Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-08-17
THE GRAND PARADE.

Elaborate Decorations in Honor Of the
Msgoiflcent Demonstration which viii
take Place To-day-Tnousands OF Seats
Erected from which to vi W the Process
sion Windows and House lops for Rent
Buildings Ablsze with Electro Lights
CHICAGO, August l6.-ln the central
business portion of the city, on Madi
son, State, Clark, Washington, Randolph,
and Dearborn streets and " abash ave.
nue., the work Of decoration is well along
toward completion, and the display OF
bunting and Masonic devices "looms up
grandly." 1t is impossible to 20 into par.
tlculars, but it will be interesting to take
notice OF the more striking features
along the route the Knights will move
to morrow, and on the streets upon
which the various divisions OF the pro.
cession will form.
The several theatres are handsomely
decorated, McNicker's taking first rank
II the beauty and profuseness Of exte.
rior adornment. The rival clothing pal.
aces on Madison and Clark streets are
livishing money on their decorations,
and each is putting the best foot for.
ward.
Fled, Letter & Co.'S Display
is the most striking to be seen on State
street The building on the corner OF
State and Washington is almost covered
from view by hundreds OF stields and ban
ners, and Gro 8 s. an liars, which cover
both fronts from the ground to the roof
Everything that could bs thought Of
bearing upon Templar and Masonic her.
aldry is represented on the wall. Crowds
were attracted 10y the sinpula,iry and
brilliancy OF the picture, AMI the side
walks aud streets are blockaded at tint 8
by people who pause to scrutinize and
pass judgment on the work.
The hotels,
Notably the Grand Pacific and Palmer.
have hung out vast numbers Of printed
shields and trimmings relieved by pat.
riotic colors, and though their decora
lions are incomplete, they will pass
muster very well Thousands OF show
windows are filled with banners and
emblems upon which aIe printed the
thousand and one mottoes OF the mystic
brotherhood. Many OF them are
of unique and handsome de.
sign, and serve to attract multitudes of
curious gazsrs. To ninc.tenths OF the
people these symbols are meaningless,
but this does not prevent them from
stopping to take look, con over the
Latin inscription, and move en-.
Proceeding down
Wabash Avenue
the scene becomes one Of life and ami
nation. Corps Of wOrkmen are EN-.
plOyed on the arches, whose skeleton
framework is being rapidly clothed in
black and yellow, white and red, and
other colors. This work is not yet tin
ished, but is far enough along now To
convey to the mind Of the observer II
very good idea OF the appearance when
completed. Along this avenue more at.
tention seems to be paid To the erection
ui seats ior the accommodation OF the
muItitudes than to decorations. From
Adams street south to Twelfth, every
inch of space, not occupied by buildings,
has b, en- utiliz ii by enterprising spec
ulators who expect to reaizs enor.
nous profits from the sale Of seats. Be-
tween Van Buren, and Harrison streets
aud two blocks further south, there are
Seats Enough for $4,000 Spectators.
They are built like the grand stands at
race tracks, and in several instances have
a frontage of 500 or 400 feet on the
streets, and extend back and up AT
angles more or less abrupt to a height OF
40 and 50 feet. AS a rule, care seems TO
have been taken To make the structure
strong. This is particularly true with
regard to a majority OF the larger stands.
which are supported By solid tlmbers
seemingly well braced. 1t seems to be
taken iOr granted that the paiade can be
seen to the best advantage on Wabash
avenue. Two or three hundred thousand
people will probably line the thorough
fare to morrow The lumber piles are les
prodIgious south Of Twelfth street, where
the Knights pass in review before the
grand officers. The lofty platforms
erected at this point are the culmina.
ton of the carpenter work and beyond
The Stands Begin TO Dw'ndle In Size
After passing Fourteenl street not one
can be seen that will accommodate over
one hundred spectators, but what is
lacking in gnIticence OF proportion is
m de up in number. In front OF nearly
every dwelling is 10 be seen the inevIta.
ble staging. Sometimes 1t is merely
four pieces OF scantllng nailed together
aud stood on end TO support n prluitlv"
platform just high enough to enable
those sitting thereon TO see over the
heads OF the street throngs and then
again an attempt is made 10 Set mp
s,methiug neat and tasteful. About
half OF the inhabitants have placdrjs
posted up announcing a readiness to
rent windows or desirable seats. Uuless
the thing stops, somebody
Is Gong 10 Get Bitten.
A lightning calculator estimates that
about seven hundred thousand win
,iows are iDr rent, aud az several hun.
dr,d thousand CiIrztns will prefer stand
my on terra tirma 10 paying fancy prices
for elevated peTches there /, liable to br
misplay OF some sort before the thing
is over.
No one can for moment lose the
route. /, is bazed from one end to the
other with platforms and stands aud
placards and decorations, excepting on
Prairie avenue. The street wears lts
every day garb, and there is not the
slightest appearance OF excitement. On
Michi ,an avenue the scene becomes In
teresting as Lake PARK is ueared. Alter
leaving the Calumet clubhouse on the
corner Of Eighteenth street and Michi-
gan avenue, not much is Ia be seen
until Twelfth street is passed gong
north. From that point the citizens
have taken To decorating their dwellings
in the usual way, and in front OF the
tented field
Not House is Bare Of Adornment.
At the southern eni OF he park IS an
other great mass OF lumber run up two
or three stories high, and covered with
rows OF seats. THIS stand is nearly a
block in length and is more massive
than anything seen on Wabash avenue,
Several thousand people can view the
scene from this point. There Is the Gus
tomary complement OF ugly platforms
in the front yards OF the residences on
Michigan avenue all the way from
Twelfth TO Van Buren, streets. The deco
rations become more elaborate and cost
" as the Exposition building is reached