2-982-122 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Opening of the American Centennial Exhibition: the Butchers' Procession passing up Chestnut-Street, Philadelphia, from a sketch by one of our special artists, 1876. '...tradesmen and assistants, all neatly dressed in white frocks with blue sashes, well-brushed hats decorated with their badges, and well-blacked boots; most of them were fine, tall, portly men, riding good horses...The Black Hussar Band of eighteen performers, well mounted, led the first division or cavalcade; then came Beck's band, filling a six-horse omnibus; more horsemen, and a long line of four and two horse barouches. A car gaily festooned with bunting was filled with little boys and girls, who shouted, clapped their hands, or engaged themselves in waving little silk flags of all nations. The Lanark band was in this division, and a number of butcher boys mounted on ponies. This portion of the parade numbered about 1200'. From "Illustrated London News", 1876.