The National tribune., 1886-08-12
ON THE COAST.

San Francisco was for days in n wild delirium
of excitement, enthusiasm and hospitality.
Nothing could exceed the heartiness of the well
come extended TO the visiting veterans. The
newspapers of the entire Coast almost gave up
their pages to them. Many of them issued
enormous extra sheets containing sketches and
pictures of everything and everybody. Thou
sands of them were sent by the veterans to
their friends at home as souvenirs of the occa-
sion. We publish below extracts from San
Francisco papers up to the day before the open
ing of the Encampment, and also from special
dispatches TO various Eastern papers:
SHE "DoEs IT UP BROWN"
In holiday making as in everything else San
Francisco, when she has once made up her
mind to 90 into it, devotes herself to it to the
exclusion of everything else for the time being.
This Characteristic was never more plainly ex-
hibited than at present Business is almost at
a standstill, and the people are devoting them
selves TO the pleasant task of preparing for the
reception and entertainment of visitors. 1t is
evident, too, that much time and thought have
been devoted to private decorations, and in the
larger business blocks on Market street the
firms have in many instances decorated all the
buildings in the rows in accordance with i gen.
eral design, which adds much to the beauty
and effectiveness Of the decorations of the whole
street. The men employed by the Decoration
Committee have lahored industriOusly, and by
noon to-day nearly the entire line of march of
the grand parade was wholly dressed. Market,
Kearny and Montgomery streets are arehed
with banners, flags and bunting to an extent
never seen before in this city, and most of the
business houses and larger buildings are being
decorated to-day.
DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.
The second floor of the Occidental Hotel
where the headquarters OF the Department of
California are located, is worth a visit. De-
pending from the skylight in the roof of the
building are long strips Of red, white and blue
bunting, the lower ends being lOoped back TO
the railings on the third floor so as to form
perfect morning glory Of the national colors
The doors Of the reception rooms and dining
rooms as well as the arches and windows of the
main hall are dressed with flags, and the large
pillars in the rotunda of the main hall are
wound with red, white and blue bunting. The
rooms devoted to Department Headquarters are
same general design.
ON THE STREETS.
The main thoroughfares were thronged with
strangers, although but small detachment of
| the main army had arrived. The New York
delegation, which reached here last evening
were easily distinguished by their dress from
| the residents of the city and State. The aver
| age Californian is inclined TO be breezy in his
dress wears his coat open and is addicted to felt
| hats. The New Yorker on the contrary, wears
| his coat closely buttOned and Affects the shiny
silk hat The number OF stovepipe hats on the
| streets today was very noticeable. The resi-
dents of the city were out in full force to-day
| also, and those who had business 10 attend to
| looked and acted as though they did not care
whether it was done or not and as though they
would much rather join the idlers and sight
| seers
SAN FRANCISCO IN BLOOM.
IL c., - q
says:
A legion Of house and store decorations have
| been put up all over the city in such vast num-
bers that it seems thatto detail each prominent
one, even, would require census of the bust
ness houses shops of the principal streets and
| public buildings of San Francisco. The city
never appeared in more festive adornment in
its history than in the beautiful clear air of
| Sunday, and the immense crowds of people
citizens those from the interior and Eastern
| folks-that thronged the principal streets,
blocked up the vieinities OF the most promi-
nent displays, and made pedqstriansm difficult
10 those bent on business. The greatest crowd
| of the day assembled around the Occidental
Hotel at five p. IN. on the arrival of Grand
Commander Burdett, but of this elsewhere.
The Grand Arch has been further progressed
by the completion of the mammoth army badges
Of the two faces. Early yesterday morning the
flags and stars comprising the lower part of the
same were hosted into position and attached 10
the cross cannons, and now face up and down
Market street, visible almost rs far as the arch
itself can be seen.
The greatest interest was displayed by an adj
miring crowd at the just completed decorations
of the White House, corner of Kearny and
Post streets. These are on magnificent scale,
and it is none too much 10 say that they are
the most elaborate in San Francisco They are
the work Of Seabury, the scene painter, and re-
fleet great credit upon both him aud Well Bros,
the proprietors Of the White House.
At the top story stands colossal female
figure Of Fame, trumpet in hand, with a tri-
colorcd background to the figure, which towers
at least
TWENTY FEET HIGH
from feet TO head. From each extremity oi
the building are fixed cannon with punches oi
flags, one at the north corner and one overlook
ing the angle of Post street. At the center Of