Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-24
THE CAPITAL IN BLACK.
The City Reing Dressed i'm the Gar.
ments Of MouFning-A Great Demand
for Black Goods.

The work Of drapipg the buildings in this city
with embiems of mourning began yesterday
and was carried on last evening by the light of
the full moon This morning considerable pro-
| gress had been made with the public buildings,
and OIL many private dwellings and business
houses black Grape fluttered in the breeze. The
drapery is not SO extensive in the city as it
probably will be, and among the business
houses there was very little done up to this
| morning. Later in the day there was more ac-
tivity displayed in putting on the habiiaments
OF mourning The dealers in black goods state
that the demand already has made great In
roads upon their stock, and the quantities taken
by the government has made it necessary tor
private individuals to wait for new invoices TO
the The On Of al
loss visible on every side gave evidence that
| the community was in mourning, and the ma
tional capital sat as it were in ashes and sack
cloth. The national character of the loss was
further attested by the flags flying at halt-mast
| from the Capitol building.
THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
The Capitol building is being draped to-day
| under the direction of Col. Canaday, the SER
geant-atarms of the Senate, and Gen. Clark,
| the clerk of the House. There is no authority
for making the necessary expenditure for this
purpose, but 1t is expected that Congress will
present the draping will consist of a broad
band of black around each of the pillars, with
sides of the building. In the event that the re-
| mains are brought here, the drapery Of both the
outside and inside OF the building will be very
elaborate.
THE WHITE HousR.
The work of draping in mourning the front of
the White House in memory of Gen. Grant was
commenced yesterday afternoon, under the di-
rectiOn of Col. Wilson, commissioner of public
buildings and grounds, aud continued to-day.
house were covered with mourning their en-
tire length, with 1estoons at the base Festoons
also extended from column to column at the
top. A broad band Of black extended the entire
length of the front of the house just beneath the
windows on the first floor, and also around the
outside of the large portico. All the Windows in
the front OF the house were feStOOned in mourn
inS
shifting their high ladders about so that Il. e
decorators could reach the tops Of the lofty
pillars
STATE, wAR.AND NAVY DEPARTMENT BUILD
ING.
The decorations on the st ate, War and Navy
department building were very simple. Eight
of the small columns at each of the seven
entrances had a band of mourning, with a
rosette and streamers in 'front.'
draped in mourning, and f.stoons hung from
the windows on the first floor.
THE TREASURY BUILDING.
The mourning drapery Of the Treasury de-
partment is being completed to-day. It is the
siIuplcSl uuu luOSG ldStclttIIy Ol all Ine
departments. About four thousand yards Of
black material is used. Each of the sixty-siX
columns surrounding the building is covered
with broad black baud extending eight feet
above the base. Then there is a space of two
feet and another band two feet wide. Tackled to
these are heavy rosettes OF bunting. There are
no flags or festOOns and streaners and the
effect of the huge columns in plain deep
mourning Is very striking. The two columns
at each corner on the east and west of the build
ing have, in addition, a fold Of bunting twisted
once around, extending over the other drapery
from about half way up the column to the base.
On the east front there are thirty columns, all
draped alike, as described, and, in addition, the
lamps on the staircase are draped, and four col
umns just inside the east and west doors in the
eorrloor are IN mourning; Ihere are ten col
and twelve at the west.
THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT..
The drapery of the Interior department is
very elaborate, and makes a very effective dis
play. The massive pillars on the south portico
third OF the way up. Strealners of black run
from pillar TO pillar, forming a testOoned canopy
over the passage to the entrance. The doorway IS
drAped In black in Gothic style with roSettcs and
American colors worked in. In the interor hall
ways the columns are draped heavily in black
and festooned at the ceilings. The balusters
the lamp-pOsts are covered with black with the
American cOlors entwined. The four entrances
while at the four corners the windows OF the
first second, third and fourth stories are ali fes-
tOoned and centered with rOsettes. The exte-
rior doorways throughout the building are
heavily draped in style similar to the south
ern doorway. The material used in this work
is 81 silk and WOO! dress goods.
The bureau Of educa ton building and that of
the labor bureau are also handsomely decor
ated. The design and work is done by julius
Lansburgh with force of forty-tive men.
THE POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT
The Post Office department building is COW
cred with black at available and effective
points. The pillars on the four sides are heavily
draped, the black surface being broken with
rOsettes and streamers. The lamp-pOsts about
the building are also covered. Over the win
dows are bands of black with rosettes and
StreamerS.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
The decorations of the Department of Justice
consisted of simple bands of mourning stretched
from window to window.
DISTRICT BUILDING.
The District government building on AZ
street was appropriately draped In mourning
last evening by order of the Commissioners
The balustrade was overspread with Grape
across the entire front. with triple rows ofloop-
ings and rosettes and the flag on top of the
The health office has two lines of Grape drawn
across the front of the building on Louisiana
avenue, with loops and rosettes of the same
material at regular intervals and tastefuIly ar
ranged.
The engine houses and police station houses
throughout the city are all draped in mourning.
ORDERS ISSUED TO DO FITTING HONOR TO THE
DEAD GENERAL.
An order was issued from the War depart
ment this afternoon to all militaryposts, direct
ing that on the day after the receipt OF the
order all labor cease for the day after the order
has been read to the assembled troops.
At dawn thirteen guns shall be
fired and during the day, at halfhour inter-
vals and at Its cose, u national salute Of thirty
eight guns. The officers Of the army shall wear
Grape on their left arm and on their swords,
and the cOlOrs of the troops shall be draped in
mourning for six months.
Secretary Whitney to-day issued an order to
the navy directing that on the day OF General
closed, the flags of all U. S. vessels be placed at
halimast, guns fired every half hour, and Of
ficers wear black badges.
The fact that Secretary Whitney directed
naval on1cers TO wear a badge of mourning for
! thirty days only, instead OF six months is COM
mented upon. 1t is learned however, that the
badge should be worn for six months only when
President dies In Office, and for three months
when Vice President dies in office. When an
ex-President dies the recognized period for such
mourning is but thirty days.
The Metropolitan Church to Mrs. Grant.
A meeting of the official board of the Metro
politan NJ. K. church was held last night, ]. E.
Parker presiding, and John l.. Doty secretary.
There were also present Messrs. Hinkle, Tasker,
Holmes, Fox, Hall, Bryant, Lacey, Duvall and
Matchett. A committee OF five, consisting Of
Messrs. Duvali, Lacey, Tasker, Hinkle and
Parker, was appointed to draft appropriate
resolutions. to be transmitted to Mrs. Grant and
gram OF coincidence was prepared and for
warded to Mrs. Grant last night:
WAsHINGroN. July "a. 1885.