Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-05
THE CROWD UNPRECEDENTED
Menss in the &naie Chamber and About
the CapitOl---Pan Borne by
Prominent Men.

BY telegraph To the Dlhpatcn'l
WAsHTNGTON. March 4.-Wash-
ington entertained to-day hundred
thousand strangers. They began to
come before the dedication of the mon
ument, and they have been coming day
and night ever since. They have come
in family parties, i'll clubs and com
panies, and in regiments. The hotels
were filled a week ago, and private
boarding-houses and dwellings have
since done what they could TO lodge the
shelterless and feed the hungry. New
crtheless, not few of the later comers,
who brought little besides their patri-
otic memories and eXultant hopes,
tramped the avenues last night from
necessity and breakfasted this morning
with the coffee and sandwich-venders
of markets and the Street-c0rnerS. The
morning opened hazily, but with excel
lent promise of fair weather, which was
fulfilled before . o'clock.
EARLN SCENES.
Throngs were abroad early, walking
and riding from point to point to see what
they could of the public buildings,
parks. statues. and monuments before
the great events of the day began.
Filing and drumming and the marching
of clubs and troops were cnlivening the
elements of the early forenoon, while
morning sereDades rendered TO popular
political favorites served to amuse and
interest participants and crowds. What
ever it is possible to do with scantling
and boards and hunting and gilt to be-
deck the town for an occasion, Wash
ington has undertaken and performed.
DECORATORS HARVEST.
The harvest of the decorators and
carpenters began ten days ago and the
noise Of their saving and pounding and
the click of their tack-hammcrs has
been heard day and night ever since
down to the moment Of the starting of
the procession. At first ugly erectiOns
of rough timber broke out all along the
proposed line of march from the White
House to the Capitol, covering the doors
and windows of the stores and dwell
ings and filling up the little parks and
openings, and upon these were tackled
advertisements of seats to rent.
Later flags, banners, StreamerS. and
tasteful devices i'll showy color> con-
cealed the rough woodwork, and then
building fronts began TO blossom out.
The completed work is very beautiful.
and the staideSt of American avenues
has been transformed into moving
maze Of gay color>, which tittinSly typ
flies the heartincss of tins clty'S wei
come to the new Administration.
THE PENsION-BUREAU BUILDING.
The building at the corner of Twelfth
street and Pennsylvania avenue, cccu-
pied by the Pension Bureau, was per-
haps the most claboratcly decorated
structure in the city, and the dccora-
tions were at once pleasing and unique.
Long lines of streamers were suspended
between the hag-staliS on the roof.
just below the caves. on either side of
the building. an immense golden eagle
clutchcd long lines Of red, white, and
blue bunting. which were artl>ti-
cally woven into n vast network
covering the entire building At the
intersection of the lines of bunting
shone stars of gold, and framing the
whole design were handsome shields
bearing the names of the States Of the
Union all linked together with gilt
chains. At the second story slender
stats bore graceful tri-c0lored standards
with the names of the various Presl-
dents of the United States.
The west front OF the building repre-
sented the legislative branch of the Gov
ernment. A mammoth picture OF the
Capitol was tlanked by great Roman
fdsces. and, above all, colossal heralds
sounded p@ans. At the corner Of the
building the Goddess of Liberty. armed
with sword and shield, represented
the executive branch of the "ov-
eminent. An eagle bearing the ma
tional shield Surinomted the figure.
An excellent oil portrait OF heroic sue
Of the President-elect was suspended
above the shield, bearing the name OF
New York State. On the south face OF
the building Justice. blindtolded with
swsrd and scales, represented the judi
ciary. Altogether, the effect was very
pleasing.
THE HOTELS.
The hotels were tastefnlly decorated.
was prolnsely drsped IN grace
fuI festoons of gsily-colored fabrIcS,
words of welcome wrought in tinscl
>bone above an immense blazing star at
the doorway. and great arch OF gas
Jets spanned the circle enclosing 'he
,,mbolie .sowl head " Of the Anier'cuS
Club Of philadelphia. Elegant de-
signs wrought in cnnningly-woyen
bunting transformed the marble
a cade OF The Metropolitan into thing
,f beauty. The Ebbitt was fairly COW
red witk flags and picturesque figures,
md the other hotels showed great M
.enuity in de,ising pleasing and original
l,coratioIs.
AN ALLEGORIcAL LADDER.
4 great floral ladder. reaching TO the
aof Of q business house on Pennsylsa-
ia syenne. bore upon its rongs the
ko,ds |. SLeriE.H !. NayQr.v " Coz