Today has been a notable day in the history of Martha’s Vineyard. The President of the Republic has landed upon our shore, has partaken of our hospitality, and has received in person the salutations of our people. Other days he will be with us but this day, his first day, is especially noteworthy.

 

 

At about four o’clock the River Queen arrived from Woods Hole at the Vineyard Highlands wharf, having on board the presidential party, Governor Talbot and staff, Collector Simmons of Boston, and other state and national dignitaries. The presidential party consists of General Grant and wife, Vice President Wilson, Secretary Robeson, Postmaster General Jewel, General Porter and other magnates of greater or lesser distinction. Immediately on arriving, the party entered one of the Vineyard Grove cars, drawn by six horses and appropriately decorated for the occasion, and, followed, by a numerous concourse of carriages and pedestrians, proceeded to Clinton avenue. On reaching that point, so great was the press, notwithstanding the five or six thousand who were congregated in and about the bandstand, that there was some difficulty in extracting the party from the cars; but they finally succeeded in effecting an escape into Bishop Haven’s cottage, where they might recruit a little before appearing to the people. The Bishop’s cottage had been elaborately decorated in honor of its distinguished guest, and was the subject of much admiring comment;  an immense bouquet composed wholly of the most elegant rosebuds and green attracting much attention. Meanwhile, it having been announced that the presentation of the President to the people would be at the Tabernacle, the stand had been fast filling up, the thousands who formed the afternoon congregation being reinforced by other thousands, till the space under the canopy and for rods around was one dense mass of eager humanity, such as probably was never known here before. Every point where it was probable that General Grant would appear had its particular crowd of a thousand or two, beside the main body at the stand. After tarrying a few minutes at the cottage, the line of march was taken up for the Tabernacle, on the rostrum of which sufficient space had been cleared for the accommodation of the distinguished party. Amid a perfect burst of applause the President was presented, bowing in response to the enthusiastic salutations of the multitude.  The others were greeted with greater or less enthusiasm, as they were more or less widely known. After the presentation and the singing of America, the party returned to Bishop Haven’s cottage, the crowd forming in line of either side, the President shaking the hands of the foremost as he went. He again appeared a moment on the cottage balcony, and then withdrew and was seen no more till six o’clock, when he dined at the Central House.

 

In the evening the President and party were driven around the principal avenues on the Bluffs, to witness the illumination and display of fireworks which had been gotten up in his honor. The procession, under the marshalship of J.L. Dexter, and headed by the Foxboro brass band, entered Circuit avenue at about half past eight o’clock. The President and his wife rode in their own carriage drawn by a pair of magnificent black horses, and the other members of the party followed in carriages. The route was down Circuit avenue, along Ocean Park, down Narragansett avenue to Circuit, and thence back to the Camp Ground.

 

Opposite Dr. Tucker’s cottage on Ocean avenue the procession halted, and the President alighted and entered the doctor’s cottage, from the balcony of which he had a fine view of the grand exhibition. The display was magnificent, and has probably never been anywhere nearly equaled. The whole city was ablaze, or rather the Bluffs “ward.” The cottages of E.P. Carpenter, Dr. Tucker, the Holmans, and others on Ocean avenue, and of Charles Washburn and others on Narragansett avenue, and of a host of others on every avenue, with whose names we are not acquainted, and for whom we have not sufficient space if we were, all challenged the enthusiastic admiration of the multitude of spectators.

 

Dr. Tucker’s cottage seemed to be in a chronic state of mimic conflagration all the evening. The whole interior would suddenly become irradiated, at one time gorgeously beautiful, at another time lurid and infernal. The display of variously colored lights was indeed beautiful. Narragansett avenue presented a fine appearance, being defined by a continuous line of lanterns for the whole length on either side. On account of the seaward portion of Circuit avenue were illumined wholly in the interior, with colored lights in the windows, but it was thought by many that the effect was finer than that of the outside illuminations. The Grover House was extensively trimmed and illumined, as was also the Pawnee, Baxter and others. It is in vain to particularize, as it is impossible to do justice to all or any considerable portion of them.

 

The exhibition of fireworks was admirable. A wreath with “Peace” in the center was very beautiful. A continuous stream of rockets and Roman candles was going up throughout the evening, and all the different varieties appeared to advantage. The whole affair was eminently and preeminently a success. The night was a glorious one, though cool, the illumination was magnificent, nothing occurred to mar the enjoyment of the occasion, and the President and his companions are reported to have been very much pleased with the entertainment afforded them.