Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1871-03-01
Our Washington Letter.


promise to give you an account Of the novel ies-
tiyal after its occurrence lam sorry that made
p. the promise, for rs iuldllment is impossible.
}. Certainly the narrow limits of brief letter afford
1 no room for full description Of the novel and
brilliant scenes which occupied two days and two
nights in their performance.
/, THE PREPARATION
Every possible preparation had been made, and
everything that could add to the success and
brilancy Of the occasion had been done. The
mile and a quarter of the Avenue" that lies
y between the Capitol and the Treasury Depart
mcnt which has recently been regarded and
paved with wood, was swept and washed until it
was clean as floor. The buildings along
either side were half concealed with wreaths of
d eyergreens and flowers, flags and icstoons Of
Z bunting, and lines Of Chinese lanterns Branch
burners, throwing out seven Jets Of flame in the
form Of star, were attached to each lamp post,
which lighted at night presented the appearance
Of continuous lines Of fire mile aud a half in
length, Stretching on either side the whole length
Of the avenue, were telegraph wires attached 10
the lamp posts, upon which were hung at inter
/ walls Of only three feet, mily-colorcd Chinese
lanterns. Flags, strcamers and lines Of Chinese
lanterns were also suspended across the street at
frequent intervals An immense arch with its
buttresscs resting upon the pavement spmng
across the avenue at a single span of nearly one
hundred and fifty feet by one hundred feet in
height, between the National " and " St.
James hotels The erection Of this immense
structure, aside from its decoration. had cost
two thousand dollars. just as the finishing
touches had been put thereon, on Saturday after
noon, sudden and furious gust of wind over
turned the airy structure and laid the beautiful
erection mass of broken ind worthless lrag-
ments along the street below.
This was the only accident attending the iesti-
val, and although this was intended as the most
attractive feature Of the decorations, 50 ruch else
was provided that its absence was not noticed.
THE GATHERING.
For several days every arriving train had
brought crowds Of strangers, and hotels and
boarding houses were filled to the limit Of their
capacity by Saturday night Notwithstanding
the immense influx of visitors, there was no in
crease in the price Of entertainment and the only
attempt at extortion was by parties who had erect
ed seats for the accommodation of spectators at
various points along the avenue, capable Of scat
ing twelve thousand persons. These would-be
spectators oyerreached themselves by charging
from one dollar to one dollar and half for a sin
gle seat, in consequence Of which their seats re-
manned empty during the entire carnival Early
on Monday morning it was estimated that from
seventy to one hundred thousand persons were
assembled upon the line of the Avenue. The
sidewalks from one end of the Avenue to the 9TH
,l..I, H., -
comics were crowded, and windows were filed
with men, women and children, who had brought
lunches and &C me prepared to maintain their en-
yiable positions during day. The house-tops were
covered with spectators, and the shade trees az
iorded perches for hundreds Of adventurous boys
THE RACES.
/ The entertainment for the first day consisted of
/ horse-racing. civic professions. f,oat mule and
foot races. Although interesting to some. none
of these were amusing and when the hungry
crowd dispersed towards night it was with a feel.
ing Observation-Disclosures. and an EXPRESSION that the
carnival up to this time had been a f,ilure S,mo-
thing like the mad reyels upon the Corso at Rome
had been expected and a mopentorv ,,lir,nso n
a few horses dasbno mast ppon a stroigbt trocL
was n poor answer IN tho evnec,o,io,
rms utr,,rx,r,ov
rlo l;..-.,;,....... ~ a.,
c,r,.,.,a, ~ H. h,,: -, vas
,otio, ~ ,ha 81, ". ls.a~i".;Ns
,;oo - ,,,o - ~ -
la,ng ii,,od a., -, ,,.;,t ~
,hois,,,J. ~ rhi,o-o i,,
,I,rod holIg If Geo.. ,,.o.,, IL lay
,be in,or;,r a,'i a..
across tho stroets by, Invisible o,rd. I,.iaI
tbough the stars had oo,,o d,,,r, ., o,f III. g.
hle Gro D., tho ,a,arol ,, a,,..,.;.,, ,rI.
or Calcium Limits stationed =, Mo- o,,i,,l ...l
nro,ninont ,ants oio,,, ,l,,,,.,,,. t,,,.l -
| l;lo,,,,s ~ ,ho - -
don ,Iindna ~ ,ai It,reA S'u wan 'uu
-. r;..'..",,,s
tbe sontb front If tbo rroas,,r,. ,rhi,a c. I
ans noin,s -, ,,,,,,.a1 :.
bnrsiin, h,,,bs eIl.I IL. ,,;,t' VI
washington hos soo,, No., $40
meyer one l;k. ,his vis;,,.. r., ~. ~ ~,
al .h, t.. -. '''N
,por,, who have ,,,o,. 80 =. -.
Of the old world All united in s,vin, that Ia
this one feature the present occasion excelled any
thing Of the kind ever seen elsewhere
SECOND DAY.
llt pIOEIdlilut loI lilt second uuN promised
more variety and amusement than the solemn pro-
ceedings of the day before, and at an early hour
everybody was again in position The principal
TRACTION in the forenoon was the exhibition of
driving horses which brought out the fine private
cquipages of the President, Gen Sherman the
various Foreign Ministers, and hundreds of Others
elonging to wealthy residents or visitors The dis
lay of ne-boOded horses gold plated harnesses
end expensive carriages, has probably never been
cxcelled in this country, as few occasions ever
bring these fine private turnouts together BY far
he finest and most expensive was the magnificent
cam Of llELMnoLD, of " Buchu notoriety. The
coach was open, with two coachmen in daintiest
livery mounted in 'front.' and two outriders or
iootmen perched up behind. This was drawn by
five magnificent blooded bays, driven two upon the
pole and three tandem. The harnesses were gold
rlatpd and the limos tvara oc ,,b;to III.