The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1885-03-06
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
The City CrOwded-A Grand Pageant
a Magnificent Bali Room.
From our Regular Correspondent
~ Iuus

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Magnificent Bali Room.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March "a, 1885
The streets of Washington arc crowded with
visitors wiz have come To the Inauguration, ana
who improve their time while waiting Tor that
event. by visiting the museums, art galleries, de-
partmcnts, and other places OF interest and en-
Jertainment that this city, more than any other,
affords. Old men may be seen among them, those
who have not been in Washington since the inau-
gural ceremonies of the last Democratic Presl-
dent, and who look with admiration at the I'M
provements that have taken place since then,
and ut the extensive preparations that are going
Oh. The streets, The hotels, the shops, ana the
faces have holiday appearance. ana of course,
the festivities on the fourth OF March are the all
absorbing topic.
The President-elect will arrive tomorrow
night and will be escorted to the Arlington hotel
! by an appointed committee. His first glimpse OF
| his future home on the morning OF the Inaugural
| ton will be pleasant, for, from the windows of
| the Arlington, beyond trees. fountains ana Lafay-
| ette park, an excellent view of the White House
| can be obtained. AT about ten o'clock, Mr..
| Cleveland will proceed to the Executive mansion,
| accompanied by committee OF Senators, where
| he will be introduced to President Arthur, and
they will go together, IN an open carriage Ia the
midst OF grand CIVIC and military procession, to
| the capitol.
| A broad stand has been erected on the Eastern
front or the capitol, and there the Presidenteect
will take his oath of Office and the President will
| deliver his inaugural address. Only few hum
drcds Will be able to hear his voice, but tens of
| thousands can see for the first time Democratic
| President. After the ceremonies, President
| Cleveland ana eX-Presldent Arthur will quickly
| proceed TO the White House, and after unching,
will take their places on covered stand that has
| been erected in the grounds of the Presidential
| mansion, and review the procession. The latter
| will be five miles in length, and embrace about
twenty five thousand men. 1t will approach the
| Presidential stand from different routes Its
line of march Will include portions of Pennsylva-
| MIA avenue Twenty second street, Connecticut
Rhode Island and Massachusetts avenues, and X
street. During the progress OF the procession
| Pennsylvania avenue will be kept entirely clear
from curb to curb, both from vehicles and people,
and the police have orders to arrest any one en-
croaching upon the street. This will prevent
crowding the line of march and will add greatly
to the effect of the spectacle.
| If 1t be a pleasant day, the pageant will be
grand. The bright uniforms of the soldiers the
| martial music, the throngng crowds, the gay
| draperies OF bunting, red, white and blue, and
the numerous decorations will make the piano.
rama one long to be remembered.
The ball room is at last in readiness for its many
distinguished guests. AT least ten thousand peo-
pie are expected to attend, and unher the dazzling
electric lights the scene will be truly brilliant
The walls are draped with velvet bordered with
gold, elegant silk banners, and patriotic designs
| Huge plate glass MIRRORS are placed here and
there. and flowers will be everywhere. A mann.
moth floral chair will be placed at one end of the
hall for the President, and superbly furnished
room has been prepared for his temporary use
The ventilation, heating and lighting capabilities
of the ball room have been tested, and found
nearly perfect. No matter how many persons at
tend, the hall will not be crowded. The gallery
alone can seat three thousand persons, and Ave
thousand can easily waltz at once in the space
allotted to dancing, and there will be abundant
room for promenaders. 1t is estimated that si1
hundred persons can be served at the same time
in the supper rooms. fire company will bt
kept constantly on duty in the building.
There Is some talk OF opening the ball room OF
the fifth OF March for small fee, so that those
who felt unable to pay five or ten dollars for ad
mission TO the regular ball, might at least be graf
flied with sight of the decorations, and wander
around in the banquet hall deserted"