Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-03-19
THE QUEEN CITY.
WELCOME TO HER SOUTHERN GUESTS
Gorgeous Decorations, Parade Of the PO-
Iiss, Display Ofthe Fire Depart
ment and Fifteen Thouand
Dollar Banquet

CINCINNATI. March lS.-The last train
Of the Southern excursionists did not
reach the city until four o'clock this
morning, owing to the delays caused
by hot boxes or new cars. To-day the
visitors are being shown about the city
by committee OF four hundred citi-
zens. A large number were present al
the Chamber Of Commerce, where the
most extensive decorations were made.
A garrison flag hung in the street at the
entrance, with the words Cincinnati
Chamber OF Commerce Welcomes the
Southern Guests"
The lobby leading 10 the hall Of the
chamber was hung with flags, and the
doorway was curtained with the same,
from the centre of which hung O frame
decorated with living flowers, and besr.
ing ON one side the word, Welcome
and on the other "Peace and Good
Will" Flags Of all nations were hung
within.
At the close OF business hours Presi-
dent Brown formally welcomed the visl-
tors and introduced Mai. Il. +. Crane,
President OF the Atlanta Board Of Trade,
who read a poem, commemorative OF
the event, written by X. w. Martin, oil
Atlanta.
Governor Marks, Of Tennessee, fol-
lowed with q humorous reference 10
his attempt during the war, along with
some seyenty-hye thousand other South
erners. To reach Cincinnati, and said he
A A, e.. II la 1atn hn
To render an apology for failing TO come
sooner, and he was glad 10 say that In
the warmth Of the welcome he and his
friends had received they had forgot
the disappointment OF their failure in
the past.
Gov. Colquett, Of Georgia, followed
and said that here and now was fiji
ting occasion when the dead past should
be- buried forever, and in behalf OF those
who came with him, as well az those left
behind, he gladly extended the right
hanl Of friendship.
L. A. James, Of Chattanooga, made a
few brief remarks, in the course oil
which he warned Cincinnati TO meet
aud overcome the adversaries seeking to
nullify the value OF its costly road.
There was q parade OF the police aud
a display OF the fire department this
afternoon.
The banquet
CINCINNATI, March l7.--To.night's
banquet to the Southern guests ut Music
Hall, was the elimination Of the enter
prise OF bringing such u large number
OF people such a long distance and pro-
viding them feast unequalled in this
country in its proportions. Seventeen
hundred and seventy-six in the exact
number OF guests that were provided
ior, which is the full capacity Of the
ground floor and stage OF Music Hall,
OF course, IN the management OF the
details OF such agreat undertaking, there
have been more or less friction and dis
appointment, bat most OF the latter Is
attributable to carclessness in issuing
the invitations, this being done by the
roads ia the South connecting the Gin
cinnati road, but all these little annoy
ancca were forgotten when the scene at
the grand banqueting hall was witness
cd tonight The hall itself is an impos.
ing structure tonight with its array ol
tables and proiuse ornaments, together
with its company Of delighted guests and
the presence OF large number ol ladies'
aud gentlcmcn in the upper tiers.
Ii forms a scene Of beauty and magnih.
cenCc which will be the rememberance
of life time to all who Witnessed it.
The adjoining buildings have been for
several days turned into vast kitchens,
with alittle army cooks preparing before
hand everything that could be be made
ready. The utmost system has been
devised for preventing delay or coniu-
sion i'm serving the guests. There are
four hundred and thirty tables In all,
thirteen oi which are on the stage, To
the most ui these, iorty-nino guests are
seated. Each table has high steward
selected from leading citizens to person
ate the host. Besides Cincinnatlans are
seated among the guests in proportion
of too. One waiter is assigned to
every seven guests, and these are group
ed again under head walters and have
easy access to the corridor, where im-
mensc heating tables are provided. IL
in in reality group OF banquets, each
table representing one. The cost OF the
banquet Is $4,000. The floral decora-
tions in such a large hall are necessarily
on large scale. Among the most i'm
posing is floral locomotive s feet in
length, which occupies u conspicuous
place i'm front OF the organ. Two
floral pieces, besides living plauts,
are on each table. and l,776 but
ton hole boqucts are provided
for the use OF the guests. The bill OF
fare is rs complete IA could be made at
the most elegant private banquet, and a
grclt pruiusion OF the finest wines had
been furnished, and by no means the
least attractive feature OF the en-
tertainment is the music, which consists
II the great organ played by Henry
Carter, and what was the Thomas or.
chestra under the direction Of Michael
Brand.
II was half past when the guests be-
gan 10 enter the hall, but so perfect were
the arrangements that il seemed TO be
not more than five minutes until every
guest was in his previously assigned
-, -, ;,b,ut tho sliyhlasi coniusiOn or