leading the way arm in arm-they were the first, indeed, to pass through the massive iron gates. The President was on the arm of Elbridge T. Gerry, chairman of the committee on literary exercises, and the Vice-President was escorted by Clarence W. Bowen, secretary of the centennial committee; then came the Rev. Dr. Storrs and Archbishop Corrigan, and the cabinet, justices of the supreme court, and other dignitaries, in pairs. The statesmanship and the scholarship of the country were seated on this broad platform, massed together as never before in the history of the republic—and as will probably never be again in less than a hundred years to come. Almost every person present was of national renown, and the majority represented families who were intimately concerned in the beginning of our national government Numerous attempts were made to photograph the scene by professors in the art, and by amateurs who have scientifically contributed with marked success toward converting photography into a fine art, but nothing was produced of so satisfactory a character as the picture the historic picture-we have the pleasure of giving to our readers. In this, as will be observed, the portraits are so perfect that a list of the names of those present will be superfluous. When the raptur ous cheering from the crowds above and below had in a measure subsided, Hon. Hamilton Fish stepped to the front of the platform, and in a sentence or two called the meeting to order, and Elbridge T. Gerry, in a clear, distinct voice, said: "Fellow-citizens-One hundred years ago, on this spot, George Washington, as first President of the United States, took his oath of office upon the Holy Bible. That sacred volume is here to-day, silently attesting the basis upon which our nation was constructed, and the dependence of our people upon Almighty God. In the words, then, of one of the founders of the government, with hearts overflowing with gratitude to our Sovereign Benefactor for granting to us existence, for continuing it to the present period, and for accumulating on us blessings, spiritual and temporal, through life, may we with fervor beseech Him so to continue them as best to promote His glory and our welfare.' The Rev. Richard S. Storrs will utter the invocation."

Dr. Storrs' prayer was listened to with reverential silence, those on the platform and those in the streets alike baring their heads. One of the beautiful passages of this historic supplication will ever remain in the memory: "Behold, we beseech thee, with thy merciful favor the nation which thou didst thus plant and protect setting it in the place which thou hast prepared, and multiply it with large increase. Thou hast given it riches of silver and gold, and made it possessor of a land of abundance, whose stones are iron, and out of whose rock flow rivers of oil. In its plentiful

fields the year is crowned with the joy of harvest, within its borders are all pleasant fruits, and its harbors exult in the tribute of the seas. Thou hast given it wise and equal laws for the homeborn and the stranger, ordinances of justice, a government which has been to it in successive generations for a name and a praise. May it equally inherit the blessings of thy grace and partake of thy righteousness. In obedience to thy will, and in reverence for thy truth, may its liberties abide on the surest foundations. In faith unfeigned and with joyful homage may it offer to thee its sacrifice of praise, and in all coming time find happiness and hope in thy benediction."

Mr. Gerry then came forward and introduced Clarence W. Bowen, to read the poem written for this occasion by John Greenleaf Whittier, entitled "The Vow of Washington," and it was excellently rendered. An ovation greeted Chauncey M. Depew when he stepped to the front of the platform to deliver his oration, which was a clear and graphic setting forth of the leading events of a century of popular government, of the marvelous material development of the republic in the past hundred years—a model of lofty and sustained oratory. He said: "No man ever stood for so much to his country and to mankind as George Washington. Hamilton, Jefferson and Adams, Madison and Jay, each represented some of the elements which formed the Union. Washington embodied them all. The superiority of Washington's character and genius was more conspicuous in the formation of our government and in putting it on indestructible foundations than in leading armies to victory and conquering the independence of his country. The Union in any event' is the central thought of his farewell address, and all the years of his grand life were devoted to its formation and preservation. He fought as a youth with Braddock and in the capture of Fort Du Quesne for the protection of the whole country. As commander-in-chief of the continental army, his commission was from the congress of the united colonies. He inspired the movement for the Republic, was the president and dominant spirit of the convention which framed its Constitution, and its President for eight years, and guided its course until satisfied that, moving safely along the broad highway of time, it would be surely ascending toward the first place among the nations of the world, the asylum of the oppressed, the home of the free. We stand to-day upon the dividing line between the first and second century of constitutional government. There are no clouds overhead and no convulsions under our feet. We reverently return thanks to Almighty God for the past, and with confident and hopeful promise march upon sure ground toward the future."

There was an outburst of prolonged applause when Mr. Depew finished, which broke forth into the wildest enthusiasm when Mr. Gerry advanced and introduced the President of the United States. President Harrison said among other things: "We have come into the serious but always inspiring presence of Washington. He was the incarnation of duty, and he teaches us to-day this great lesson, that those who would associate their names with events that shall outlive a century can only do so by a high consecration to duty. The captain who gives to the sea his cargo of rags that he may give safety and deliverance to his imperiled fellow-men' has fame; he who lands the cargo has only wages."

Archbishop Corrigan then rose to pronounce the benediction, and heads were instantly uncovered and silence reigned. It was at this moment that the photograph was taken which appears upon page 22. For an hour the sound of martial music had been heard in the distance, and when the President at twelve o'clock, after a light luncheon served inside the sub-treasury building, proceeded to his carriage, lines of troops were already drawn up on each side of Broadway and Fifth avenue from Wall street to Madison square, ready to present arms when he should pass them. Mayor Grant took his place in the carriage beside the President, and General John Cochrane, from the army committee of the centennial,

and one of the President's aids, occupied the front seat. The route was fenced in by a solid wall of humanity, and the shout of welcome was continuous as the President's carriage moved rapidly along. Every building was sumptuously dressed in patriotic colors, every hand among the millions of sight-seers waved a handkerchief or a flag-in some instances the changing color, as if by magic, when the handkerchiefs and the flags were suddenly given to the breeze, was the most picturesque sight of the day. The mammoth proportions of the crowd attracted universal attention. President Harrison several times rose to his feet for a better view of the scene up and down the great thoroughfares. The ingenuity displayed in finding points and perches of observation was an amusing study. Telegraph-poles were black with men and boys. In the lower corridor of the post-office the swinging windows over the letter-boxes were turned and filled with clerks, who could watch through the outside sashes. Lampposts were utilized. In one instance a lamp-post carrying four lamps had a cup-like top, into which four girls and three boys had climbed. From the waist down they were hidden in the cup, over the edges of which they peeped like strange manikins in a goblet. At Chambers street a heavytopped wagon was covered with girls standing. Dry-goods boxes and flour-barrels were converted into stands; in one instance the head of a barrel gave way under the weight of a heavy woman, and she descended into the round prison-house, from which it was very difficult to extricate her. At Worth street an old-fashioned stage-coach was entirely covered with spectators. Some men at Spring street placed a long ladder against a building, and a row of them stood on its rounds from top to bottom. Step-ladders were used for viewing-stands in hundreds of instances. The seats arranged on trucks at the cross-streets presented all sorts of comical pictures, but they were very useful contrivances. Miles of windows framed bouquets of happy faces. The steps of buildings were packed to the barred doors, and stands were thrown out from windows so that the people reached to the roofs, upon which they were planted in crowds, their heads fringing the edges. Mr. Grinnell's picture was made between Ninth and Tenth streets, shortly after the President's four-horse carriage rolled under the classic memorial arch at Washington square into the long stretch of Fifth avenue. The succeeding view represents the popular gathering in Union square.

When the President had taken his place on the reviewing-stand in Madison square, between the triumphal arches which bridged the avenue at Twenty-third and at Twenty-sixth streets, surrounded by a coterie of men famous in the political, literary, and social life of the day, the march

1. A SIDE STREET GROUP OF SPECTATORS, FROM A DETECTIVE CAMERA PHOTOGRAPH BY ALEXANDER BLACK. 2. TROOPS PASSING THROUGH UNION SQUARE ON TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1889.

ing was resumed, and fifty thousand soldiers were quickly in motion. As far as the eye could reach, north or south, the brilliant pageant held full sway, and there was no sameness in the spectacle, for it was constantly changing in hue, and the variations of the same color, produced by the effect of the fast-recurring sunshine and shadows, were pleasing in the extreme. First came General Schofield, calm and stately, followed by General Cruger and the rest of his handsomely uniformed staff. In response to their salute, the President bowed with uncovered head. The West Point cadets had the place of honor at the head of the line of regulars, and their marching elicited unceasing applause. Nothing, however, roused enthusiasm to a higher pitch than the appearance of the troops from the different states. Delaware was foremost, led by Governor Biggs, a conspicuous figure in the parade, with long white hair that played all manner of pranks with the wind, as hat in hand he acknowledged the cheers of the multitude. Pennsylvania came next, her eight