Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-08-09

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A COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED CITIZENS TO BE
APPOINTED TO ARRANGE FOR THEIR ENTERrAIN-
MENT-THE MEETING LAST NIGHT.
A called meeting Of the business men of this
District was held last night at the rooms of the
National Fair Association to take steps to ar
range for an appropriate reception ard enter
tainment Of the visitors to the Yorktown CEN
tennial who have occasion to pass through this
city,
Mr.. VIM. e. Clark president of the National
Fair Association, called the meeting to order.
and stated that several weeks ago. at an in
fcrmal meeting of citizens the project of max
ing proper arrangements to entertain such dis
tingushed visitors as might pass through and
temporarily stop in this city had been discussed
with favor. Baltimore had nObly seconded the
project, and there seemed to be an uprising of
the people throughout the whole country favor
able TO this plan. He hoped to see willing
spirit manifested by all to make creditable
showing in this undertaking. He nominated
Col. McKibben for chairman of the meeting.
Col Mckibben came forward. and by this time
there present q fair number of business
men. among them Col. Blackburn, Wm Dickson.
Mr.. woodbury.. J. l.. Barbour. Mr.. Morrison. Mr..
Rock. Mr.. Monkey. w. J. Stephenson. Frank
Hume, j. J. Burrows and DR.. Duhamel.
THE EXPECTED VISITORS FROM FRANCE.
Col. Mckibben said that there would be many
French visitors here on the occasion. and
among them some of the lneal descendants
OF the great French general who took such
conspicuous lead in the events one hum
dred years ago, which it is proposed to
commemorate in October. Among the warm
expressions of sympathy expressed by foreign
countries for President Garfield and wishes for
his recovery to health none were more sincere
and hearty than the expressions of the French.
They are now to be the guests of the city, and
he hoped to see repetition of the enthusiasm
manifested by the American people to the Mar
quis Lafayette when he made visit to this
country some half century ago. Then CRATE
full people did homage to one of WashingtOn's
most valuable supporters in the trying scenes of
the revolution. Let this ovation be continued
to the descendants of that great man.
THE FORMER MEETING.
Mr.. VIM. Dickson said he would be glad to
know what steps had been taken at the former
meeting, and what had been discussed. He
called upon Col. Blackburn for information.
Col. Blackburn said that they were ali aware
that the 10Th of October would be one hundred
years since CORVALLIS surrendered to George
Washington at Yorktown. The celebration of
this event in our cOuntry's history which event
was virtually the closing scene Ofthe revolution.
had long been contemplated. Congress had
made an appropriation for this purpose, and for
the entertainment of distinguished visitors from
abroad. and especially to show to the French
nation that the children of our revolutionary
sires had not forgotten the friendship of that
nation in the time of need 1t was eminently
proper that the citizens of the District of Co
lumbia show their goodwill to the visitors. who
will pass through their city on that occasion.
Baltimore had taken the initiatory steps
and joint committee of citizens from both
cities had been chosen; a meeting would soon he
held. and program arranged. SO that there
would be no conflict between the two cities as
to what will follow. Baltimore would make
great preparations to entertain but the people
OF that city would time their demonstrations so
as not to interfere with such demonstrations as
might be arranged for in this city. meeting
OF this joint committee of Baltimore and WASH
ington citizens would be called as soon rs Com
missioner LOring returns to this city.
A CARNIVAL PROPOSED
Mr.. Dickson said we might do a great deal in
the way of preparations. even before this COM
mittee met. He suggested that something of
the carnival order. with street decorations. mill
tary display, electric and calcium lights on
Pennsy lvania avenue. or it might be transferred
to the National Fair grounds. He thought
preparations should be made for two evenings
entertainment. He had understood that the
railroads throughout the country had promised
to make liberal reductions of fares in order to
induce general OutpOuring of citizens of the
United States to attend this celebration. The
round trip tickets would be for not less than
twenty days.
Mr.. W. NJ. Morrison thought the quickest and
best way to get to work in earnest was to
choose
COMMITTEE OF ONE HUNDRED
citizens with the District Commissioners at the
head. to raise funds and make preparations He
suggested a carnival on the Avenue and that it
be thoroughly cleaned, and during the two days
held exclusively for that purpose and that all
vehicles, including the street cars be excluded
from it. All the property holders and citizens
living on the lire would out vie with each other
in illuminating their houses if requested to do
so. Electric and other lights could also be
freely used and decorations spread out without
limit. system. however. should be adopted
so as to have the proper effect. After some dis
cussion by Messrs. Barbour. Stephenson Dick
son, Moxley and others, Mr.. MOrrison's motion
was adopted.
Messrs. Barbour. Morrison. Dickson. Stephen
son. Hume and Blackburn were appointed a
committee to aid the chairman in the selection
of the committee of one hundred. The chair
man was authorized to announce the committee
when selected.