National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-02-28
FRIDAYS CEREMONY.
GENERAL GARFIELD COMING TUESDAY
Preparations for the Inauguration-The Illumina-
tion at the Museum BuiIding-General Shcr-
mans Second Circular-IctiOn Of
the Z. s. Grant Club.

President Garfield will leave Mentor
TO- iay at one o'clock p m. and by the Lake Shore
Road go TO Ashtabuia in special train, and from
| Ashtabula via the Pennsylvania Companys lines
| through Warren, Youngstown, and Pfttsburg to
Washington, passing Pittsburg about half-paSt
seven p. m, and reaching Washington early Tues
! day morning.
| THE BALL ROOM.
| Hthe executive committee designed the illumi-
nation of the Museum building Saturday even
| ing grand advertisement for the ball
their object was fully accomplished, fOrno one who
| looked upon the fascinating scene could resist
| the temptation to attend the ball, when even
greater charms will be present TO lntoXlcate
| the senses. The exterior of the building,
whose outlines We're well defined in the dark
ness by aid of an electric light suspended
| high in the air near the main entrance, made a
charming picture. From distance it looked ike
a vast domcd palace in the moonlight, with count
less windows blazing with cheerful light, the pale
glare of the electric light from the huge windows
i'll the dome contrasting with fine effect with the
golden light which streamed through the glass in
| the lower part of the building.
! The preparations for the ball on the outside of
the building are already far advanced. The Metro
| politan Railway Company have laid covered
walk from the B-street side of the Smithsonian
| grounds to the main entrance of the building. A
covered platform has been erected at the main en-
trance, with broad plank walks, leading some dis
lance on either side. Three thousand invitations
to the % illumination" were issued and it is esti
mated that five thousand people visited the hall
during the evening The sight inside the building
was inspiring and bewildering. The three acres
of broad aises and lofty and graceful arches, with
the central rOtunda, are enough in themselves to
inspire something more than commonplace inter
est. When to this is added brilliant
illumination and the rich effects of color
produced by grouping State and National flags,
with a network Of green garlands overhead, the
sight is Intoxicating The colossal figure of Amer
lea in the centre of the rotunda holds i'll her up
lifted hand torch tipped with an electric spark
whose light sheds pale and dazzling lustre over
all the majestic surroundings From every part of
the hall different effects are obtained but proba
bly, no view is grander than the one from the
upper end of the main aisle, whence the eye takes
in long vista of arches and graceful columns, the
central figure Of America, and away i'll the dis
lance the southern balcony, 50 far away that the
Marine Band which occupied it Saturday night,
looked like troop of Lilliputians in red coats The
moving throng, passing here and there
through the labyrinth of arches, added ami
nation to the scene. The decorations have
not been completed, but were far enough
advanced to permit one 20 form an idea
what the effect of the whole would be when com
pleted. The committee very judiciously have been
Sparing in the use of bunting and other material
and left the graceful lines of the building 10 tell
their own beautiful story, the eye being refreshed
here and there by the warm colorS of the banners
hanging in graceful folds. Overhead there is a
network of green garlands enough TO form a con-
traSt of color without injuring the effect of the
airy outlines OF the building and the cheerful
tintS of the col0ring Each pillar along the main
+I,,
emblems of some State or Territory, and graced OH
either side by a national and State flag. The
balconies overlooking the rotunda are cur
tanned with large national flags. These
balconies will be rented to the highest
bidders on the night of the ball.
The four large balconies at the sides of the hall
are also adorned with flags. The rows of gas jets
extend from arch to arch at height of thirty feet
from the floor and form bows about the rotunda.
Conspicuous among the decorations are the mono
grams ]. A. G. and c. A. A. which adorn panels
set high in the wall, facing the main entrance.
The decorating committee have very successfully
avoided the rock on which it was feared they
would be wreckcd-the danger OF OVERRIDING the
decorations. The mural decorations will probably
be completed to-day, when the flower committee
will begin IFS laboTs
The crowd Saturday night, lured by the intoxi-
eating scenes and the seductive music of the
Marine Band, fingered long, and it was ten o'clock
before the hall was vacated. Even then gentle
hint had to be given by the band playing Home,
Sweet Home" and, taking their drums and horns,
beating retreat. The general sentiment was that
no such ballroom was ever seen in this country.
TIE PROCESSION.
General Sherman's circular No. - announcing
the programme of the inaugural procession, was
issued Saturday. The procession is divided into
General r. B. AyreS, L. s. A; Major General John
F. Hartranft, P. n. G.. Major General Thomas c.
Fletcher Major General Charles II. Field, and
Colonel Robert Boyd. The first division, which
escorts the President elect comprises all the regu
lar troops and detachments Of Knights Templar,
Grand Army Posts, Boys in Blue, the Naval Cadets,
the Signal Corps, District militia, and two
colored companies. The second division is
composed of the Pennsylvania National Guards,
the third division of the Grand Army of
the Republic, Boys in Blue, and visiting military
organizations. General Fields is composed entirely
of military organizations from the South, and
the fifth and last division of civic bodies.
In forming the processin different plan has been
followed than at any previous inauguration. The
only division forming west of the Executive Man
sion IS the first. The second division will form
around the square east of the Capitol the third on
the south side OF Pennsylvania avenue, east of
Seventh street; the fourth On the south side of
Pennsylvania avenue, west of Seventh street;
and the fifth at Judiciary Square In
case the weather is fine the procession,
after passing the President in front Of the White
House, will continue up Pennsylvania avenue 10
the Washington statue; thence down K street to
the Mcpherson statue; thence up Vermont avenue
to the Thomas statue, and thence down MasSachu-
sets avenue TO Mount Vernon square and there
diSpersc. General Shermans disposition of the
large bodies is probably the best that could be
made, considering the immense length Of the pro-
cession. lie is severely criticised, however, for
masSing nearly all the civic bodies in division,
and placing that division at the tail the line.
THE [. s GRANT CLUB,
Boys in Blue, held their regu lar meeting at 907
street on Saturday evening. After disposng of
preliminary business discussion arose regarding
the arrangements of the chief marshal for the in
auguration procession. Speeches We're made by
several gentlemen, deprecating the violent and in
fammatOry language that had been used in the
press and on various public occasions, and urging
that everything should be done TO promote har-
mony and make the occasion Of the inaugural
ceremonies one of comfort and pleasure for visit
ing organizations from every section. A resolution
offered by Colonel Seeley and warmly sup
ported by General Graham, Colonel Gardner
and Others finally adopted, to the effect that
III view Vi the vast nulnDer Oh organized DOuleS
expected from distance to take part in the pro-
eessiOn it might not be expedient for local organi
cations to parade and that this club subject to the
decision Of the department commander, Withdrew
all claims to place in the line, proposing that its
members should Cooperate with the various re-
ception committees looking to the entertainment
of visitors. Should General Ford 50 determine
this club will parade in good numbers; but the
feeling was general that the whole organization