Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-02-20


day life At the Metropolis OF the nation TO-DAY,
| it may DO ~ well to say word or two in regard
TO the origin and meaning Of the celebration
While the work Of replacing the old cobblestones
on Pennsyl vaDia avenue with an i'm proved wood
en- pavement was in progress, it was suggeste1
that when the work was finished it would be
good thing to celebrate the opening Of such
beautiful drive by . days holiday, when the
laws in relation to fast driving might be sus-
pended, and trials Of speed take place. The
proposition was favorabIy received from the
Orleans, January Sth, was mentioned as proper
time for the festival. The original idea rapidly
expanded, heWeyer, 30 that it was soon settled
that there should be not only trials of speed
aders, and variety Of novel features, which
would take some time to prepare, and then came
,ne s1ggesuon That the most lifting time for the
ton, the First President OF the Country and the
founder OF the city, which bearing his name
should nc take me lead In keeping alive the mem
unanimty, but as the 22d of February fell on
Ash Wednesday this year, and as the pro-
gramme had been so much enlarged that il was
feared one day would be too short a time TO
get through, il was finally determined that the
Carnival name had been adopted foe-
the proposed elebration-should be held on tn
two preceding days, and that it should not only
be worthy celebration OF Washington's birth
day and of the completion OF the first wood
w
OF enterprise which seems To animate our citi-
zens and prompt them to improve and beautify
the city, and make it the great social center OF
the country. In the meantime, an or ganiZatiou
Was perfected, money raised to paw the necessa-
~ eSr enses, and the programme OF festivities
day.
As rhe time approached to which so many
looked forward with anticipations Of pleasure
the weather signs were anxiously watched, and
many retired to rest last evening with forebod-
III VA a of
rain. and that the morning would bring with il
nothing but dsappoi ntment to the managers Of
the festivities and the thousands Of citizens and
visiting strangers who intended to participate
In or witness the promised spectaclss. Provi-
deDce, however, seemed to smile upon the ma
h s,aa, fsts for the morning dawned SOFT and
| obscured by heecy clouds, through which occa-
sionally darted the warm rays Of the sun. The
temperature WAS just about that OF An April
| day. How the programme was carried out up
Il 10 the time our paper went to press to-day is
| fully set forth below. 1t has been proposed. to
| have an annual celebration Of the same chsrac~
ter and from the success which il attending this
nrst enort In making visitors from the States
better acquainted with our city and its people,
and; and IN promoting harmony and good feeling:
hereafter Re every wear most pleasant feature
CT life in Washington.
The Crowd Of Strangers.
The avenue yesterday afternoon and evening
was crowded, and q great number OF stranger
were promenading between the Capitol en-
18th streets. 1t reminded one OF inaugurssi,a
times, though there was probably larger pro.
portion OF ladies among the visitors frum other
cities than usually come here TO see the Presi-
dent sworn IN. 1t was estimated tn at more til An
ten thousand strangers were in the city last
L evening, and the trains this morning added
largely to the number.
Strangers were arriving yesterday from al
quarters, and every train from the North and
South was heavily loaded with visitors. One
train last night over tho Baltimore & Ohio road
brought over 200 passengers, and on tho WASH
ington Alexandria road every hour brings q
1ull load Of visitors from the South. The
Potomac Ferry Company boats all day yestsr-
day and to- day, were filled with passe myers from
alexandria and the neighboring counties in
Virgins, and the country roads leading to the
city were quite lively with country people in all
sorts OF vehicles coming to see the sights. The
haf-fare system on the lines Of travel to this
The steamer LADY Of tSe lake Arrived this
morning from Norfolk with two hundred and
seventy visitors from Norfolk and Portsmouth,
among whom were the Mayors OF both those
cities.
The Hetsis,
since Saturday last at noon, have been so
crsmmed with guests that hundreds have boon
turned away to seek quarters elsewhere. The
boarding houses were conseq uently patr0nizcd
put up their charges accordingly. The various
sluice gates to relieve the pressure Of the great
influx Of strangers. The Arlington has been
.'full up" all the season. and 60 most Of the
time with willards, the Kirkwood, st. Marc,
metropolitan, National, St. JAmee, and CONT
mental hotels, and the Washington House, and
when the guests we're turIed away upon the ar
rival Of the various railroad trains, it was
amuAiDg to see the rush Cor quarters elsewhere.
''Ssy, boy" said one. "can you tell me
where can get . ROOM" talking to q boot
black; while others inquired ''if was possible
to get lodgings anywhere" The Carnival COM
mitteo. however, had things we'll in hand, and
AL who applied there we're directed to suitable
quarters. In order to accommodate the nu-
perOus visitors the restaurants all along the
lir e of the avenue were kept open yesterday
and last night, and will not be closed till after
the festivities, thus affording chance TO all to
satisfy the cravings OF hunger. Many Of the
Il sta ants, rs are ady stated, had rooms pre-
pared for those who could not find sleeping ac-
eommOdations at the hotels. The cali night"
houses were OF course on hand, and Harvey
end Holden among others have kept their en-
tire establishments open day and night.
JouFnallsls In ToWn.
The following journalists arrived yesterday
and Saturday, and reported at headquarters on
18th street III. N. Gallagher, editor Virginia
lree Press; Robt W. @. Mitchell, Albany Zee.
sing journal; 7. l.. Sutherland, New York Turf,
Field and Farm; Albert II. DoWell, Jr., Raleigh
Gasetts; James Manx, TolksfvesNd and Sta6fs
zeitu,G, Samuel O. FessendeA, Stanford Conn.,
lduocete; james r. Ksegan, New York Erprsss;