Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-08-20

expected on an occasion of this kind,
and especially where a camp Of
this magnitude extends along and ad-
joins one Of the principal thorough
fares of a city like Chicago, it is con-
stantly crowded with a curious
throng, a perfect jam in fact, which
defes the police scattered at inter-
walls Of one hundred feet, and conse-
quently overruns the premises to
which the crowd are supposed to be
admitted only upon a ticket granted
through the courtesy Of the proper
committee. No extra police force
was secured to guard these premises,
only the few that the city might be
able to spare from extra duty, After
the experience of last night. and the
theft of the Caliiornians' baggage, a
request was made upon General Tor
renee, commanding the First brig
gade of the Illinois state militia, for
a military guard. The general very
c%ourteously responded, and this morn
ing the first regiment, l. S. N. g., was
detailed, and at present the camp is
under an efficient patrol. The First
division ofthe California Commandery
No. l, was given the honor this morn
ing Of taking charge Of the camp, SO
far as its internal arrangements are
concerned, for the day. The splendid
and peculiarly striking costume of the
Californians, differing from those at
the east in almost every essential tea-
ture. was the object of general obser-
walton.
CHICAGO AMPLY DECORATED.
The decorations of the city in
honor of the conclave are interest
ing, suggestive and wonderful in
their ~profusion. Along State street,
from the river as far as the
eye could reach, the air was
gay with brilliant banners and
flags. From almost every win
dow hung a piece of bunting, and the
front of many buildings were covered
with the devices and emblems of the
Knights Templars order. In fact in
the entire central portion OF the city
-on Madison, Clark, Washington,
Randolph and Dearborn streets and
Wabash avenue-the buildings are
covered with ornaments. The several
theaters are handsomely decorated.
McVicker's taking first rank in the
beauty and ~profusion of exterior
adOrnment. Field, Letter & Co. s
display is the most striking yet to be
seen. The building on the corner of
State and Washington streets is al
most covered from view by hundreds
of shields, banners crosses and stars
which cover both fronts from the
ground to the roof. Everything that
could be thought OF bearing upon
Templar and Masonic heraldry is rep
resented on the wall. Crowds were
attracted by the singularity and bril-
lianey Of the picture, and the side
walks and streets were blockaded at
times yesterday by people who had
paused to %scrutinize and pass judg-
ment on the work. The hotels, nota-
bly, the Grand Pacific and Palmer,
have hung out vast numbers of print
ed shields and trimmings, relieved by
patriotic c%olors, aud though their
decorations are incomplete they will
pass muster very well.
EXPOSITION BUILDING FILLED WITH
HERALDRY.
Thousands of show windows are
filled with banners aud emblems upon
5 which are printed the thousand and
one mottoeso Of the mystic brotherhood.
Many of them are of uniquean mi hand
} some design, and serve to attract null
, titudes of curious gazers. Down Wa.
bash avenue the decorations are very
!, elaborate. Nearly every large place
of business has hung out It's cross and
| arches and flags and banners. One Of
the most conspicuous buildings here
is that of A.. I. Stewart & Co., on
Michigan avenue. Below the expo
sition building there are but few dis
: plays, the Cairo, Burlington and Quin.
cy railroad office being the most fine
= ly trimmed with small flags. An at
tractive spectacle of Lake street is
presented in the fremont house deco
. rations, the luttering Templar flags
and bright Templar emblems contrast.
. ing happily with the dark material Of
! the building. On Wabash street the
first noticeable decoration is of the
. Merchants block, occupied by thC
q Merchants Despatch company, arc
/ the Atlantic aud Pacific telegraph
: company. A brilliant display is visi.
bic all along Clark street from the
q Sherman house to the Grand Pacific
: The Sherman house is the headquar.
q ters of the st. Johns oommandery
! Of Philadelphia, whose banner is sus
pended in the middle Of the street
y. and flags hang from every window in
4 the caravansary, which is filled Will
Knights Templars. The scope fol
n grand and exquisite effects of color
outline and illumination afforded By
the exposition building when the bal
will be given tomorrow evening, ha
been taken advantage Of by the Trien
I NAL committee, and the result as
unit and in detail is artistic 10 tho ex
treme. There is nothing heavy fol
the structure is airiness itself, ant
the plan followed is one of extrem,
# lightness and d~elicacy. The gallery
/ is one royal belt of gorgeous blazon
n ing, running the entire circuit OF tn.
y mammoth building. The railing i
draped, latticed in broad diamond
e and rounded figures, with festoons 0
Masonic %colors, caught up at short in
teryals by shields, upon which ar
shining the golden arms Of every com
/ mandery in the world. Stands of hut
tering cOlors surmount these, and gon
: falons and pennants in never endin
/. line, with depending baskets Of ex
qIlsite eXotics, SO that looking dow