hardware, and paintings from illustrious artists; and so followed on, in magnificent array, Austria, Germany, Russia, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, Brazil, and others of the great family of nations, with the choicest products of their mines and looms, foundries and workshops, lapidaries and ateliers.

But why commence, even, the impossible task of describing fifty teeming acres of templed wonders from every climethe marvels and masterpieces of nature, science, and art, in bewildering variety and richness. No traversing, in fact, at all equal to the occasion, can here be essayed. It will require, indeed, all the copious volumes intended to be issued under official auspices, adequately to elaborate and portray the genius and results presented in a display so unexampled in the history of man.

Nor would it be scarcely less impossible, in the scope of a single chapter, to sufficiently characterize the enthusiasm, wide-spread as the continent, which ushered in and prolonged the observance of the Anniversary Day in especial, — JULY FOURTH,-which numbered the first hundred years of the greatest republic upon which the sun ever shone. To say that the festal ingenuity of nearly forty great States and forty millions of people, with their tens of thousands of cities, towns, and villages, fairly spent itself, in efforts to suitably commemorate the Wonderful Anniversary, is only faintly expressing the fact. It was a festival of oratory, music, poetry, parade, bells, illuminations, regattas, cannon, banners, hallelujahs and huz

zas.

At Philadelphia, the central point of historic interest and centennial ovation, the resources of a whole nation's pomp and glory seemed drawn upon, on a scale eclipsing, in extent and variety, any celebrative occasion in the annals of the republic. Congress, sitting in its halls in the capitol at Washington, had a few days previously passed a resolution of adjournment to meet, on this wonderful day, in Independence Hall, where, one hundred

years before, occurred the birth of the nation, and where, subsequently, was framed that immortal instrument which gave to the republic a constitutional government, the wisest and most admirable ever conceived by uninspired men.

That the celebration in this city was, in every respect worthy of an occasion so august and of a spot so historically sacred and national, was universally admitted. A parade of troops, societies and officials took place in the morning, ending at Independence Hall. The Centennial legion of troops from North and South was commanded by General Heath, formerly of the confederate army, and the procession in various other ways reflected the strength of the renewed feeling of national unity and fraternity. In Independence Square, the vice president of the United States, Hon. Thomas W. Ferry, presided; prayer was offered by Bishop Stevens; Dr. O. W. Holmes's Welcome to the Nations' was sung; Bayard Taylor read his national ode; Hon. William M. Evarts pronounced the oration; the Declaration of Independence was read by Richard Henry Lee of Virginia, from the original document, which President Grant had intrusted for the purpose to the mayor of Philadelphia. The faded and crumbled manuscript, held together by a simple frame, was then shown to the assembled multitude facing the platform, cheer following cheer, at this rare spectacle. There was also sung the "Greeting from Brazil," a hymn composed for the occasion by A. Carlos Gomez, of Brazil, by the request of the Emperor, Dom Pedro. After the ode, the orchestra performed a grand triumphal march, with chorus, "Our National Banner," the words being by Dexter Smith, of Massachusetts, and the music by Sir Julius Benedict, of England. On the orator retiring from the speaker's stand, the Hallelujah chorus from the "Messiah" was sung, and then the whole of the vast throng united in singing the Old Hundredth Psalm. The magnificent spectacle presented by the procession was, however, the scene witnessed and enjoyed

with most general interest and admiration. It was miles in length, and in its ranks every one of the thirteen original States had a picked corps, and it was very evident, from the hearty manner in which General Heath,-in the absence of General Burnside, formerly commanders, respectively, on the field of battle, of the boys in blue' and the boys in gray,' but now knowing but one color and one flagwas received, that the fraternization of the North and the South was genuine and complete, on this great natal anniversary. The procession was under the lead of General and Governor Hartranft, and the splendid pageant was reviewed by General Sherman, Lieutenant-General Sheridan, and General Hooker, in whose company, on the guests' platform, were to be seen hundreds of official dignitaries, of civil and military fame.

In Boston, as the representative metropolis of New England, and as the spot where, almost above all others, our nation's liberties had their origin and chief support, the preparations for the anniversary had been made on a splendid scale, and these were carried out with perfect success to the end, witnessed and enjoyed by the patriotic multitudes who thronged the beautifully decorated city from the earliest hour. There were parades, concerts, regattas, balloon ascensions, fire-works, and commemorative services at the great Music Hall, under the auspices of the municipal government, the orator being the Hon. Robert C. Winthrop, a direct descendant of Governor Winthrop, of colonial times, and the Declaration of Inde-❘ pendence being read by Mr. Brooks Adams, a great-grandson of John Adams, the revolutionary patriot and leader. On the orator's platform was an article of extraordinary interest to the thousands of eyes that were intently concentrated upon it, when, as Mr. Winthrop, in the early part of his oration, said: "And here, by the favor of a highly valued friend and fellowcitizen, to whom it was given by Jefferson himself a few months only before his death, I am privileged to hold in my hands, and

to lift up to the eager gaze of you all, a most compact and convenient little mahogany case, which bears this autograph inscription on its face, dated Monticello, November 18, 1825,

Thomas Jefferson gives this writing desk to Joseph Coolidge, Jr., as a memorial of his affection. It was made from a drawing of his own, by Ben Randall, cabinet maker of Philadelphia, with whom he first lodged on his arrival in that city in May, 1776, and is the identical one on which he wrote the Declaration of Independence. Politics, as well as Religion, has its superstitions. has its superstitions. These, gaining strength with time, may, one day, give imaginary value to this relic, for its association with the birth of the Great Charter of our Independence.'

Superstitions! Imaginary value! Not for an instant (continued Mr. Winthrop,) can we admit such ideas. The modesty of the writer has betrayed even the masterly pen. There is no imaginary value to this relic, and no superstition is required to render it as precious and priceless a piece. of wood as the secular cabinets of the world have ever possessed, or ever claimed to possess. No cabinet-maker on earth will have a more enduring name than this inscription has secured to 'Ben Randall of Philadelphia' No pen will have a wider or more lasting fame than his who wrote the inscription." The applause elicited by these remarks showed that the hearts of the great audience were still filled with the spirit of the fathers and founders of the republic, and that patriotic reverence for their names and deeds had suffered no decay.

Conspicuously attractive, during the whole day, to the enthusiastic throngs, were the venerable buildings, still remaining, so memorably associated with the part taken by Boston during the revolutionary struggle. In the center of the portico at the east end of the Old State House, appeared prominently a fine copy of Paul Revere's painting of the King-Street Massacre, eighteen by ten feet, showing on one side the British soldiers firing upon

was a portrait of Lafayette, surrounded by the following sentiment, which was offered by the illustrious Frenchman at a banquet given to him by the authorities, in August, 1824, viz.: "The city of Bostonthe Cradle of Liberty; may Faneuil Hall ever stand a monument to teach the world that resistance to oppression is a duty, and will, under true republican institutions, become a blessing.' The medallion was encompassed by a glory of French and American flags, and above stood the Goddess of Liberty holding festoons of bunting. Christ Church, King's Chapel, and especially the Old South Church-within the walls of which last named building, Warren, and Adams, and Otis, and the sons of liberty, gathered and spoke-were likewise places of most attractive interest. Local celebrations were held, also, in the various capitals of the States, as well as in hundreds and thousands of other cities, towns and villages, calling forth every manner and mode of joyous festivity, on the part of old and young; and statesmen, judges, generals, the "honorable of the land," furnished abundant oratory, and a vast amount of local history of permanent value. The honor of firing the first centennial salute in the United States-that at the first instant of day-break-is claimed, in point of locality and time, for Eastport, Me.

In New York, as in Philadelphia, the jubilistic demonstrations commenced on a truly metropolitan scale, on the evening. of the third. Indeed, the most vivid description would convey only a faint idea of the picturesque and imposing appearance presented in the principal squares and avenues, from nine o'clock until far into the night. In Union Square, the whole scene was one of unparalleled beauty and grandeur, and nothing could be more impressive than when the advanced guard of the monster procession marched into the square by way of the plaza. It was almost an hour after the start of the procession before the head entered the grounds and took position. The members of the Sangerfer Bund were in full force of about