Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-06-06
CONVENTION OF 1888.

A Graphic Account of the Big St. Louis
Convention.
ST. LOUIS, June 5-The Democratic Ma
tional Convention began to gather in the
early hours of the morning.
The trickling stresm OF humanity which
began to run into the big Exposition build
ing as early as & o'clock soon swelled to a
torrent which surgei in and filed the
great nave os the hall to overaowing.
Long before noon ten thousand human
faces gazsd upon the high desk reserved
for the presiding officer Of the convention
as yet empty, but with it's cleaning white
silver gavel-a gift of the Nevada delegs-
tion-full of curious interest for the ex-
pectant multitude.
The noble proportions of the hall strike
one at once with admiration. 1t is oblong
in shape, relieved upon either side by bal
comics reaching. back 200 feet, above which,
stretching entirely around the auditorium,
Is broad overhsnging gallery. Anample
stage reaches from the rear of ths chair
mans platform fifty feet to the east wall
Of the hall and accommodates 440 Of the
athered leaders aud fathersof the Nation
Al Democracy, who thus are enabled to
overlook officers. delegates and spectators.
The PRINCIPAL DECORATIONS.
The decorations are simple but effective.
I ~, .k..,a kr,., raI hffa and hlnp
uniting, relieved by festoons and borders
q eyergreens. Upon pedestal, on the
rght of the entrance Of the stage, stands
bad of the President. and suspended upon
the face OF the gallery above the stage,
havily framed in guilt, is large portrait
oflhe President in OIL On either side are
similar portraits OF Cleveland, Hancock,
Tidsp, Hendricks and Ex-Governor Mar
msluke, of Missouri.
Tas balcony and gallery pillars, and the
facsof the long winding galleries and the
frons Of the balconits are prolusely deco
rated with American hsgs in alternate
long and short festoous, caught mp with
large red, white and blue rosettes. Fes-
tOoosd American flags, and red, white
and blue bunting hang from the open
woodwork supports; the roof and the high
graeetal pillars which support the rafters
are board with encircling gsrlands and
ropss Of evergreen. Bending gracefully
from, he capitals Of the columns which
nnhr I'd the gallery are dropping branches
of es ar and pine, and upon the faces OF
the columns above hang bannerettes bear
ing the arms Of the States Of the Union.
In the background Of the long hall is q
more elaborate attempt at decoration-a
hsro;e s,atue Of Washington on horseback,
framed IN festoon Of large American fsgs,
which are caught 10 the center of the
frame above the head of the statue by an
American shield surmounted by an Amer
iean essls With widespread pinions, grasp
inc in his talons q sheaf Of green wheat.
The statue. which has sthe appearance of
marble, is highly relieved by background
of rich brOsn plush silk draped curtains.
The ball i amply lighted in the dsytime
by a long ky-light in the roof and in the
NIGHT by 40 Hsisler and 300 Edison in
candescent electric lamps.
yERY STRIKING EFFECT
ia nroduc.d ID the gallery shove the stage,
in full sight of the delegates and specta-
tors. by an snormous shaded drawing of
the Capitol At Washington, upon back
g,ound of sky-blue canvass. Potted plants
and green shrubbery are ingeniously ar
ransed about Che base of the pictures 80 as
IN 1--WE the effect Of terraeed park, such
"a leads up to the Capitol from the east
Tba illusion is about perfect, and the
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