Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-30
The Great CaI nivaI.

How the. Second Regiment ArnOry
 Looks ia Its Festive Dres&-The Grand
 Programme for the Opening Nighr. As reporter of the Courier sauntered into
 the new Second Regiment armory yesterday | afternoon vision met his eyes of floating
 draperies, of men hurrying about from one side of the large building to another, of busy
 scene painters putting the finishing touches | upon gorgeous pieces of canvas, of booth ] makers getting their stalls in order. of man. agers, generals, captains and prisates work l ing like beavers upon the stages, and of l many interested spectators looking on at the
 scene and watching the progress made under | the energetic hands of the decorators and stage carpenters. It was evident that the armory would present grand and animated spectacle | of itself Indeed there are so much trimming l and so complete decorations, so many stages and boothes that there were very few evil dences of the bare walls of the building 1 The main stage is upon the east end of the | building and with the small booth stages on
 either side completely conceals the gallery
 on that end. The stage is very pretty one
 and quite large, it's dimensions being
 thirty-five feet by twenty four. The stage
 has five full sets of scenery and the scenery
 is of the best quality. All three stages have
 scarlet drop curtains and full foot and border
 lights. The small stages are each twelve by
 fourteen feet and are fitted up with large
 amount of fine scenery. Between the stages
 are pretty scenes and two tower entrances on
 either side lead to the rear of the stage, be-
 hind the scenes. A line Of booths extends on either side around the hall to point near the east gallery. The booths on the right are occupied by H. N
 Whittelsey E Go. with a beautiful array of bric-a-brac; Dickermsn, the florist with
 perfect greenhouse of rare aud fragrant ex- otics; Proctor, Maguire S Go, with a pr.tti- ly and tastefully arranged assortment of
 fancy goods; and A. U. Soper with tempt ,g display of the finest candies. On the Ieft the first booth is that of c. M Loomis & Co, music dealers On carpeted raised floor are displa, ed piano, organ and other musical instruments Next is the b 10th oc- cupied by the New Haven Ruff1s company
 Two ladies were busily engaged in making this booth look well yesterday supply of artists' york and materials displayed by c. Northrop from his art store fills the next booth MT. George H. Ford has display ed his usual excellent taste
 in fitting up his booth. The inside is neatly papered, end when fitted hp with an electric light and furnished with dazzling array of jewels and ornaments it will form an attrac- tion we'll worth careful exami ation. Next to this booth there is smI!l printing estab lishment whose object is to print copies of a l fine picture of the armory drawn by con- peient artist Directly opposite Beers &
 Rankin. the college druggists, will dispense i the cooling beverage, soda water, to the l rh1rsty- All these booths very neatly ! fitted up. those of Proctor, Maguire d Go. 1 and George Fl. Ford showing specially lavish l outlays
 So much for the stages and booths As to l the general decorations, it can be said with i safety that they are much finer and on a | more extensive scale than any thing or the 1 kind ever attempted in this city before | They are furnished by New York firm of l long experience and are arranged with an | eye to the best possible effect Suspended | from the tie rods and various points of the | rafters and from the balcony of the gallery are five hundred small flags of various na- tions and an immense lot of national shields, banners, fans and other pretty | trimmings. Besides these decorations large pictures of all the Presidents of the United States from Washington down to Garfield are ranged about the walls on either side. Tho whole effect of the decorations is i good. Nothing so fine has ever been seen in
 
 all day to-day putting the finishing touches upon their work. Everything will be in readiness for the entertainment at o'clock this evening.
 The programme for this evening is very elaborate one. At 8 o'clock the procession of marshals and characters in costume, es- corted pg the Light Guards in zouave uni forms and preceded by the Second regiment band, ill march and countermarch across the main stage. This pageant will be followed by entertainments on three stages. The main stsgs will be occupied by the New Haven GEays. First there will be 8 marching song rendered by the New Haven Turn Verein with cadets by squad of ihe company. Then there Will be scenes from the poet laureate of Eng land: Enoch Arden, 1st scene, Courtship of Enoch and Annie; 2nd. The Farewell; Sd, Cast Away on Lonely Island 4th, The Re- turn; 9th, Death Bed: 6th Beggar Maid 7th, The Sentinel. or Dreaming at Home; 8th, Dreams of Fair Women Scenes from Elaine, 1st, Elaine and Launcelot; 2nd, The Dead Steered by the Dumb; 3rd FindinRSof Elaine. Also Old Virginia Home song and tableau. Finale, Minuet-Oourt Lanciers.
 The right stags vii be occupied by the City Guards They will give pIadiator scenes in the arena to open their perform ance. Next will come army views. Firt The Departure; 2nd, The Battle: 3rd. inc Wounded; 4th, The Re urn, and others On the left stage the Sarsfield Guard will give scenes from Lalla Rookh in three tab- leaux; also soldiers going to war and return. two scenes; also scenes from Dickens ss fol- lows: Ist, Dick SWiveIler and the Marchio- ness; 2nd, 6etseY PEiRg and Sarah Gamp. R