Read Ebook: Our Show A Humorous Account of the International Exposition in Honor of the Centennial Anniversary of American Independence from Inception to Completion Including Description of Buildings Biographies of Managers Receptions of Foreign Dignitaries Opening C by Cohen David Solis Sommer H B Frost A B Arthur Burdett Illustrator

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One day the son perceived, to his great astonishment, a most beautiful creature with flowing hair sitting on the unruffled surface of the lake combing her tresses, the water serving as a mirror. Suddenly she beheld the young man standing on the brink of the lake with his eyes rivetted on her, and unconsciously offering to herself the provision of barley bread and cheese with which he had been provided when he left his home.

Bewildered by a feeling of love and admiration for the object before him, he continued to hold out his hand towards the lady, who imperceptibly glided near to him, but gently refused the offer of his provisions. He attempted to touch her, but she eluded his grasp, saying

Cras dy fara; Nid hawdd fy nala.

Hard baked is thy bread; It is not easy to catch me.

She immediately dived under the water and disappeared, leaving the love-stricken youth to return home a prey to disappointment and regret that he had been unable to make further acquaintance with the lovely maiden with whom he had desperately fallen in love.

On his return home he communicated to his mother the extraordinary vision. She advised him to take some unbaked dough the next time in his pocket, as there must have been some spell connected with the hard baked bread, or "Bara Cras," which prevented his catching the lady.

Next morning, before the sun was up, the young man was at the lake, not for the purpose of looking after the cattle, but that he might again witness the enchanting vision of the previous day. In vain did he glance over the surface of the lake; nothing met his view, save the ripples occasioned by a stiff breeze, and a dark cloud hung heavily on the summit of the Van.

Hours passed on, the wind was hushed, the overhanging clouds had vanished, when the youth was startled by seeing some of his mother's cattle on the precipitous side of the acclivity, nearly on the opposite side of the lake. As he was hastening away to rescue them from their perilous position, the object of his search again appeared to him, and seemed much more beautiful than when he first beheld her. His hand was again held out to her, full of unbaked bread, which he offered to her with an urgent proffer of his heart also, and vows of eternal attachment, all of which were refused by her, saying

Llaith dy fara! Ti ni fynna.

Unbaked is thy bread! I will not have thee.

But the smiles that played upon her features as the lady vanished beneath the waters forbade him to despair, and cheered him on his way home. His aged parent was acquainted with his ill success, and she suggested that his bread should the next time be but slightly baked, as most likely to please the mysterious being.

Impelled by love, the youth left his mother's home early next morning. He was soon near the margin of the lake impatiently awaiting the reappearance of the lady. The sheep and goats browsed on the precipitous sides of the Van, the cattle strayed amongst the rocks, rain and sunshine came and passed away, unheeded by the youth who was wrapped up in looking for the appearance of her who had stolen his heart. The sun was verging towards the west, and the young man casting a sad look over the waters ere departing homewards was astonished to see several cows walking along its surface, and, what was more pleasing to his sight, the maiden reappeared, even lovelier than ever. She approached the land and he rushed to meet her in the water. A smile encouraged him to seize her hand, and she accepted the moderately baked bread he offered her, and after some persuasion she consented to become his wife, on condition that they should live together until she received from him three blows without a cause,

Tri ergyd diachos,

Three causeless blows,

when, should he ever happen to strike her three such blows, she would leave him for ever. These conditions were readily and joyfully accepted.

Thus the Lady of the Lake became engaged to the young man, and having loosed her hand for a moment she darted away and dived into the lake. The grief of the lover at this disappearance of his affianced was such that he determined to cast himself headlong into its unfathomed depths, and thus end his life. As he was on the point of committing this rash act, there emerged out of the lake two most beautiful ladies, accompanied by a hoary-headed man of noble mien and extraordinary stature, but having otherwise all the force and strength of youth. This man addressed the youth, saying that, as he proposed to marry one of his daughters, he consented to the union, provided the young man could distinguish which of the two ladies before him was the object of his affections. This was no easy task, as the maidens were perfect counterparts of each other.

Whilst the young man narrowly scanned the two ladies and failed to perceive the least difference betwixt the two, one of them thrust her foot a slight degree forward. The motion, simple as it was, did not escape the observation of the youth, and he discovered a trifling variation in the mode in which their sandals were tied. This at once put an end to the dilemma, for he had on previous occasions noticed the peculiarity of her shoe-tie, and he boldly took hold of her hand.

"Thou hast chosen rightly," said the Father, "be to her a kind and faithful husband, and I will give her, as a dowry, as many sheep, cattle, goats, and horses, as she can count of each without heaving or drawing in her breath. But remember, that if you prove unkind to her at any time and strike her three times without a cause, she shall return to me, and shall bring all her stock with her."

Such was the marriage settlement, to which the young man gladly assented, and the bride was desired to count the number of sheep she was to have. She immediately adopted the mode of counting by fives, thus:--One, two, three, four, five,--one, two, three, four, five; as many times as possible in rapid succession, till her breath was exhausted. The same process of reckoning had to determine the number of goats, cattle, and horses, respectively; and in an instant the full number of each came out of the lake, when called upon by the Father.

The young couple were then married, and went to reside at a farm called Esgair Llaethdy, near Myddvai, where they lived in prosperity and happiness for several years, and became the parents of three beautiful sons.

The Pennsylvania Veterans, G. A. R., marched in the centre of the Second Division, and a moving incident occurred as they passed by the Mint near Broad Street.

The first distinguished warrior to appear was Colonel Mann, the hero of ~0007 fights, mounted upon the gallant steed which had borne him safely through them all. Along the route, his iron front proudly erect, his bronzed and battered features flushed with the nobility of a natural pride, he was greeted by the enthusiastic cheers of the assembled thousands. Maidens from beyond the seas--officers from the armies of the old world, joined in the gracious tumult. One bald-headed veteran turned to the Chevalier De Lafayette, who with Senator Sam Josephs occupied the barouche with him, and asked--

"Who is passing, Chevalier, that the people appear so excited?"

"What!" shouted the veteran, and pulling from his coat the diamond order of "St. George and the Dragon fly" which blazed among an hundred others upon his breast, he rose in his coach and flung it gracefully to the Colonel, who caught it quite as gracefully upon the fly. At this moment a great shout arose. The populace imagined that a shot had been fired at the Colonel, that an attempt had been made to assassinate their pet hero. The mob rushed for the carriage which contained the veteran, with cries of "kill him," etc. etc. The Colonel took in the situation at a glance. Rising in his stirrups he spread wide his arms to show he was uninjured.

"Hold," he shouted, in that same voice of loud and deep toned beauty which oft had brought the briny tears to eyes of hardened criminals in the dock, "Hold; he is my friend: he has given me this badge ; who touches a hair of his bald head, dies like a dog--march on," he said.

The cries for vengeance changed to wild cheers of joy, and the procession moved on.

The Foreign Divisions followed the Pennsylvanians in rotation adopted by lot. The Caledonian club was a marked feature of the English Division among which it was numbered, being the only representation from Scotland. The members appeared in full Highland costume, kilt, sash, and checker-board stockings. The chiefs danced the Highland Fling all along the route to the inspiring strains of the regimental bagpipes. The company of Orangemen with their Lemon aids was also a part of this division; they were commanded by Col. Terrence McDougall.

The "French Lancers," in the same division, danced the quadrille named after them at each lamp-post along the line.

A number of survivors of the late French war were carried along in Sedan chairs. This must have been a sad sight for Frenchmen. We are not Frenchmen.

The German Landsturm soldiers were artistically decorated with pretzels and oranges. Their division was preceded by the Emperor William and his family, drawn in one of the ambulances of the German Hospital, the horses being appropriately decorated with German and American bunting.

The Austrian Grenadiers , 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.

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 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.

The "Norfolk Blues" and the "Virginia Carbuncles" entered upon the march with highly polished rifles and well filled canteens. Their rifles were still highly polished when the march was over.

The "Seventh Regiment," of New York, composed entirely of officers, was much applauded. Its discipline was apparent in its style of marching and the waxed moustaches of its members.

The "West Point Cadets" were also in line. They made a peaceful and pleasing show with their little tin swords and wooden guns. They looked very neat too, clean faces and well-brushed hair showing that they were tenderly cared for. Their jackets were buttoned tight up to their necks. The ladies were charmed with them, and "little dears," "sweet, ain't they?" were the expressions heard on all sides. Much sympathy was expressed for them on account of the great length of the route--entirely too long for children to traverse. The cadets were to have remained during two weeks of the Exposition, but they got to eating unripe cherries from the trees in the Park, and falling into the Schuylkill River, so the Commissioners were compelled to send them home.

The "Naval Cadets" were marshalled under Secretary Robeson. This old salt was arrayed as Neptune, with a trident in his hand, and a crown of real sea-shells upon his aged, weather-beaten brow. The cadets were taken care of during their stay by a file of marines.

The procession started at 10 o'clock, and by two P. M. one-half of the main body having passed the Continental Hotel, the head of the procession reached Memorial Hall, while the tail was wagging here, there and everywhere, about the sacred shadows of Independence Hall.

At Memorial Hall, amid the salvos of artillery, the pealings of bells, and music of the band; the hymns of the singers, and the cheering of the vast, innumerable multitude, the

CHAPLAIN OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE

ascended the decorated pulpit.

Mayor Stokley stepped forward. Tear-drops glistened in his translucent orbs. He raised his arm; his hand, so used to threaten and command, implored silence. In a single moment the firing ceased, the bells pealed no more; the last echoes of the hymns were carried heavenward upon the gentle breeze; the people ceased shouting, and a holy, solemn silence reigned supreme.

"THE FIRE." ... WHO FLARED AND HOW THEY DID IT.

Amid this profound silence the Chaplain proceeded to inform the Lord for what purpose that great concourse of people was assembled.

He intimated that as "the earth was the Lord's and the fulness thereof, and as the United States of America formed a part of the earth, and its citizens frequently gave evidence of the fulness thereof, it was eminently proper that He should not be kept in ignorance of its doings."

He quoted freely from Scripture to convince his hearers that man was not all-powerful, but that, sooner or later, he must needs leave country, home, greenbacks, office, and corner lots behind him.

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