The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-06-01
OPENING OF THE GALA WEEK
Everything in Readiness for the Begin.
ming of the Festivities To-Day.
The City deliberately Decorated for the Occa.
sion-The Proficiency Displayed at Last
Nights Rehearsal by the Singers
READY FOR THE OPENING.

The City In Holiday Attire-Arriyal of Fri
Liili Lehman, the Prima Donna.
For the first time yesterday since the occasion
of Mr.. Blaines visit TO this city in 1884. did the
city put on anything like holiday attire Twice
since then, at the time Of the deaths of General
Grant and Vice-presdent Hendricks, respectively,
it has been hung in ''the trappings and the
suits of woe" Yesterday only the
red, white and blue greeted the eye.
The decorations were not begun till yesterday
morning and are as yet of course, in an
unfinished state, but considerable prog
ress was made during the day. and
before night Washington street, for some
distance east and west of Meridian street, pre-
sented holiday appearance. Long lines OF tiny
flags futtered from the windows, streamers of
red white and blue swung and Tapped over one
another in the breeze banners bearing portraits
Of Washington, Lincoln, Grant Sherman and
others were perched everywhere while over the
middle of the street and from towers and
housetops great silk banners were flying.
The wholesale houses on South Meridian
street had men at work all the afternoon adorn.
ing the buildings on that handsome thorough
fare, and before the sun sets to-day it will
doubtless be walled and canopied with flags and
bunting. Many private residences in various
parts of the city are decorating on more or less
pretentious scale. On the public buildings, as
yet nothing has been done in the way of decora.
tions. The courthouse and postofice have faQs
flying from their poles, but nothing moro. Even
the City Hall is as yet unadorned on the outside.
Probably the most beautiful decorations so
far put up are those of the New York store.
Along the entire front of the buildiu runs
per and lower borders with red. On this ground
of blue. in white letters, are the words 1851.
The Boys in Blue 1865" Down the sides OF
the different doorways run bands of blue, red
and white. spangled with stars, while large
silk banner hangs in front The general effect Is
extremely fne
Another handsome display is that made by T..
S. Ayres & Co. The doorways are hung with
folds of dark blue. red and white, parted in the
center, and the windows are framed in the same
material Above the doorw way is shield, bear
ing the word, Welcome"
The When, as usual, makes magnificent dis
play. The pillars large and small, in front are
swathed in the red, white and blue. while will
derness of flags of all nations covers the front OF
their building.
The display made by Kipp Brothers, on South
Meridian street, is gorgeous in the extreme.
Large portraits of Washington and the Goddess
of Liberty are placed above the doorway.
Gorgeous wreaths and streamers cross and re-
cross one another in endless confusion; rosettes.
with as many colors as the rainbow, are pinned
on the wreaths; Chinese lanterns, with their
mongrel colors, hang in every window, while
multitudes of little flags. from that of America
to that of Russia and "the unspeakable Turk
dance upon the winds
The wholesale house of Murphy. Hibben e Co.
is adorned in q very simple but tasteful manner.
The windows and doors are crossed inside with
tasteful figures of red, white and blue bands
while large flag is stretched over the door
way.
The Model has a very liberal display of the ma
tional colors, and when it is finished to-day 1t
will doubtless be among the most attractive.
Eastman Schleicher & Lee have huEg their
windows inside with wreath of the national
colors in rich goods Numerous small flags and
one large one complete their display.
H. P. WATSON 81 Co. have wrapped their pillars
in red, white and blue, and hung large and
handsome flag across the entire front of their
building.
The Original Eagle and Famous Eagle cloth
ing companies and Albert Gall have their fronts
literally adorned with the well-known colors.
The Denison has its entrance handsomely
decorated and the other hotels float numerous
flags Nearly all the other business houses are
decorated more less literally, and to-day.
the people will doubtless surpass all previous
efforts in that line.