The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-08
OPENING THE NEW CAPITOL.
TIE MOST BRILLTANT sPECTA Gle IN
ALBANY IN M.INY A DAY
Judges, Statesmen, authors, Politicians, and
other Men OF Distinction CrowdinK the
Spacious Rooms and FItlIng the Corridors.

Judges. Statesmen, uthors, Politicians, and
Other Men OF Distinction CrowdinR the
Spacious Rooms and Fiillng the Corridors.
ALBANY Jan. Tho reception in honor
CT the opening Of the new Capitol this evening.
80 far rs numbers and brlllancy Is concerned.
must be pronounced successfu At o'clock
the doors were thrown open. and from that
time until II o'clock a stream OF finely dressed
women and men poured into tho building until
oven it's capacous rooms and halls were over
crowded, and moving about was inconvenient.
Owing TO some defect In the machinery the
electric light with which II had been intended
to illuminate the building could not be
used. but hundreds OF brilliant gas jets
sufilced TO show all its regal magnincence. The
street for block on each side Of the entrance
was lined on both sides with mon and women.
who had not bcen 80 fortunate as TO secure a
ticket Of admission or had not tho t25 with
which to pay for one. and there they stood for
hours In the cold wind. pounding their feet on
the pavement Watching the arrival OF guests
and looking wistiully up at the brilliantly
lighted windows. and occasionally catching a
note OF music from Gmore's or Austins Band.
II is saio to say that many Of them had boen
taxed for money to erect this monstrous build
ing whose doors were now barred to them.
As tho guests arrived thoy put their cloaks.
coats. and hats I'm room provided near the
entrance. tho attendance and service Of which
was very good. considering the great throng
Passing thoncc through the main hall and up
tho grand staircase to tho second story. the
guests entered the apartments known IA the
Governors rooms. where they were welcomed
by tho ReceutiOn Committee, consisting OF
Mayor Nolan. senator Harris. Erastus Corning
Robert u. Pruyn. Daniel Manning OF the Argus
G. r. Smith Of tho Journal and John f.
Smyth. Thence they passed into the Sem
ate Chamber which is to bo tho Court
OF Appeals room. and after admiring its carved
oak ceiling and sides and beautiful furnish-
ings. and tho gorgeously painted and gidcd
hall which led 70 II with groen plants and How
o,her fiight Of the grand stairense' and we're In
the Assembly Chamber, the crOwnng glory OF
y all. Here they larr,ed longest listening to
dazzling splondOr OF the place. Long before 10
O'Clock this chamber WAS simply jammed with
women and men. the majority Of whom were in
The venerable Thurlow Weed cntcrod this
chamber ahou. = o'clock, when there WIS not
more than 900 persons in H. supported by Scna;
tor Harris and his daughter As be entered
the open spicr in front Of the Speakers desk
and took n seat he was recognized and wocOn-
ed by u hearty clNpping Of hands. Hero for
nearly An hour he held An Informal reception.
He was greeted by almost all OF the distinguish
II was D.. before Gov Robinson. attended by
his full stan In their brilliant uniforms entered
the Reception Committee. and then went over
tho regulation route. being every whore received
Win mo kfNNlrHt r0Specf mere WERE OF course.
many, wcll-known persons there. sena-
tor Conkling was not there. II is an
| opon secret here that at the last moment he de-
| cded not TO come for tho reason thnt the
| Speakcrship flgnt was not settled. and he feared
that his presence might be seized upon by either
one or the other OF the factions to say he was in
| terforing in the contest.
Among those there were the de- facto Post
| master Gen. koy. ox-GOv. John I. Hoffman.
| Collector Merritt. A. Il. Cornell, Postmaster
| James. Con. Daniel +. Sickles Gen. SlOcum.
| Gen Barnum. Gen. Moffet. Gen. McQuade Gen.
| Birdsall, Gen. Jourdan. and many others who
| won their stars In the rcbollon. Chief Justice
| San ford T.. Church and most OF the other
| Judges OF tho Court Of Appeals.
The collation.. which was served 10y the Le-
| lands, wis spread in the court, over which n
temporary tent had been erected. The aides
were cayly ie-toOned with red. white and blue
| bunting. In tho kitchen attached to II were a
score Of French cooks, unp9 king the pieces Of
culinary art which had been made for the occa-
sion. and placing them upon the three long
| tables in the dining room. One OF these rcprc-
| scented the dome OF the old Capitol. Goddess OF
Liberty and all. another n trlumpnal arch.
| labelled. Inauguration OF tho new Capitol; -
| another a column OF tuhsroscs. creeping vines.
and connections iutcTtwined. fully NNa feet igh.
Tho throng was so dense that after ono or
| two attempts. dancing had 10 be abandoned.
| The ceremonies wera to have closed at mid
night. but NJ that hour the multitude was as
u"nse rs ever nut It was well on toward morn
| INK before the last guest had departed. the
! lights put out. and tho grand Inauguration II
| whm tho Governor, last year described "a q
| pubic calamity. WIS over.
| Tho ball Of the burgess Corps. which WIS also
| given this evening in honor of tho event. WAS
| much moro enjoyable. though that Was largely
| attended 10y the t,f0 oi Albany. and tho dancing
WAS kept up until morning.