The Austrian Grenadiers (division seventy), carried a miniature hydrant, emblematic of temperance; also an open Bible on a velvet cushion.
The Centennial managers were somewhat annoyed by the appearance in line of a commission from the African interior, which insisted on taking part in the procession, or eating the Director General. They marched along in their native costume, consisting of a skewer through their back hair.
Of course they were not aware of anything out of the way in their get up, but Mr. Goshorn said that rather than have the thing occur again, GOSHORN’S
NOBLE RESOLVE.he would sacrifice himself on the altar of propriety, and be eaten. His brother commissioners encouraged him in this resolve.
Immediately after the Foreign Divisions, came the “National Centennial Guards,” formed of companies from the thirteen original States. They were headed by Generals Grant, Sherman, Butler, and Hartranft, and were followed by the Centennial Commissioners in barouches.
The Commissioners were paired off with foreign civil dignitaries and potentates. The Prince of Wales was inveigled into a carriage with two of our city officials: he left for home next day. Queen Victoria (his mother) enjoyed the society of the Chief of the Fire Department: she remained until the close of the Exposition.
One carriage was cheered vociferously. It contained Vice-President Wilson, Mr. Jefferson Davis, Simon Cameron, and Robert Toombs.
The American divisions, which included companies and regiments from every State and city in the Union, succeeded the barouches. A great many of these organizations brought their own bands with them, or as the saying is, “blew their own horns,” but many others depended upon the well-known musical resources of Philadelphia. They discovered that delays were dangerous. They had to do the best they could.
The “Duquesne Greyhounds,” of Pittsburgh, were preceded by Signor Maccaroni’s band—two harps and a female violinist, while the “Charleston Fusileers” were obliged to fusileer to the strains of seven jews-harps, kindly volunteered by juvenile American talent.
A noticeable company was the “Palmetto Guards,” of South Carolina, dressed in dusters and straw hats, and bearing palm-leaf fans. The “Ancient Artillery,” of Boston, thorough sons of guns, every man of them, also attracted much attention. Their step was the Boston glide.