The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-05
THE DECORATIONS.
Public and Private Buildings Tastily and
Elaborately Dressed.


deliberately Dressed.
WASHINGTON March 4.-Washington enter
tains to-day one hundred thousand straugerss
They began to come before the dedication Of the
monument and they have been coming all day
and night ever since. They have come in family
parties, in clubs and companies and regiments.
The hotels were filled week ago, and private
boarding houses and dwellings have since done
what they could do to lodge the shelterless and
feed the hungry; nevertheless not few of the
later corners, who brought little besides their
patriotic memories and exultant hopes, tramped
the avenues last night from necessity, and break
tasted this morning on coffee and sandwiches.
The morning opened hazily, but with excellent
promise of fair weather, which was fulfilled be-
fore 8 o'clock. The 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 event of
the day began. The fling and drumming and
marching of clubs and troops were en-
livening elements of the early forenoon,
while the morning serenades rendered to popu-
lar political favortes served to amuse and inter
est the participants and crowds. Whatever it is
possible to do with scantling and boards, and
bunting and gilt, to be-deck town for an oc-
casion, Washington has undertaken and per-
formed. The harvest Of decorators ard carpen-
ters began ten days ago, and the noise of their
sa wing and pounding, and the click of their
hammers has been heard, day ard night, ever
since, down to the moment of the starting of the
procession. At first, ugly erections Of rough
timber broke out along the proposed line of
march from the White House to the Capitol
covering the doors and windows of stores and
dwellings, and flingup the little parks and open
ings, and upon these We're were tackled advertise
ment Of seats to rent. Later, banners, streamers
and tasteful devices in snowy colors concealed
the rough work, and then the building fronts
began to blossom out The completed work is
very beautiful and the stateliest of American
avenues has been transformed into moving
maze of gay. colors, which fttingly
typifes the heartiness of this citys
welcome to the new administration The bYild-
ing at the corner of Twelfth street and Pennsyl-
vania avenue, occupied by the Pension Bureau,
was the most eiaborately decorated in the city.
and the decorations were at once pleasing and
unique. Long lines of streamers were suspended
between fag-staifs the roof just below on
either side of the building, an immense
golden eagle clutched long lines of red, white
into a vast network, covering the entire build
ing. At the intersection of the lines of bunting
shone stars of gold, and framing the whole de-
sign were handsome shields, bearing the names
of the States of the Union, all linked together
with gilt chains. At the second story slender
staffs bore graceful, trcolored standards, with
the names of the various Presidents of the
United States. The west front of the building
represented the legislative branch of
the government; mammoth picture of
the Capitol was fanked by great
rome fasces," and, above all, colossal herads
sounded portents. At the corner of the building
the Goddess of Liberty, armed with sword and
shield, represented the executive branch of the
government. An eagle bearing national shield
surmounted the figure, and an excellent oil por
trait, of heroic size, of the President elect was
suspended above shield bearing the name of
New York State. On the south face of the
building Justice, blindfolded, with sword and
scales. represented the Judiciary. Altogether,
the effect was very pleasing
The hotels were tastefully decorated. Willard's
was profusely draped in graceful festoons Of
gaily colored fabrics. Words of welcome,
wrought in tinsel, shone above an immense blaz-
ing star at the doorway, and a great
arch OF gas-iets spanned a circle en-
closing sympolic "owl headn of the
Americas Club, of Philadelphia. 'Elegantdesigns,
wrought in cunningly- woven bunting, trans
formed the marble facade of the Metropolitan
into a thing of beauty. The Ebbitt was fairly
covered with flags and pictures. A great floral
ladder, reaching to the roof of business house
on Pennsylvania avenue, bore upon its rounds the