Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1885-03-05
A PAGEANT
Such as Washington Never Before
Saw.

Such as Washington Never Before
Saw.
WASHINGTON, March 4-Wahsington en-.
tertains to-day one hundred thousand
strangers. They began to come before the
dedication of the monument and they have
been coming day and night ever since.
They come in family parties in clubs and
com panies and regiments. 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. Nevertheless not few Of the
late corners who brought little besides their
patriotic memories and exLltant hopes
tramped the avenues last night from neces-
sity and breakfasted this morning with
coffee and sandwich vendors of the markets
and street corners.
A Hay Morning.
The morning opened hazily, but with an
excellent D :omise of fair weather, which was
fulfilled before nine 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 monu-
ment, before the great event of the day be-
gan. Fling and drumming and marching
Of clubs and troops were enhvening ele
ments of the early forenoon, while the morn.
ing serenades rendered to popular political
favorites served to amuse and interest the
participants and crowds. Whatever it is
possible to do with scantling and boards
and bunting and gilt to bedeck town for
an occasion, Washington has undertaken
and performed. The harvest of decorators
and carpenters began ten days ago and the
noise Of their saving and pounding and
the click OF their hammers has been heard
day and night ever since, down 10 the mo-
ment OF the starting OF the procession.
Seats to Rent.
At first the ugly erections Of rough timber
broke out all along the proposed line Of the
march, from the White House to the Capt.
tol covering the doors aud windows OF
stores and dwellings 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 in snowy colors concealed the
rough woodwork, 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 fit
/ tinplv tyuiini,o the heartiness OF this CITY g
welcome to the new administration.
The Pension Building.
The building at the corner of Twelfth and
Pennsylvania avenue, occupied by the Zen
sion Bureau, was perhaps the most elabor'
ately decorated structure in the city and the
| decorations were at once pleasing and
unigae. Long lines of streamers were sus'
pended between the fagstatfS on the root
Just below, on either side OF the building
an immense golden eagle clutched long
lines of red, white and blue bunting, which
we're artstically woven into vast network
covering the entire building. At the inter
section OF the lines OF bunting shone stars
of gold, and framing the whole design
were handsome shields bearing the names
of 1.-THE States of the Union. all linked
together with gilt chains. At the second
story slender stats bore graceful tri'colered
standards with the names Of the various
Presidents Of the United States. The west
front of the building represented the Legs
Iative branch of the Government. A mann
moth picture of the Capital was Hanged by
great dRomanfasces," and about an coloS-
sal heralds sounded paans. 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 a national shield sur.
mounted the figure and an excellent OIL
portrait of heroic size Of the President-eieet,
was suspended above shield bearing the
name of New York State. On the south
face of the building Justice bhndfolded
with the sword and scales represented the
judiciary. Altogether, the effect was very
pleasing. The hotels were tastefrily deco
rated. Willards was protusely drsPed IN
graceful festoons of gsily colored fabrics
Words of welcome wrought in tinsel shone
above an immense blazing star at the door
wav, and great arch Of gas jets spanned a
circle enclosing symbolic "0wl Head OF
the Americus Club, OF Philadelphia. Ele-
CANT designs wrought in cunningly woven
bunting transformed the marble facade OF
the Metropolitan into thing OF beauty.
The Ebbitt was fairly covered with flowers
and picturesque figures, and the other hotels
showed great ingenuity in devising pleasing
and original decorations. A great floral
ladder reaching to the roof of q business
house on Pennsylvania avenue, bore upoIn,
its rungs the words Sheriff, mayor,
"Goyernor," President" thus graphically
symbOEzing the life work of the President
elect.