the Gobelins, and the Savonnerie; his exhibition palace was ready to hand, in the Chateau of St. Cloud, then as now dis mantled and uninhabited, but still a palace; the Min ister of the Interior, M. de Neufchateau, was propitious, and all seemed favorable to the project. So d'Aveze went to work with a will, the bare walls were hidden by priceless tapestries from the Gobelins, the floors covered with the carpets of the Savonnerie, the " Chambre de Mars " set apart for the picked porce lain of Sevres, and this was the beginning of Fructidor. Everything promised well; in this same Chamber of Mars a Wheel of Fortune was to be set up; the prizes were contained in the Exhibition itself; daily the courtyard of the chateau was crowded with the carriages of the nobility that still remained faithful to their dar ling Lutetia, and the day of opening was named, the 18th Fructidor. Alas for the vanity of all earthly things! The pre vious day saw the gates of Paris placarded with the bills of the Directory, ordering all the nobility by name —it was, indeed, easy to count their numbers, for exile, conscription, and the tumbril had thinned their ranks —v to withdraw within twenty-four hours to, at least, thirty leagues from Paris," and on this damnatory list was the name of d'Aveze. Was ever projector so unfortunate ? To remain was to court death; to fly was to cutoff the possibility of return; 26 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. for he and he- alone was responsible for the contents of the chateau. But d* Aveze was a man of expedients; he sought out the Marshal d'Augereau, and obtaining from . him a troop of dragoons, he forthwith placed them in charge of the chateau and its contents, and handing up the keys to the custodian, Marechan, the Marquis placed himself with all despatch outside the circle of conscrip tion. In the next year, 1798 (the year VI. of the Repub lic), in the Maison d'Orsay, No. 66 7-, Rue de Varennes, he realized the scheme, previously abortive, and the success of the display was so pronounced that the Minister Neufchateau carried out another Exposition in the three last days of the same year. This first official Exhibition, with a total number of 110 exhibitors, was held in a temporary building in the Champs de Mars; in it not .only the State industries, but the manufac turers of France, that is to say Paris, were represented. This was the first Art Exhibition of Napoleon. The Directorate had merged into the Consulate and the times were unquiet, but the master mind of the First Consul had fully realized the great advantages likely to accrue, not merely to manufacturers but to the country at large from comparison and competition, and the Minister of the Interior was therefore instructed to issue circulars inviting contributions for a second exhibition; and special committees of experts were formed in each department to select exhibits and to examine into the merits of inventions. The appeal was so far successful, that 229 exhibitors (more than double the number in 1798) answered to the call, and the Second Official Exhibition was held in 1801 in the Grand Court of the Louvre. A further proof of the advantages Napoleon discerned in securing the cooperation of the industrial section of EAELY EXPOSITIONS IN FRANCE. 27 the country is manifest in the fact that the recipients of the " gold medal" were invited by him to dinner in «his capacity of First Consul; and this was the first recognition in France of the great bone and sinew of every country—.the middle class. The Third Exhibition was also held in temporary buildings in the courtyard of the Louvre, and so great had been the success of the second in stimulating trade and alleviating the distress of the artisans, that only the short breathing space of one year was allowed to elapse, the time selected being the Fructidor of the next year 1802 (the year X. of the Republic). The catalogue, in forty-eight small pages, styled this display " Exposition Publique des Produits de 1'Indus- trie Franchise," and shows the number of exhibitors to have increased to 540, amongst whom are to be noted the names of Montgolfier, the proto-aeronaut; Vaucan- son, the inventor of the mechanical Duck and the Flute Player (those Wandering Jews of Continental fairs); and Jacquard; and it was from a machine exhibited by the great mechanician at this very Exhibition that Jacquard drew the first inspiration for his famous loom. '• Four years passed away, Napoleon had become Em peror, before the Fourth Exhibition (the first and last during the Empire) was held on the Esplanade of the H6tel des Invalides, with a total number of 1422 ex hibitors. Then the toga gave way to the sword, then came Moscow, Leipzig, Fontainebleau, Elba, Saint Jean, and Saint Helena, and the Bourbons reigned, but not till 1819 was the idea resuscitated in the courtyard of the Louvre, the bede roll of exhibitors, 1662, showing in thirteen' years for the Fifth Exhibition but a meagre increase of 240; it has been said, however, though the 28 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. THE riBST LONDON EXHIBITION OF 1851. 29 quantity of the exhibitors stood comparatively still, the quality of the exhibits had rapidly progressed. 1823 and 1827 completed the series of Quadrennial Expositions (taking 1814 as the basis, and allowing for the interval of "The Hundred Days"), both held as before in the Louvre, the first showing 1648 (a slight decrease) and the latter within five of 1800 exhibitors. The Fourth Quadrennial never saw the light, but in 1827, the year of the Seventh French Exposition, the Royal Dublin Society inaugurated the series of Trien nial Exhibitions in their grounds which worked so well and did so much to promote and encourage Irish in dustries, and which were presented in regular succession until the last, in 1850, served as the forerunner, and was fused into the mass of International Exhibitions. It would be tedious and unnecessary to give in detail the various Exhibitions which were held in every capital in Europe from this time on, some purely local, others more catholic and comprehensive, but all strictly national; and no one had the courage to depart from the beaten track, to suggest a comparison with other countries, till the late Prince Albert struck the key note by his first suggestion of an International, Jubilee, " to form a new starting-point from which all nations were to direct their further exertions." At a meeting of the Society of Arts, held on June 30th, 1849, in Buckingham Palace, the Prince explained the outlines of that great scheme which owed so much of its subsequent success to the rare administrative ability of its author and founder, and suggested the grouping of the Exhibits into four main heads, Raw Material, Machinery and Mechanical Inventions, Manu factures, and Sculpture and Plastic Art. From that day no time was lost by distracting counsels or futile delays, the 3d of January of the following year saw a Royal Commission appointed, on the 13th of March architects of all nations were invited to compete, the 8th of April witnessed 233 plans submitted, on the 10th of June they were on exhibition at the Institute of Civil Engineers in Great George Street, Westminster, only to be rejected " as no single plan was so accordant with the peculiar objects in view, either in the principle or detail of its arrangement as to warrant them (the Building Committee) in recommending it for adoption." On the 18th of June Sir Joseph, then Mr. Paxton, sub mitted to Mr. Robert Stephenson the rough sketch on a blotting-pad of what was to Jbe the Faerie Palace by the Serpentine; in ten days the elevations, sections, working details, and specifications were carried out; on the 6th of July they appeared in the Illustrated London News, and the suffrages of the masses secured, on the 16th they were accepted; on the 26th the tender of Messrs. Fox and Henderson was ratified; on the 30th the contractors took possession of the ground; on the 15th of August the charter of incorporation was issued; and on the 26th of September the first column was in its place. Without dwelling too long on details, it may be well before passing on to let facts and figures tell their own etory of success. The building covered over twenty acres, its length in feet corresponded with the year of its erection, being 1851; it cost $965,840.00; it was open five months and fifteen days; it produced $2,530,- 500.00; the total number of visitors was 6,039,195, and the total receipts, both at the door and from season tickets, amounted to $2,118,960.00. The aggregate number of exhibitors was 13,937, of whom Great Britain contributed 6861, the Colonies 30 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. 520, and the rest of the world 6556. Persia furnished 12, China 30, Greece 36, and Denmark 39, to this array, a remarkable contrast to their muster-roll in subsequent Exhibitions. The estimated value of the contents was $8,900,645.00. The awards consisted of the Council Medal, ranking with a Diploma of Honor, the Prize Medal, and a Cer tificate of Honorable Mention, distributed as follows: Council Medals, 171; Prize Medals, 2954; and Hon orable Mentions, 2123. The glass and iron mode of construction has since made the circuit of the globe; New York in 1853, the " second edition," revised and improved, at Sydenham in 1854, the miniature copy at Melbourne, and the Glas Palast at Munich in the same year, the Dublin Exhibition of 1865, the Paleis Van Volksvlyt at Am sterdam in 1869, were nil modifications of the great example of 1851, whilst the experience of a quarter of a century has suggested no more fitting materials than iron and glass for the Industrial Building of 1876. But the Great Exhibition did not alone endure in 'its prototypes or in a series of World's Fairs; all these are but a means to an end, its truest monument is to be found in its offspring, South Kensington Museum and its compeers ; by their means the blossoms of one display have become the fruits of the next; the taste for the beautiful, by their example, has been spread broadcast all over the earth, and Art has become the ally and not the antagonist of Industry. South Kensington Museum may be regarded as an A B C of Art (the number of visitors from its begin ning show at the present day an aggregate of nearly 15,000,000); it was the schoolmaster at Jiome, it taught' THE NEW YORK EXHIBITION OF 1853. 31 the masses through their eyes, its nucleus consisting of gifts and purchases to the extent of $45,000 from the Exhibition of 1851, bit by bit it was built up, treasure by treasure it was added to, no large sums were voted for it; here was a purchase, there a gift or a bequest, until in this present day it recalls in many features the Green Vaults of Dresden or the Imperial Treasury of Vienna. It was the first to realize the fact that for women there were other occupations than the needle, whether that of the little steel stiletto, the sewing machine, or the telegraph, and the results are every where apparent, in the porcelain of Minton, in the black and white designs of the illustrated papers in the .{'Roll Call" and the "Quatre Bras" of Miss Thompson. 1853 witnessed two International Exhibitions, one at New York, the other at Dublin. The Exhibition at Gotham owed its origin to the enterprise of Mr. John Jay Smith of Philadelphia, who conceived the idea of transporting en Hoc the contents of the palace of Hyde Park to New York, and exhibiting them in a building of somewhat similar construction. Modelled in the form of a Greek cross, with a central dome for occasions of cere mony, and, following its prototype of 1851, constructed of glass and iron, the building itself was almost perfect both in design and execution; but the originator fell ill, and as all Napoleon's Marshals could not make the man, so when the idea passed into the hands of a joint stock company, it succumbed to circumstances, for divided counsels brought delays, and its history may be briefly written as financial failure and its end fire. The International Exhibition at Dublin owed its initiative to the public spirit of William Dargan, who proposed to spend $100,000 on a building at Dublin to 32 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. receive the industries of the Nations, but as the idea grew, so grew his gifts, until his contributions reached the total, unequalled for any individual for a similar purpose, of $400,000. The Exhibition of 1853, unlike that of 1851, was built mainly of wood, its site was the lawn of the Royal Dublin Society, and the general idea it gave was of five Brobdignagian vegetable marrows laid side by side, the front presenting five ovals in roof and walls. The main hall was 425 feet in length by 100 in width, and 105 in height; and the side aisles ran in lesser proportions, there being no transept. The duration of the Exhibition was from the 12th of May to the 31st October, Her Majesty, accompanied by the Prince Consort and the Prince of Wales, then a lad of twelve, visiting it in state on the 29th of August. Munich in 1854, with her 7005 exhibitors drawn from every part of Germany, presented a total unsur passed until the World's gathering at Vienna in 1873. The building, which still survives, designed by Herr • Voit, was constructed of glass and iron, and recalls in many features the exemplar of 1851, the main differ ence between them being the substitution of a square- towered transept for the well-known circular roof. For a building devoted purely to national display its extent was considerable, being no less than 850 feet in length by eighty-five in height. During all this time the French had been busily planning the details of their first International gather ing. The decree appointing Commissioners for an Exposition Universelle to be held at Paris in 1855, with Prince Napoleon as President, was signed by the Em peror on the 24th December, 1853. The main build- LONDON EXHIBITION, 1851. NEW YORK EXHIBITION, 1853. THE PARIS EXPOSITION OF 1855. 35 PATCIS EXHIBITION, 1855. LONDON EXHIBITION, 1862. ing was the Palais de VIndustrie in the Carre Marigny, which has since witnessed so many changes, at one time welcoming the Royalties of Europe, at another devoted to the service of contemporary art, and then again desecrated to be a receptacle for a show of dogs or horses. The building with its fagade of stone is un doubtedly an ornament to the Champs Elysees, but the builder's bill was a heavy one, amounting to no less than half a million. There were many modifica tions to the original design, including a rotunda, styled the panorama, set apart for the display of the jewels of the Empress and those of the Queen of Portugal, and choice specimens from the looms of the Gobelins and the ceramics of Sevres. This building formed the bond of union between the main structure and the annexe devoted to raw produce and machinery, which extended for three-quarters of a mile along the Quai de la Conference from the Place de la Concorde to the Pont de 1'Alma, abutting on the Avenue Montaigne, in which was situated the Palais des Beaux Arts. The financial history of 1855 was an unpleasant memory, the expenses amounting to not less than $5,000,000, whilst the receipts, all told, came to but $640,000. A'portion of this deficit must be set down to unreadiness, the opening taking place on the 15th of May in lieu of the 1st, and even then the several departments were inaugurated in detail, the agricul tural on the 5th June, the annexe on the 10th, and the panorama no sooner than the 30th. But once fully opened, it was an undoubted success, and the small- ness of the receipts may be partly attributed to the kindness of the Emperor, who set down the sums for admission on so low a basis that the poorest of his subjects could enter, there being twenty centime days, 36 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. whilst on the 27th May the doors were opened gratui tously to all comers. The duration of the Exhibition was from the 15th May to the 30th November, a total of 200 days, Sundays included; the number of ex hibitors was 20,839, being an increase of half on the London total of 1851, whilst the visitors attained the maximum of 5,162,330, against 6,039,195 in 1851, scoring, however, on Sunday, the 9th of September, 123,017 as the greatest number, against the 109,915 registered on Tuesday, October 7th, 1851. The Fine Art Gallery was, however, the feature of the Exhibi tion, it being the first contemporary International dis play of any magnitude. Visitors to it will doubtless remember the statue of Minerva, formed of ivory, gold, and gems, and evolved from records of the marvellous work of Pheidias in the Parthenon. The original was, so say historians, forty feet in height, this reproduction executed by M. Simart, for the Due de Luynes, being, needless to say, of much more humble proportions. Passing on through the local industrial celebrations at Brussels in 1856, Lausanne in 1857, with 2050 ex hibitors, Turin in 1858, and Hanover in 1859, the magnificent Fine Art Exhibition at Manchester, and the Dublin, Edinburgh, and Italian Art Exhibitions of 1861, we come to the great International Exhibition at London of 1862, which, owing to the loss the nation had sustained by the death of Prince Albert, on De cember 14th, 1861, had to struggle against the absence of court ceremonials, and to rely for success solely on intrinsic merits. The building of brick, unornate, not to say plain, was externally distinguished by two domes, one on the axis of each transept. These domes, composed of iron and glass, rose to a height of 200 feet, were INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION AT LONDON OF 1862. 37 crowned by ornamental finials fifty-five feet high, and had each a diameter of 160 feet. The main building was a parallelogram, about 1150 feet long by 560 wide, and the total area roofed in was 988,000 square feet, the total space covered and uncovered amounting to no less than 1,231,000, and the total cost some £460,000. The domes and the Picture Galleries were the great successes of the designer, Captain Fowke, and the erec tion of the former by Messrs. Kelk and Lucas was a triumph of engineering skill. In the industrial and machinery sections the pro gress was marked in every branch, but it was in the department of Fine Arts that the 1862 Exhibition stood pre-eminent. Here were Hogarth, Gainsborough, Reynolds, Wilkie, and a goodly company of those great masters of British Art who had passed away, with those giants of the palette, Maclise, Mulready, Clark- son Standfield, Sir Edwin Landseer, and David Roberts. Thirty thousand people assisted at the opening by the Duke of Cambridge; 2000 choristers and 400 musicians gave effect to the setting by Sir Sterndale Bennett of the Poet Laureate's ode; and the effect, both of sight and sound, was one of extraordinary magnificence. The Exhibition opened on the 1st of May, and closed on the 15th November, being a total of 171 days. The amount received was $2,042,650, and the number of visitors 6,211,103, the maximum being attained on Thursday, October 30th, with 67,891. 1865 saw many varied gatherings, all International, that of Amsterdam being devoted to flowers, at which, strange to say, neither black tulip, blue dahlia, nor green rose, put in a claim for the Grand Medal of Honor. Paris, calling a cheese conference, at which Stilton, Cheddar, Glo'ster, Gruyere, Brie, Roquefort, Bondon, 3 38 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Limberger, Liptauer,Schapziger, Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Ementhaler, and Gouda stood forth as the representa tives of casein; whilst the displays of Dublin, Oporto (3911 exhibitors), and Stettin (1451 exhibitors), ap pealed to the general mass of industries. The Dublin Exhibition of 1865, like that of 1853, owed much to the liberality of a citizen, the munificent donor on this occasion being the late Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness. The building, a gossamer-like structure of ' iron and glass, was opened on the 9th of May by the Prince of Wales in the presence of some 10,000 spec tators, and was closed on that day six months, having been open 159 days and fifty-one evenings, the total number of admissions, exceeding 900,000, being an average of 5000 by day and 3000 by night. Between the Avenue de la Bourdonnaye and the Avenue Suffren, on a historic site, stood in 1867 the edifice denominated by the Emperor Napoleon as a " magnificent gasometer." To Prince Napoleon is due the conception of the idea, and the words of the Iinpe-. rial Commission fully describe it "An area with two main entrances, manufactures, and products of cognate natures, to be arranged in concentric bands, with a .garden in the middle. The different nationalities to, intersect the bands by transepts or avenues radiating from the centre." Admirable in theory, you passed down one of the spokes of this monster wheel, and . you saw all that the country had to show; you went round an ellipse, and the relative qualities of similar productions in various lands were all presented. The external ring of the building was devoted to ma chinery, the internal to the " History of Labor," begin ning with Gaul before the use of metals, and ranging through the first and second epochs of caves, the age THE VIENNA EXHIBITION. 39 of stone, the age of transition and of lacustrine dwell ings, free Gaul, and Gaul under the Romans, the days of Charlemagne and of the Carlovingian kings, the Moyen-age, the Renaissance, and all the changing fashions at home and abroad down to the commence ment of the last century—a magnificent idea in truth, and superbly carried out. Indeed in every sense was the Exhibition of 1867 a marvellous spectacle, with its park studded with mosques, Russian " slobodas," Swiss chalets, Tunisian kiosks, Swedish cottages, English lighthouses, Egyptian palaces (with a Museum of Egyptiology arranged by Mariette Bey), stables for dromedaries, a temple, and an " okel" or caravanserai, all massed in picturesque confusion. One feature of the Exhibition was the engineering triumph of the age and of M. Ferdinand de Lesseps, the model of the Suez Canal, with its navy of dredges, steamers, and boats. The Exhibition opened on the 1st April, 1867, arrc! closed on the 3d November, a total of 117 daysy, Sundays included; the total number of visitors was? 6,805,969 ; that of exhibitors, 42,217, and the amount received, $2,103,675. The greatest number of visitors on any one day being 173,923, on October 27th. The Weltausstellung, in the Prater of Vienna, made memorable a year otherwise unnoteworthy,, but the splendid pageant of 1873 is so much a thing; of to-day, that there seems little reason to again describe the main building with its rotunda (within which all the domes of the world could be enclosed), surmounted by the monster model of the Imperial crown, its jewels winking in the sunlight, its hall with marvels of ma chinery, its Palace of Fine Art, its Museum of Ama teurs, its Agricultural Halls, and the four hundred 40 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. buildings set in its splendid park, the Persian palace with its mirror mosaic, glistening in the sun, Turkish, Egyptian, Japanese, Roumanian, Styrian, Swiss, Rus sian,1 Kirgish, Samwede, Sclav, Moorish, German, Bo hemian, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, French, and Eng lish dwellings all scattered amidst woodland scenery; and as Paris in 1867 placed on view the triumph of her engineer, so Italy put in evidence the latest result of human skill in a monster model of the mouth of the Mont Cenis Tunnel, railway, signals, and train com plete. 186 days was it open, Sundays included; its visitors were 6,740,500, and its receipts $1,032,385. So from the five great International Exhibitions (London, 1851, 1862; Paris, 1855, 1867; Vienna, 1873), we get a total of 32,959,097 visitors, and a cash aggregate of $7,940,820. And now this year, 1876, has witnessed the grand est and most complete realization of the idea of a World's Fair, the International Centennial Exposition, commemorative of the One Hundredth anniversary of American Independence—the most interesting of all similar Exhibitions, because of its commemorative character as well as from its having been the largest in area, the widest in scope, and the most numerously attended of all its predecessors. It was unprecedented, also, in this fact, that it con nected a National Celebration with an International Exhibition, thus identifying the Independence and History of America with the Industrial Art and Progress of the World. CHAPTER II. PREPARATIONS FOR THE CENTENNIAL EXHIBITION——PLACES OF HISTORIC INTEREST IN PHILADELPHIA. r M HERE has been considerable discussion as to -•- whether the origination of the idea of celebrating the One Hundredth Anniversary of American Inde pendence by holding an International Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, can be credited to any individual in particular, or whether it was the outgrowth of the spontaneous happy thought of the American people. But it seems that the honor lies between three or four distinguished citizens, in justice to whom it is necessary to give in brief the details of the inception of this grand idea, the realization of which has so far trans cended even the wildest dreams of the originators themselves. In December, 1868, Professor J. L. Campbell, of Wabash College, Indiana, wrote to Hon. Morton McMichael, then Mayor of Philadelphia, suggesting the holding of an International Exhibition at that city in 1876, as the most suitable method of observing the completion of the first century of American national existence, and presented many reasons why such a Centennial celebration should be held in Philadelphia. Mayor McMichael, in reply, cordially indorsed the proposition in his own behalf, as well as on the part of many prominent citizens of the city, and promised to take measures, at the proper time, to secure its ac- 41 42 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. complishment. In November, 1868, Professor Camp bell wrote a second letter to Mayor McMichael, urging immediate action, and to this received a reply concur ring in the opinion that the time had arrived when an active effort should be made to carry out the suggestions previously submitted and considered. The agitation of this subject was continued in various ways, and on the 20th of January, 1870, John L. Shoemaker, Esq., a member of the Select Council of Philadelphia, introduced resolutions, which were unanimously adopted in that and in the Common branch, indorsing the proposition to hold an Inter national Exhibition at Philadelphia in 1876. These resolutions were the first official act relating to a Cen tennial celebration. The Legislature of Pennsylvania and the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia promptly indorsed the movement, and appointed committees to unite with the joint committee of City Councils in presenting a memorial to .Congress, showing the design and scope of the enterprise, and the importance of its being held under the auspices of the government of the United States. , The memorial of these committees was presented to Congress in January, 1871, and in accordance there with, Hon. D. J. Morrell, a representative from Penn sylvania, and chairman of the House Committee on Manufactures, introduced a bill creating the United States Centennial Commission, whose duty it was to prepare and superintend the execution of a plan for holding an exhibition of American and foreign arts, products and manufactures, under the auspices of the government of the United States, in the city of Phila delphia, in the year 1876, which bill was enacted into a law on the 3d of March, 1871. LIST OF U. S. CENTENNIAL COMMISSIONERS. 43 * This legislation gave the proposed .Exhibition the prestige of a national enterprise, and the following com missioners were at once appointed by the President of the United States upon the nominations of the gov ernors of the several States and Territories, the follow ing being the United States Centennial Commissioners: ALABAMA — James L. Cooper. ARIZONA — Eichard C. McCormick, John Wasson. ARKANSAS—Geo. W. Lawrence, Alexander McDonald. CALIFORNIA—John Dunbar Creigh, Benj. P. Kooser. COLORADO—J. Marshall Paul, N. C. Meeker. CONNECTICUT—Joseph R. Hawley, Wm. Phipps Blake. DAKOTAH —J. A. Burhank, Solomon L. Spink. DELAWARE—Henry F. Askew, John H. Rodney. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA—James E. Dexter, Lawrence A. Gobright. FLORIDA—John S. Adams, J. T. Bernard. GEORGIA—George Hillyer, Richard Peters, Jr. IDAHO—Thomas Donaldson, C. W. Moore. ILLINOIS—Frederick L. Matthews, Lawrence Weldon. INDIANA—John L. Campbell, Franklin C. Johnson. low A—Robert Lowry, Coker F. Clarkson. KANSAS—John A. Martin, George A. Crawford. KENTUCKY— Robert Mallory, Smith M. Hobbs. LOUISIANA—John Lynch, Edward Peuington. MAINE—Joshua Nye, Charles P. Kimball. MARYLAND—James T. Earle, S. M. Shoemaker. MASSACHUSETTS —George B. Loring, William B. Spooner. MICHIGAN—James Bimey, Claudius B. Grant. MINNESOTA—J. Fletcher Williams, • W. W. Folwell. MISSISSIPPI—O. C. French. MISSOURI—John McNeil, Samuel Hays. MONTANA—J. P. Woolman, Patrick A. Largey. NEBRASKA—Henry S. Moody, R. W. Furnas. NEVADA —Wm. Wirt McCoy, James W. Haines. NEW HAMPSHIRE— Ezekiel A. Straw, Asa P. Gate. NEW JERSEY—Orestes Cleveland, John G. Stevens. NEW MEXICO—Eldridge W. Little, Stephen B. Elkins. NEW YORK—N. M. Beckwith, Charles H. Marshall. NORTH CAROLINA—Samuel F. Phillips, Jonathan W. Albertson. OHIO—Alfred T. Goshorn, Wilson W. Griffith. OREGON—James W. Virtue, Andrew J. Dufur. PENNSYLVANIA—Daniel J. Morrell, Asa Packer. RHODE ISLAND—George H. Corliss, Samuel Powel. SOUTH CAROLINA—William Gurney, Archibald Cameron. TENNESSEE—Thomas H. Coldwell, William F. Prosser. TEXAS— William Henry Parsons, John C. Chew. UTAH—John H. Wickizer, Wm. Haydon. VERMONT — Middleton Goldsmith, 44 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Henry Chase. VIRGINIA—Walter W. Wood, Edmund R. Bag- well. WASHINGTON TERRITORY—Elwood Evans, Alexander S. Abernethy. WEST VIRGINIA — Alex. R. Boteler, Andrew J. Sweeney. WISCONSIN—David Atwood, Edward D. Holton. WYOMING—Jos. M. Carey, Robert H. Lamborn. From these appointments the following organization was completed: PRESIDENT—Joseph R. Hawley. VICE-PRESIDENTS—Alfred T. Goshorn, Orestes Cleveland, Joha D. Creigh, Robert Lowry, Robert Mallory. DIRECTOR-GENERAL—Alfred T. Goshorn. SECRETARY—John L. Campbell. COUNSELLOR AND SOLICITOR—John L. Shoemaker, Esq. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE—Daniel J. Morrell, Pennsylvania; Alfred T. Goshorn, Ohio; E. A. Straw, New Hampshire; KM. Beckwith, New York; James T. Earle, Maryland; George H. Corliss, Rhode Island; John G. Stevens, New Jersey; Alexander R. Boteler, West Virginia ; Richard C. McCormick, Arizona; John Lynch, Louisiana; Jamas Birney, Michigan ; Charles P. Kimball, Maine; Samuel F. Phillips, North Carolina. Secretary, Myer Asch, Philadelphia. On the 1st of June following, an act was passed creating the Centennial Board of Finance. PRESIDENT—John Welsh, Philadelphia. VICE-PRESIDENTS—William Sellers, Philadelphia; John S. Barbour, Virginia. DIRECTORS—Samuel M. Felton, Philadelphia; Daniel M. Fox, Philadelphia; Thomas Cochran, Philadelphia; Clement M. Biddle, Philadelphia; N. Parker Shortridge, Philadelphia; James M. Robb, Philadelphia; Edward T. Steel, Philadelphia; John Wanamaker, Philadelphia; John Price Wetherill,Philadelphia; Henry Winsor, Philadelphia; Henry Lewis, Philadelphia; Amos R. Little, Phila delphia; John Baird, Philadelphia; Thos. H. Dudley, New Jersey; A. S. Hewitt, New York; John Cum m ings, Massachusetts; John Gorham, Rhode Island ; Charles W. Cooper, Pennsylvania ; William Bigler, Pennsylvania; Robert M. Patton, Alabama; J. B. Drake, Illinois; George Bain, Missouri. THE LOCATION FIXED UPON. 45 FINANCIAL AGENT—Hon. Wm. Bigler. ENGINEERS AND ARCHITECTS—Henry Pettit, Jos. M. Wilson, H. J. Sehwarzinauu. Thus was called into being the organization which raised the money necessary for this mighty undertaking, and without whose energetic agency it might, in all probability, have been the merest vision. John Welsh and his coadjutors have held the magician's wand that conjured up Aladdin's Palace in Fairmount Park. The Location of the Exhibition, At a meeting of the Commission held in Common Council chamber, Independence Hall, March llth, 1872, Mr. Atwood, of Wisconsin, offered the following, which was unanimously adopted: WHEREAS, A conference has been had with the au thorities of the city of Philadelphia (including the Park Commissioners), in accordance with the second section of the act creating this Commission, in regard to the site for the Exhibition : be it therefore Resolved, That the site for holding the International Exhibition in 1876 be fixed at Fairmount Park, within the corporate limits of the city of Philadelphia. The choice of a location for the Exhibition was for tunate in every respect. The Declaration of Inde pendence was made in Philadelphia, in 1776, and it was there that the National Convention of 1787 per fected and adopted the Constitution under which the republic has attained its present greatness. The claim of Philadelphia to be the scene of the Exhibition was sanctioned by her place and part in the Revolution. In a plain old brick structure in the heart of the city, built in 1734, the Declaration of Inde- 46 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. pendence was signed a hundred years ago. The chan delier used then, and afterwards by the Continental Congress, hangs there in its old place. The Liberty Bell, bearing the motto, " Proclaim liberty throughout the land, and to all the inhabitants thereof," and which proclaimed liberty on the first celebration of inde pendence, July 8th, 1776, rests on a pedestal in the vestibule. To this pile Philadelphia, and indeed all Pennsylvania, point with the pride of Massachusetts at Bunker Hill, of New Hampshire at Concord, of New York at Saratoga, of South Carolina at the Cowpens. Here, too, close by, are the battle-field of Gerniantown and a hundred other neighborhoods connected by history and tradition with the outburst and the long struggle of the Revolution. And then Philadelphia provided a site for the Exhi bition buildings, the like of which could hardly be afforded by another American city. Fairmount Park, the great park of Philadelphia, a lower slice of which, of about 450 acres, has been assigned to the Centen nial Commission, comprises 2740 acres. But one park in the world surpasses it in extent, the royal park of Windsor. Its natural beauties are stately heights, overlooking the city and distant towns; deep-wooded ravines, groves of century elms and oaks, immense meadows, which have been turned into lawns and commons; bosky undergrowths, and two beautiful streams, steeply banked with foliage, grass and flowers —the Schuylkill and the Wissahickon. Historical dwellings dot its surface. Robert Morris, the Jay Cooke and more of the Revolution, at his home on Lemon Hill, entertained his guests like a prince before his ruin. The Belmont mansion, the home, antecedent to and during the Revolution, of Judge Peters, Secre- ESTIMATE OF COST OF ENTEEPRISE. 47 tary of War, stands converted, without much alteration, into a house of public entertainment. Covers are laid there for couples and parties, and on a window-pane, in one of the snuggest and smallest «f the second- story chambers, is written with a diamond ring: JOHN DIXON, June 3d, 1769, Took leave of Belmont. The finest drive in the park, " Lansdowne," is named after the magnificent residence of John Penn, the last colonial governor of Pennsylvania. The next important point, the location having been decided upon, was an estimate of the amount which would be required to carry out the intention of the Centennial Commission. The sum fixed upon was $10,000,000, as being, in their judgment, necessary for the purposes of the Exhibition. In accordance with this estimate, and with a view to giving every citizen of every State an opportunity to become interested in and connected with this great National Exhibition, a quota was now established of a ratio of subscription for the several States, and every effort was made, through the public press, special circu lars, and selected agents, to bring about such an interest as would lead to a popular subscription sufficiently large to absorb the capital stock, the ratio of each State being fixed as follows : No. State or Territory. „ Population. 1 NewYork..............4,382,759 2 Pennsylvania...........3,521,951 3 Ohio .....................2,665,260 4 Illinois..................2,539,891 5 Missouri................1,721,295 Quota in Shares. 113,666 91,341 69,123 65,871 44,641 Quota in LfoIIai'S. $1,136,660 913,410 691,230 658,710 446,410 48 THE CENTENNIAL' EXPOSITION. APPEOPRIATIONS OF FOREIGN NATIONS. 49 No. State or Territory. Population. 6 Indiana..................1,680,637 7 Massachusetts..........1,457,351 8 Kentucky...............1,321,011 9 Tennessee...............1,258,520 10 Virginia................1,225,163 11 Iowa.....................1,194,020 12 Georgia.................1,184,109 13 Michigan................1,184,059 14 North Carolina.........1,071,361 15 Wisconsin..............1,054,670 16 Alabama................ 996,992 17 New Jersey............. 906,096 18 Mississippi.............. 827,922 19 Texas.................... 818,579 20 Maryland............... 780,894 21 Louisiana............... 726,915 22 South Carolina......... 705,605 23 Maine.................... 626,915 24 California............... 560,247 25 Connecticut............. 537,454 26 Arkansas................ 484,471 27 West Virginia......... 442,014 28 Minnesota.............. 439,706 29 Kansas................... 364,399 30 Vermont................. 330,551 31 New Hampshire....... 318,300 32 Rhode Island.......... 217,353 33 Florida.................. 187,748 34 District of Columbia. 131,700 35 Delaware................ 125,015 36 Nebraska................ 122,993 37 New Mexico............ 91,874 38 Oregon................... 90,923 39 Utah...................... 86,786 40 Nevada................... 42,491 41 Colorado................ 39,864 42 Washington............ 23,955 43 Montana................ 20,595 44 Idaho.................... 14,999 Quota in Shares. 43,587 37,796 34,260 32,639 31,774 30,967 30,710 30,708 27,785 27,353 25,854 23,499 21,472 21,230 20,252 18,852 18,300 16,258 14,530 13,939 12,565 11,464 11,404 9,450 8,573 8,255 5,637 4,869 3,417 3,242 3,190 2,383 2,359 2,251 1,102 1,034 621 534 389 Quota in Dollars. $435,470 377,960 342,600 326,390 317,740 309,670 307,100 307,080 277,850 273,530 258,540 234,960 214,720 212,300 202,520 188,520 183,000 162,580 145,300 139,930 125,650 114,640 114,040 94,500 85,730 82,550 56,370 48,690 34,170 32,420 31,900 23,830 23,590 22,510 11,020 10,340 6,210 5,340 3,890 No. State or Territory. Population. 45 Dakota.................. 14,181 46 Arizona................. 9,658 47 Wyoming............... 9,118 Quota in Shares. 368 250 236 Quota in Dollars. $3,680 2,500 2,360 38,558,371 1,000,000 $10,000,000 Up to December 15th, 1875, the actual amounts subscribed for the purposes of the Centennial were as follows: Total stock subscriptions (reliable).*....................$2,357,750 In which are included New Jersey.................................$100,000 Delaware................................... 10,000 Connecticut................................ 10,000 New Hampshire........................... 10,000 Wilmiugton, Del.......................... 5,000 $135,000 Gifts, concessions, and interest............................ $230,000 Further receipts from concessions......................... 100,000 Appropriation by Pelmsylvania...........................1,000,000 Appropriation by Philadelphia ...........................1,500,000 $5,187,750 Amount still required to prepare for opening up to May 10th, 1876........................................1,537,100 $6,724,850 By which it will be seen that the original estimate of $10,000,000 was found to be much more than suft> cient for the necessities of the Exhibition. The following nations appropriated the sums set against their names for defraying their own expenses at the Centennial: Great Britain, with Australia and Canada (gold).....$250,000 France and Algeria........................................... 120,000 Germany ....................................................... 171,000 50 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Austria.......................................................... $75,000 Italy, (Government, $38,000; Chamber of Commerce, $38,000).................................................. 76,000 Spain........................... ................................. 150,000 Japan............................................................ 600,000 Belgium......................................................... 40,000 Denmark........................................................ 10,500 Sweden.......................................................... 125,000 Norway.......................................................... 44,000 Netherlands (ample provision). Brazil............................................................ 150,000 Venezuela (all expenses). Ecuador......................................................... 10,000 Siam............................................................. 100,000 Argentine Confederation (owns all goods exhibited);.. 60,000 The financial crisis of 1873, and the difficulty of carrying out a working system through the agency of banks, rendered necessary the formation of the follow ing Board of Revenue, with a view of operating through the assistance of voluntary auxiliary boards in different sections of the States and Territories : CLEMENT M. BIDDLE, Chairman, Philadelphia; WILLIAM BIG- LEE, Financial Agent, Pennsylvania; EDMUND T. STEEL, AMOS R. LITTLE, JOHN WANAMAKEE, DANIEL M. Fox, JAMES M. ROBE, JOHN BAIED, Philadelphia; THOS. H. DUDLEY, New Jersey ; JOHN CUMMINGS,Massachusetts; AViLLiAM L. STKONG, New York; GEOEGE BAIN, Missouri; C. B; NORTON, Secretary. Chiefly through the labors of this Board the entire sum subscribed for canying on the operations of the Commission was accumulated, but the difficulties which were surmounted in the accomplishment of this work can hardly be imagined, much less described. These difficulties arose from various causes; the first one took the form of objection to the locality chosen for the Celebration, jealousy being, of course, the prime LIBERALITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 51 mover in this opposition. Finally, however, it was conceded that the selection of Philadelphia as the scene of our Centennial Memorial was just, wise, and pro pitious. Other objections which we have not space here to dilate upon were met bravely and shown to be without foundation in fact. Before leaving this branch of the subject, simple justice demands that the liberality of the State of Pennsylvania and the City of Philadelphia toward the Centennial Exhibition should be acknowledged. The amount appropriated by the State, directly for Centen nial purposes, aggregates $1,015,000, and by the city, $1,575,000, showing a total contribution from these two sources of $2,590,000. In addition, the private subscriptions by citizens of Pennsylvania amount in the aggregate to $2,500,000 more, making a total direct contribution to the Centennial fund, from Pennsylvania alone, of more than $5,000,000. As we have before mentioned, the suggestion made by the Pennsylvania Legislature, in their memorial to Congress, that " the Centennial Anniversary of Ameri can Independence should be celebrated in the city of Philadelphia," met with considerable opposition on the part of representatives from other localities, who affected to consider the claims of these for selection, in place of Philadelphia, as equally good, at least, with those of the latter city. But on June 16th, 1870, the Committee on Manufactures and that on Foreign Affairs visited Philadelphia, when arguments were adduced so unanswerable and so convincing in favor of the proposed location of the Centennial Exhibition in the capital of the Quaker State—the city where the Declaration of Independence, with its sounding rhetoric, had awakened such strange echoes in the Old World— 52 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. that they returned to Washington with a report unani mously recommending Philadelphia being made the scene of the proposed celebration. Philadelphia possesses more relics of the past, more edifices around which hang a halo of history, than any other city in the Union, and we have thought it right to make here a brief mention of some of the most interesting. The building which above all others attracts the attention of strangers, and one that has been most eagerly sought after during this year, is the State House of Philadelphia—" the Cradle of American Liberty." *' Independence Hall. This venerable edifice is rich with the incense of patriotism and heroic struggle, and no one can enter it without a feeling of reverence for the hallowed walls wherein sat that Congress, which, in 1776, issued the memorable Declaration of American Independence, that palladium of our nation's liberties. We give two illustrations, one showing the building as it appeared in 1776, and the other as it is at present. It was designed by Dr. Kearsley, was commenced in 1729, and completed in 1734, the builder being Edmund Wooley. The inner decorations remain as originally designed, and for the work of so early a time, are very fine; those of the main hall, indeed, consisting of a richly panelled ceiling and a heavy cornice supported by fluted columns, are exceedingly beautiful. On the first floor of the main building, in the East Room, is Independence Hall, a shrine to every Ameri can, in which was adopted and signed the Declaration of Independence, and promulgated on July 4th, 1776. A MUSEUM OF NATIONAL RELICS. 53 The apartment retains its original appearance, and is decorated with quaint carvings, and with its wainscotted walls serving as a picture gallery of great American worthies. The table on which the immortal document was signed; John Hancock's chair; the old chandelier which was used by the Continental Congress still pendent from the ceiling; and other sacred relics are all objects of the deepest interest to visitors. On the same floor, in the Western Rooms, is a museum of national relics, mementoes of the "times that tried men's souls." As for instance: the flag of the First Regiment Pennsylvania Militia, lost and re captured at the battle of Brandy wine; relics of the battle • of Gerrnantown; the original stamp imposed under the celebrated Stamp Act of Great Britain in March, 1765, which led to the Revolution; and many others which we have not the space here to enumerate. The original steeple, being decayed, was taken down in 1774, and the present one put up in 1828. On a pedestal in the vestibule, surrounded by a net work of iron, is placed the famous Liberty Bell, bearing the motto, " Proclaim liberty throughout the land unto all the inhabitants thereof." It was cast and imported from England in 1752, purposely for the State House, but was cracked in testing it. It was recast, however, and suspended from the steeple, and on the afternoon of the memorable Fourth of July, 1776, announced, with iron tongue, the result of the momentous delibera tions of Congress, by ringing out the j'oyful annuncia tion for more than two hours, its glorious melody floating clear and musical as the voice of an angel above the discordant chorus of booming cannon, the roll of drums, and the mingled acclamations of the people. 4 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. In the rear of the State House is Independence Square, which has undergone extensive improvement, and is now in a condition better fitting its character and its association with the historic Hall, than it has been for many years. This square derives its name from the fact that it was here, on the 8th of July, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read by John Nixon amid the shouts of the people, who, roused to the highest pitch of patriotic enthusiasm, rushed into the court rooms, tore down the king's arms, burned them in public, and destroyed everywhere the insignia of British authority. Birthplace *of Liberty. One of the most interesting and unpretentious edifices, and which should be dear to every American heart, is one still standing at the southwest corner of Seventh and Market streets, and now occupied as a business house, but in which the memorable Declaration of In dependence, our famous Magna Charta, was drafted one ihundred years ago by Thomas Jefferson. In those days ihe building stood outside of the thickly-settled portion •of the city, in what was then called "The Fields." A garden enclosed by a brick wall occupied the site of the house which now stands on the corner. In June, 1776, when all hope for reconciliation with England had faded away, a resolution was offered in the General Congress, by Richard Henry Lee, of Vir ginia, declaring all allegiance to the British crown at an end. This bold proposition was immediately fol lowed by the appointment of a committee to draft a Declaration of Independence. This committee con- of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, Thomas ;on, Ro T Sherman and Robert H. Livingston. I Is III I INDEPENDENCE HALL --tion wns iigiirl and the "rent Bell rung out tie proclamation of Liburtj CARPENTER'S HALL. Vhel th" fir't Continental f"lijjre=s nss»ml>led us. BIRTHPLACE OF LIBERTY. Building in which the Declaration of Independence was written. GIRARD COLLEGE. THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS. A MONUMENT TO THOMAS JEFFERSON. 57 Jefferson, though the youngest member of the com mittee, was appointed chairman, and was requested by the others to draw out the instrument, which he did, and, with a very few verbal alterations by Dr. Franklin and Mr. Adams, it was adopted by the committee just as it came from his hand. On the 28th of June, 1776, the committee reported the Declaration to Congress, and on the Fourth day of July, 1776—an ever memor able day in the history of this country—it was formally adopted by Congress. This instrument forms an ever lasting monument to the memory of Thomas Jefferson, and gives, by far, a wider range to the fame of his talents and patriotism than eloquent panegyric or sculptured epitaph. Without exception, perhaps, the oldest edifice is Perm's Cottage, in Letitia Court, south side of Market street above Front, the tradition regarding which was for some time lost by the great mass of the population of Philadelphia. This name, "Letitia's House," was given by the citizens because Penn deeded the house to his unmar ried daughter, Letitia. It enjoys the reputation of having been the first cellar dug in Philadelphia. The material for the house was all sent out from England in charge of Colonel Markham, and was built before Penn arrived. It was on Penn's first visit, early in 1682, that he dwelt here. The finer work was taken from his palace at Pennsbury. Penn's instructions to his commissioner, of 30th of 9th month, 1681, says ex pressly, "pitch upon the very middle of the platt of the towne, to be laid facing the harbour, for the situa tion of my house," thus intimating the choice of Court, and his desire to have his house faein<* 58 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. the river, "as the line of houses of the towne should be." After Penn, it was used by Colonel Markham, his deputy Governor, and afterwards for public offices. In 1700, when he used the "Slate House," corner of Second street and Norris alley, having a mind to confer something upon his daughter, then with him, he gave her a deed, 1st month, 29th, 1701, for all that half square lying on High (Market) street, and including said house. If we would contemplate this house in its first rela tions, we should consider it as having an open area to the river, which here and there retained an ornamental clump of forest trees and shrubbery on either side of an avenue leading out to Front street, having a garden of fruit trees on the Second street side, and on Second street the " Governor's Gate," so called, opposite the lot of the Friends' Great Meeting. Its appearance now, crowded in upon by houses, makes it very difficult indeed to trace the landmarks. Another edifice, scarcely less sacred than Independ ence Hall, is Carpenters' Hall, which stands to the south of Chestnut street between Third and Fourth streets, and is reached by a passage way from the street first named. This building was originally constructed for the Hall of Meeting for the Society of House Carpenters of Philadelphia, in 1770, and it was taken and used by the first Colonial Congress, which met in it September 5th, 1774, to deliberate on the incipient measures of the War of the Revolution. Here it was that Patrick Henry poured forth those passionate appeals for liberty which so electrified the colonies. It was in this hall that he made his memorable speech SACKED RELICS OF COLONIAL TIMES. 59 in favor of war, and first uttered the words " Declara tion of Independence," predicting the separation from the mother country, when others dared not think of it. This building was afterwards used, for several years, as the first Bank of the United States. It then fell into use as an auction house, until a few years back. The citizens of Philadelphia, who pass and repass it daily on this busy thoroughfare, seldom think of its former glory, as being the spot where the groundwork of our national independence was laid. The Old Swedes Church, which is still standing on Swanson street (so named from the celebrated Swedish family who once owned all the land in that part of the city), below Christian, is one of the most venerable edifices in America. The first church upon this site was erected in 1637, more than forty years before the arrival of Penn's colony, and served both for a place of worship and of defence, being con structed of logs, with loop-holes and the appliances of defensive warfare. The present brick edifice was built on the same site in 1700, of cruciform shape, the front of gallery ornamented with wooden cherubim brought over from Sweden. Another sacred relic of colonial times is Christ Church, still standing on the west side of Second street above Market, and which was constructed at various periods of times. The western end, as we now see it, was raised in 1727, and having enlarged their means, they, in 1731, erected the eastern end. The steeple was elevated on or about the year 1754. The first church on this site was built of wood in 1695. When the present brick structure was erected, it was com pletely over the wooden structure and roofed in, the 60 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. congregation still worshipping in the small wooden chapel; when it was necessary to lay the floor in the present building, the inside building was taken away. At that time the bell to call the people was hung in the crotch of a tree on the sidewalk. Its chime of bells is among the oldest this side of the Atlantic. On the tenor is inscribed, " Christ Church, Philadelphia. Thomas Lester and Thomas Peck, of London, made us all." The years 1752-53 were very fruitful in ex pedients for adorning and beautifying the city. Several new improvements were started upon lotteries; among these was one of November, 1752, for aiding in raising a steeple for Christ Church. It was called " a scheme to raise £1012 10s., being half the sum required to finish the steeple to Christ Church, and to purchase a ring of bells and a clock." The lottery was drawn March, 1753, and was called "The Philadelphia Steeple Lottery." The steeple was finished November, 1754, at a cost of £2100, and the bells were purchased in England at a cost of £900; they were brought out freight free in the ship " Matilda," Captain Budding, and as a compliment to his generosity, as often as he arrived in subsequent years, the bells put forth a merry peal to announce their gratitude. When the British troops took Philadelphia, these bells, like others in the city, were removed to prevent them falling into the hands of the enemy and being cast into cannon. They returned with the patriots, and have remained to peal forth their music eversince. Washington was a regular attendant at Christ Church when President of the United States, and many of the heroes and patriots of the " times that tried men's souls" rest in its vaults. Among the few souvenirs of our early history in which Philadelphia is so peculiarly rich is the " Treaty FRANKLIN AND GIEAED. 61 Monument," a simple obelisk upon a granite pedestal, so insignificant that it can hardly be discovered, save by a sharp eye—marking the site of the old elm-tree, under which William Penn made his famous, treaty with the Indians. This tree stood for more than a century, and was blown down in 1810. The monument stands on the east side of Beach street, north of Han over, in an enclosure just large enough to hold it, and in the shade of a tall elm which may possibly be a lineal descendant of the one whose site it marks. Another shrine, which thousands and thousands of patriotic visitors to Philadelphia have this year visited, is Franklin's Grave, which is in the graveyard of Christ Church, on the cor ner of Fifth and Arch streets. A section of iron railing in the brick wall on Arch street permits the visitor to look upon the plain slab which, in accordance with Franklin's wishes, covers all that remains of the phil osopher-statesman and his wife. After the removal of the seat of government to Washington, Philadelphia lost much of its political prestige, but none of its importance as a place of busi ness. The commerce of the city grew rapidly during the early part of the nineteenth century, and its su premacy in this respect over all American rivals was unquestioned. Trade with the East and West Indies developed into prominence, and the accumulation of wealth by merchants was rapid and vast. Some of the names connected with this commerce are familiar to most readers, and one of them, by the magnificent charity and wonderful foresight of him who bore it, is so blended with Philadelphia that no sketch of the city could be complete without its mention. 62 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Stephen Girard came to Philadelphia in his youth, comparatively poor. He was a Frenchman by birth, but, at an early age went to sea and followed it for many years. It was as captain of a ship that he first entered the Delaware, and he continued to make his voyages for some time after he had fixed upon this as his home. Finally he settled down in Philadelphia as a general trader, and by his almost supernatural sagacity and indomitable energy, accumulated the largest fortune ever, up to that period, gained by an American. He died in 1832, leaving all his property, with the exception of 'a few insignificant personal be- qnests, to the city. At that time his estate, so be queathed, was estimated at several millions of dollars, and now it is probably worth more than fifty millions. A part of this estate was, by his will, to be devoted to the foundation of a college, which should accommodate not less than three hundred children, who must be poor, white male orphans, between the ages of six and. ten years, and who are to be supported and instructed until they arrive at the age of sixteen, when they must l-e apprenticed to good trades or other useful avoca tions. To meet this requirement the city erected, on the site designated and bequeathed by Girard, consist ing of forty-five acres of ground on Ridge road, a struc ture at a cost of two millions of dollars, which is one of the most beautiful buildings in America, and the truest specimen of Grecian architecture times. • Girard College. The central or college building is 218 feet long, 160 wide, and ninety-seven high, and is a noble marble structure of the Corinthian order. The roof commands NOTED BUILDINGS. 63 a wide view of the city. In the room in the building known as " Girard's room" are preserved the books and personal effects of the founder. A statue of Girard stands at the foot of the grand stairway, and under neath the statue he is buried. The grounds contain a monument to the graduates of the college who fell in the civil war. Clergymen are not admitted, in accordance with an express provision made in his will. The Academy of Natural Sciences has, during the present year, been moved into a handsome building at the corner of Race and Nineteenth streets; the architecture of which is that of the Collegiate Gothic, and the material used serpentine stone, with trim mings of Ohio sandstone. The Society was founded March, 1812, "for the acquirement, increase, simplification and diffusion of Natural Knowledge," as the records tell us, by benevo lent persons emulous to excel each other in carrying forward their projected work. The act incorporating the society is dated March 24th, 1817. From its foundation the Academy has met weekly. The results of its labors are recorded in a journal (quarto), and in the Proceedings, octavo, which are exchanged with more than two hundred kindred societies at home and abroad. The society possesses more than 22,000 volumes of scientific works, and vast collections of natural objects. The collection of birds and the collection of shells are unequalled in the world, and other departments of the museum are very full, though far from complete. The Academy of Fine Arts, whose new gallery, on Broad street, above Arch, is one of the most prominent buildings in the city—was founded in 1805, by the voluntary contributions of a 64 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. number of Philadelphians, and was incorporated in 1807, by act of Assembly. The aim of this institution, one of the worthiest and noblest in the great City of Brotherly Love, as set forth in its charter, is to im prove and refine the public taste for works of art, and to cultivate and encourage our native genius by " pro viding elegant and approved specimens of the arts for imitation." Its first annual exhibition was held in 1811, and over five hundred specimens of the skill of both painter and sculptor were then displayed. For many years the academy was located in a modern Ionic building standing on the site of the present American Theatre, Chestnut street, above Tenth; but six years ago steps were taken to rear a larger building, and one more worthy the standing of the institution and its treasures, and the present edifice is the result of the efforts which were put forth. It is of a modified Gothic style, having a front of 100 feet on Broad street, and a depth on Cherry street of 258. The principal front is two stories high, ornamented with encaustic tile's, terra-cotta statuary and light stone dressings, the wall being laid in patterns of red and white brick. Over the main entrance there is a large Gothic window, with some tracery. The Cherry street front is of similar materials and relieved by a colonnade support ing a series of arched windows, back of which will be a transept with a pointed gable. The building has galleries for casts from sculpture, life-class rooms, lec ture-rooms, and retiring rooms on the first floor; while upon the second is- located the grand gallery, seventy- fi've by forty-two feet; the " Gilpin " gallery (contain ing a hundred thousand dollars' worth of art treasures, bequeathed by the late Henry D. Gilpin), ninety-five by forty-two feet, together with a number of smaller THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA. 65 exhibition rooms. The general appearance of the building conveys a fine idea of the florid Venetian style. The art collections of this academy are the most valuable in this country, comprising the master pieces of Stuart, Sully, Neagle, Benjamin West, Alls- ton and Wittkamp. Its marbles and fac-similes are very fine and many in number. Its gallery of casts from the relics of antiquity is especially instructive. The academy is now under the supervision of gentle men who have always been lovers and patrons of art, and has the promise of great prosperity and success. The University of Pennsylvania, with its cluster of beautiful buildings, forms a most conspicuous object in West Philadelphia. This institution, which now exhibits such marked prosperity and is making such rapid strides of progress, originated in and grew out of an early attempt at lib eral education in the old Province of Pennsylvania. A school where Latin, English and Mathematics had been taught had been in progress for some time pre vious; but it was not until the 13th of July, 1753, that a charter was granted, incorporating the " Trus tees of the Academy and Charity School in the Pro vince of Pennsylvania." Two years later, the demand for higher education continuing to increase, a new charter was granted, adding a Collegiate Department to the already prosperous Academy and Charitable School. The first commencement of the new college was held in 1757, when a class of seven young men were graduated. From this time the college increased in prosperity and numbers, attracting students from different parts of the country, and even from the West Indies, until in 1763 nearly four hundred individuals 66 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. were receiving instructions in its various departments. Soon after the breaking out of the Revolution, however, the legislature of Pennsylvania, suspecting the loyalty of the college, abrogated its former charters, appointed a new Board of Trustees, conveyed all the property into their hands, added, out of confiscated estates, an endowment of £1500 a year, and changed the name of the institution to the one which it now bears. This occurred in 1779. It was first located on Fourth street, below Arch, where it remained till the year 1800, when the build ing on Ninth street which had been erected for the resi dence of the President of the United States, when it was expected that Philadelphia would be the capital of the country, was purchased for the use of the Uni versity. From that time until 1872 this building was the home of the institution. The old building having become altogether inadequate to its wants, the present magnificent structures of serpentine marble were erected and occupied in 1872. They form one of the handsomest groups of college buildings in the United States. The University is divided into Academical, Colle giate, Medical and Law Departments, and among its Faculty are numbered some of the most distinguished men in the State. The junction of Thirty-sixth street, Darby road and Locust street, was selected as the best location for the new buildings of the University. The one for the accommodation of the Department of Arts and Science is one of the most conveniently arranged college buildings in the country. It consists of a main central building with connecting eastern and western wings, which are completed by towers. It extends, exclusive of towers, bay windows, etc., 254 feet in DEPARTMENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY. 67 length, 102 feet 4 inches in breadth, with an additional projection of its central building 21 feet 10 inches be yond the wings. The design is in what is termed the Collegiate Gothic style; the material used is Lieperville stone for the basement, with base courses of Humrnels- town brown stone. The walls above are serpentine marble, with cornices, gables, arches, etc.? of Ohio stone. The entrance porch is of Franklin stone, with arch supported on polished red granite columns, with encircled capitals of Ohio stone. The windows of chapel and gables are decorated with geometrical tracery. The pointing is done with red mortar, and this, with the green color of the serpentine, and the relief afforded by the Ohio stone, gives the building an exceedingly rich appearance. The cost of the entire building, exclusive of the spe cial fittings required for the different laboratories, mu seums, cabinets, and the furniture, was $2o5,910.46. The students in these two departments are under a common government and discipline, and are in constant association with each other. The instruction, however, in each department is in charge of a distinct faculty, and both the objects of that instruction and the method of imparting it differ essentially. The Law Department has its lecture-room in the building of the Department of Arts and of Science. The Department of Medicine is located in a building situ ated on one side of the square devoted to various uses in connection with the University. It is larger and more commodious, as well as more elegant, than any other building in America devoted to a similar purpose. The arrangements for the convenient accommodation and instruction of students have been carried out in accordance with plans based upon long experience. 68 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. In the basement are the laboratories; on the first floor, two large lecture-rooms; on the second a general museum and an amphitheatre for six hundred students; and on the third, rooms for the study of operative surgery and dissection. The Lecture and Dissecting Rooms; the Museum and Cabinet, including the Wistar and Horner Museum, founded nearly one hundred years ago, and which is unequalled for the number and variety of its specimens of the normal and morbid anatomy of every part of the human body; the Chemical and Physical Apparatus, the most extensive private collection in the country; the Library, containing upwards of three thousand medical works, accessible to advanced students and graduates under appropriate regulations; and nu merous other departments are all so constructed as to excel all previous accommodation for a medical school. The immediate neighborhood of the University to its own hospital and the Philadelphia Hospital, at both of which the clinical instruction of the students is chiefly given, forms another and quite peculiar advantage of this institution. The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is an elegant and commodious edifice, constructed accord ing to the best established principles of hospital archi tecture, provided with all the appliances pertaining to such institutions of the first class, is adjacent to the new Medical Hail, and forms an integral portion of the Medical Department. It is situated on the south side of Spruce street, between Thirty-fourth and Thirty- sixth streets, directly south of the building in use by the collegiate and scientific departments of the Uni versity. The style of architecture of the building is of the same character as that of the Departments of Art and THE UNITED STATES MINT. 69 Science, and in harmony with the new hall of the Medical Department—the three buildings forming a group that unitedly constitute the University of Penn sylvania. The hospital comprises in design a central building with pavilions. In the centre building, which is an gular in form, its greatest width being 88 feet 4 inches, by a depth of 131, are located on the basement and floor a lecture-room, with covered seats for 150 stu dents ; linen and splint rooms, a laboratory; the gen eral kitchen, from whence the food is distributed throughout the upper stories by means of dumb wait ers; scullery and closets; and servants' dining-rooms, store-rooms, etc. On the first or principal stories are the rooms and offices for officers and business purposes. On the second stories, in the front, are chambers for private patients, and in the rear, rooms for medical staff, resident physi cians, private laboratories, etc. The amphitheatre, or main lecture-room, is circular in form, sixty feet in diameter, and forty-five feet high to the skylight in the centre. The ceiling is domed, being circular in plan from the walls to the skylight, and oc tagonal in the skylight; the operating arena is exactly in the middle of the room, and the seats are concentric with it, arranged in ascending rows, sufficiently elevated one above another to enable every student present to see uninterruptedly all the operations in the arena. About sixty students can be seated in this room. It is abundantly lighted and ventilated, having windows on three sides, in addition to the large skylight in the centre of the dome. The students' entrance is from the main stairway in the third story. It is regarded as probably the most spacious and best arranged clinical lecture-room in the United States. 70 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. We must make a brief mention of the celebrated United States Mint, which stands on Chestnut street, above Thirteenth street. This building was erected in 1829, pursuant to an act of Congress enlarging the operations of the government coining, and supplementary to the act creating the Mint, which was passed in 1792. The structure is of the Ionic order, copied from a temple at Athens, of brick, faced with marble ashlar, with a graceful portico. The beautiful and delicate processes and contrivances for coining, as well as the extensive numismatic cabinet,- are very interesting, and well worth seeing. The New Public Buildings, now being erected on what was once Penn Square, at Broad and Market streets, have elicited so much aston ishment and interest from the many who have passed them during the past six months, that they deserve notice. It will be an enormous structure—486i feet long by 470 wide, four stories high, and covering an area of nearly 4i acres, not including a court-yard in the centre 200 feet square. The central tower will be 450 feet high. The exterior walls are to be of white marble, and those facing the court-yard of light blue marble. Union League Building is located on Broad street, and, from its ornate style of architecture, is one of the principal adornments of that noble avenue. It is of brick, in the French Renais sance style, with facades of granite, brick and brown stone. * UNION LEAGUE. PUBLIC LEDGER BUILDING. tf 'f CHAPTER III. OPENING CEREMONIES, MAY 10, 1876. years after the first organization was effected in preparation for the Centennial Exhibition, and less than two years from the time when the work was commenced upon the buildings on the Lansdowne plateau, converting that beautiful portion of the most beautiful of parks into a magnificent city devoted to art, to industry, and to patriotism, Philadelphia became the focus toward which were directed the thoughts of all the people of this land, if we may not say of all the civil ized world. May 10th, 1876, beheld the flower and the first fruition from the seed planted by patriotism, fill ing the hearts of those who had toiled so long and so earnestly, with pride and exultation. The marvellous Exhibition whose gates were opened on that ever memorable day, more than repaid all the toil and labor, the sacrifice and endurance, that at last brought it to completion, and the ceremonies of its dedication worthily marked the opening day of our great Cen tennial festival. The bright May sun shone down upon such a pageant as our country has seldom known 1—upon the Park, in all its fresh spring loveliness; upon the great palaces of art and industry, of bewilder ing variety and magnitude, and upon a crowd of enthusiastic men and women greater, beyond doubt, than was ever assembled on this continent before. The representative men of the nation were gathered 5 , 73 MASONIC TEMPLE, BROAD STREET, PHILADELPHIA. 74 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. there, the leaders in every branch of public and of private influence, and the representatives, too, of almost every civilized nation upon earth, all met to do honor to a free nation's birthday festival; and it must have been a dull spirit that was not stirred as the strains of noble music arose upon the summer air, and the float- ing flag announced the formal opening of the festival.;' For months Philadelphia had been anticipating the 10th of May in the Centennial year. The day dawned in an outburst of patriotic ardor. The busy labor of the flag and decoration makers, public and private, saw the light the day previous. The city was literally enveloped in bunting—enwrapped in the flags of all nations. The stars and stripes found the English jack, the French and German tri-colors, the Austrian and Russian eagles, the elephant of Siam, the Chinese dragon, the sun of Japan, and the emblems of all the world aiding it in celebrating the Centenary. From pole and halyard, in festoons and clusters, they were flung to the Centennial breeze. How many square miles of silk and bunting waved in and over, around and through Philadelphia on that day, it will be difficult to calculate. Everybody gave vent to joy with a flag, and the universality and remarkable character of this patriotic outburst in bunting, silk and decorative art, was one of the most striking features of the day. The preparations for the display began on Tuesday, and, despite the lowering weather, the decorations fulfilled their part thoroughly. No feast or carnival of Europe or the Orient ever showed brighter decorations. The day opened with clouds and rain. It was a sore disappointment, but could not be helped. "Old Prob abilities " had done his best for the previous twenty- THE MORNING OF THE OPENING DAY. 75 four hours in predicting clear weather, but the ele ments would not obey. Patriotism, however, after having been wrought up to the pitch displayed in Philadelphia, is not to be dampened by rain. At sun rise the bell on Independence Hall sounded the alarm that the great day had come. The peal continued a half hour, being taken up and spread over the city by all the bells and chimes, waking up the people who had not already begun the flag decorations. This was the formal announcement of the beginning of the Cen tennial holiday, and, to add to the display, the ship ping in the harbor also ran up flags at sunrise. Thus opened the day. At seven o'clock crowds were gathering at the Exhibition gates impatient to pass, though admittance had been ordered for nine, and in the city, at the local railroad stations, along the Centennial car routes, at the rendezvous of the military and in all the hotels, the bustle of hasty departure was already appreciable. The next hour brought lighter hearts, for the gentle rain growing steadily gentler, finally ceased altogether; the cloud curtain overhead slowly drew aside, and between, in a bright blue sky-way, the tardy sun shone forth dazzlingly. Then the streets everywhere grew suddenly populous, the horse cars jammed and the military jubilant. Shortly after the gates were opened to the public, and for hours the stream of visitors con stantly increased. As they passed in, convenient avenues led them into the partially paved thoroughfare between the Main Building and Memorial Hall and up to the scene of the ceremonies. There they awaited good-naturedly the official party and the programme. Meanwhile the guests of the Commission and their escort were assembling in the city, the civic bodies at 76 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Independence Hall, whence they took carriages, at nine o'clock, for the grounds, and the foreign dignita ries at their hotels. Through the mud and the drizzling rain the various regiments then in the city, composing the National Guard of Pennsylvania, marched early to the place of assembling on South Broad street. Previous to the first trumpet-blare, Governor Hartranft and his bril liantly-accoutred staff appeared at Broad and AValnut streets, and a few minutes after, at about eight o'clock, the signal for the start was given. Out AValnut street proceeded the rows of glistening bayonets; tastefully- decorated residences, flying bunting, and a cheering multitude sending a thrill through the heart of many a patriotic looker-on. The head of the line had scarcely arrived at the residence of George W. Childs, AValnut street, near Twenty-second, when President Grant stepped out upon the door-step, followed by the mem bers of his Cabinet. The loud and prolonged huzzas of the swarming multitude the President greeted with numerous bows. Accompanied by his escort, the First City Troop, seventy-five men, under the charge of Lieutenant Snowden, he then took a position in the line. He was seated, together with Governor Hart ranft and Secretary Fish, in a carriage drawn by four gray horses. Secretaries Bristow, Taft, and Robeson, and Postmaster-General Jewell, followed. The Boston Cadets, 125 in number, marched by next in regular columns and with steady tread. Governor Rice, mounted, though in plain attire, and his staff next fol lowed, the Boston Lancers, 150 mounted men, each carrying a red flag attached to a lance, prancing after. Governor Kellogg, of Louisiana, and staff, appeared next. Then marched by the National Guard of Penn- TIIE MILITARY ESCORT OF THE PRESIDENT. 77 gylvania, Major-General John P. Bankson commanding, the commands appearing in the following order: Black Hussars, Captain Kleinz, fifty men; Washington Troop, of Chester county, Captain Matlack, fifty men ; Keystone Battery, Captain Poulterer, with fifty men and four pieces and caissons; Second Brigade, General Thayer; Navy Yard Band; United States Marines, 100 men, from League Island station, Captain C. H. Wells commanding; Fifty sailors from the United States steam ship Congress; Americus Cornet Band ; Third Regiment National Guards, Colonel Ballier, 300 men; Sixth Regiment Band; Sixth Regiment National Guards, Colonel Maxwell. 330 men ; McClurg's Liberty Cornet Band ; State Fencibles, Captain Ryan, 102 men ; Excelsior Band; Gray Invincibles, Captain Jones, escorting the Delaney Guards of West Chester, Captain Hood, and numbering altogether 100 men; Second Regiment National Guards of Penn sylvania, Colonel Peter Lyle, 375 men, and accompanied by their band; Beck's Band of forty pieces; First Regiment National Guards of Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel J. Ross Clark, 550 men ; Easton Grays, Captain Stitzer, forty men, and accompanied by a band; Weccacoe Cornet Band; Weccacoe Legion, Captain Denny, fifty men; Centennial Drum Corps in Continental uniform; Washington Grays, Lieutenant Lazarus, forty men; Cadets Penn sylvania Military Academy, Chester, numbering 100, and com manded by Lieutenant Barrett, Fifth United States Artillery; Eleventh Regiment, Colonel Tencate, 200 men. | After entering the Exposition grounds the larger portion of the troops formed en masse between the Main Exhibition Building and Machinery Hall, but several commands were detailed to line and guard the passage-way from the grand stand to the Main Building. The cavalry was not allowed to enter the grounds, but formed in line on Lansdowne drive and saluted the Presidential party as it entered Memoriaf Hall. The Keystone Battery was stationed at George's Hill, and assisted in the cannonade with which the inaugural ceremonies were concluded. 78 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. The space reserved for holding the formal opening ceremonies was the large area bounded by the Main Building on the south and by Memorial Hall on the north. Memorial Hall stands upon a broad terrace, the front portion of which is paved with flagstones. Along the front of the hall and covering part 'of this pavement was erected a platform capable of accommo dating 4000 people. That portion of the platform in front of the centre of the hall was square in shape, with a semi-circular stand projecting from the front, and placed directly across the avenue leading from the Main Building to Memorial Hall. This stand was erected for the accommodation of the Emperor and the Empress of Brazil and their suite, the President of the United States and Cabinet, and those persons most immediately concerned in the conduct of the ceremonies. From the ends of the pavilions, on the eastern and western corners of the building, the platform diverged from the east and west line in a southwesterly and southeasterly direction, thus giving it the general ap pearance of a parallelogram with square projections at the corners. The seats on this platform all looked toward the south, facing the northern side of the Main Building, and with their backs toward Memorial Hall. The front of the central stand was covered with a large United States flag, across which was draped, in honor of the presence of the Emperor of Brazil, the green and yellow folds of the Brazilian standard. At the two corners of the entrance to the stands were displayed the flags of Great Britain and the United States, and to the right and left of the stands, respectively, the standards of France and Germany. In front of the balustrade, extending above the cornice of Memorial THE CONCOURSE OF SPECTATOES. 79 Hall, were placed handsome vases filled with a profu sion of rare and beautiful plants. Immediately in front of the central stand were placed seats for the repre sentatives of the press, of whom there were a great number. Over against the great platform and facing it was erected an inclined platform capable of accommodating one thousand persons. It adjoined the north line of the Main Building, and was occupied by the grand orchestra and chorus. This platform was arranged with tiers of seats, one over another, and was raised sufficiently high from the ground to permit the passage of the procession under it. At eight o'clock a number of invited guests had arrived, and by nine o'clock there was a very general sprinkling of people over the space between the Main Building and Memorial Hall. At ten o'clock the stands and open space between them were thronged with people, and in a few minutes after ten the assem blage had become so dense that it was practically im possible to make one's way from point to point without the assistance of the police. All the available space on the platform and terrace was soon occupied to its utmost capacity, and people began to climb up to all points in the vicinity from which views of the scene could be obtained. Groups of men and boys were perched upon the bronze statues representing "Pegasus led by the Muses," standing on either side of the approach to Memorial Hall, and every inch of space on the statues and on the backs of the horses was eagerly grasped for. Indeed, so great was the eagerness to obtain a place that two men seated themselves one between the ears of each of the horses. Groups of people were also con gregated on the roofs of the Main Building, Memorial 80 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. Hall, Photographic Hall, the north annex to the Main Building, Machinery Hall, and every other accessible elevation in the vicinity. Viewed from the grand stand, the immense assem blage of people, covering acres of ground, had a most impressive appearance. Among the distinguished persons who now arrived and passed along to the grand stand, and who received the most applause, were Dom Pedro II., Emperor of Brazil, and the Empress. The arrival of the imperial pair was heralded all along the passage-way, the orchestra playing the " Hymno Brazileira Nacional." The Emperor was dressed in a plain suit of black, with a silk hat, and wore no decorations of any kind. The dress of the Empress was a rich lavender silk, en traine, with satin bonnet and delicate lace shawl. The royal pair, attended by their suites in full uniform, repeatedly acknowledged their appreciation of the welcome ten dered them by bowing to the cheering multitudes, the Emperor occasionally removing his hat; and finally, after ascending the steps to the platform, facing round, and with the utmost grace and modesty saluting the assemblage. With his wife, he was then conducted to a seat in the centre of the platform, immediately to the light of the chair reserved for the President of the United States. Generals Sherman and Sheridan, and Governor Rice, of Massachusetts, were greeted with hearty cheers. By a very thoughtful arrangement, which was carried out with a happy effect, the repre sentatives of this and most of the other nations, directly interested at the Exhibition, were conducted to the platform during the performance of their respec tive national airs by Theodore Thomas' grand orchestra of 150 musicians. THE NATIONAL ANTHEMS. 81 1. The "Washington March. 2. Argentine Eepublic. Marche de la Bepublica. 3. Austria. Gott erhalte Franz den Kaiser. 4. Belgium. La Brabanconne. 5. Brazil. Hymno Brasileira Nacional. 6. Denmark. Volkslied den tappre Landsoldat. 7. France. La Marseillaise. 8. Germany. "Was ist des Deutscben Vaterland. 9. Great Britain. God save the Queen. 10. Italy. Marcia del Ee. 11. Netherlands. "Wie neerlandsch bleed. 12. Norway. National Hymn. 13. Eussia. National Hymn. 14. Spain. Eiego's Spanish National Hymn. 15. Sweden. Volksongen (Bevare Gud var Kung). 16. Switzerland. Heil dir Helvetia. 17. Turkey. March. 18. Hail Columbia. Upon the conclusion of the national airs the Presi dent of the United States, accompanied by Presidents Hawley and Welsh, of the Commission and Board of Finance, and the members of the Cabinet, made his appearance on the rostrum, and met with a hearty greeting. Mrs. Grant, escorted by Colonel Fred. Grant, was also on the stand. Then, upon a signal by General Hawley, the orchestra performed the Cen tennial Grand March, composed by Richard Wagner, which received at its close an applause that was almost rapturous. All noise now became hushed, and the venerable and eloquent Bishop Simpson arose with un covered head, his example being followed by all on the platform, the men in the standing multitude also re moving their hats, and besought the Divine blessing upon the work in the following prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, our heavenly Father, Heaven is Thy throne and the earth is Thy footstool. Before Thy majesty 82 THE CENTENNIAL EXPOSITION. and holiness the angels veil their faces, and the spirits of the just made perfect bow in humble adoration. Thou art the Creator of all things, the Preserver of all that exist, whether they be thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. The minute and the vast, atoms and worlds alike attest the ubiquity of Thy presence and the omnipotence of Thy sway. Thou alone art the Sovereign Ruler of nations. Thou raiseth up one and casteth down another, and Thou givest the kingdoms of the world to whomsoever Thou wilt. The past with all its records is the unfolding of Thy counsels and the realization of Thy grand designs. We hail Thee as our rightful Ruler; the King eternal, immortal and invisible, the only true God, blessed forever more. We come on this 'glad day, O Thou God of our fathers, into these courts with thanksgiving and into these gates with praise. We bless Thee for Thy wonderful goodness in the past, for the land which Thou gavest to our fathers, a land veiled from the ages, from the ancient world, but