The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-06-20
AT THE HonExr OF OPENING.
Brilliant Appearances ef the Convea-
tfcn Hall.


Brilliant Appearances ef the Conven.
tfcn Hall.
CHICAGO. June ;9-when Chairman
Jones. Of the National Republican
committee, assembled the platform oi
the great aas4itoriam hall at nooa q
he looked upon . scene unparalleled
in the history OF public gatherings in
this country Larger assesnhlagcs
have been held in more spacious halls,
bat a. none Of them have the peculiar
properties been 50 effective or the
brilianey OF Illumination or pictar-
esque coloriDgs so splendid. Every
face can be seen without effort. and in
an audience of less, ten thousand
appears 70 be almost a counties null
tituie. The magnificent sweep OF the
great gallery alone. which seats nearly
three thousand. Is picture which inn
presses even those familiar with great
audiences
The whole scene bathed in a flood Of
electric light. shed by 2.500 incandes-
cent lamps, thrills those of even the
most sluggish heart. The auditorium
is 30 feet long and ia0 feet wide, with
two side balconies and great gallery.
seats in which rise tier on tier at an
angie OF forty degrees. The stage is
but slightly raised above the floor OF
the hall. commanding view not only
OF the great audience in frort of the
large balcony in the rear and tier Of
boxes at either side. This stage
stretches from side to side OF the hall
and accommodates, in addition to the
presidents platform in the center, sew
eral hundred Newspaper representa-
tives.
There are just s, 100 seats in the hall,
aud as the convention is called TO or
der probably 9.00D people are within
the glance of Chairman Jones eye.
THE DECORATIONS
Appear triile bewildefing at first.
The walls and ceilings aud every post,
pillar and panel are covered in varied
artistic designs and cosors, and por-
trait and paintings OF historic scenes
meet tie eye everywhere. Red, white
and blue are conspicuous. of course,
everywhere, but a great sheet of terra
Gotta bunting hangs as a root, between
the sunlight which pours through il
from great open space Just above
the great gallery ard relieves the 9TH
srwise monotoay Of the prodigioas dis
play OF national colors. But even sun
light shines dimiy in the great hail,
electric lights being depended upon,
because Of the impossihisitv OF pro-
tecIing the audience in the present un-
finished state OF the building, and let
ting in the daylight at the same time.
The arrangement OF the electric lights
in great stars from the rooms OF the
hall form one Of the most artistic and
beautiful features OF the scene which
greets chairman Jones rs he stands,
himself striking feature, tall and
erect, with the appearances and air or
q patriarch. with suspended gavel to
hush the great stir and hustle before
him TO present the clergyman who is
to ask the divine tenediction upon the
deliberations OF the convention.
Some of the details of the audito-
rum decorations are worth special
mention. In recess in front of the
chairman's desk Is a giidei
AMERICAN KAeLE
Beneath a portrait OF Washington.
On the right OF the chairman's desk
is a plaster bust OF General John A.
Logan, in heroic size, drared with an
American Gag. Hanging from one
OF the boxes at the right is large
painting OF Logan's charge at the bat
lie OF Atlanta. On the face OF the
north and south walls Of the ausiifo-
rum, framed in a festoon of large
American aags and surrounded by q
circle OF electric stars, are portraits of
Lincoln and Grant. the designs being
mammoth in proportion and forms
two OF the most striking details of the
decorations. Flashing its parti-coi-
orsd hril!iancy full into the face of the
audience and delegates is a splendid
American shield formed Of different
eolorei electric lamps. This shield,
with it, horizon Of stars, its stripes of
the Union, are pictured cut and put
into has relief Of light by flashing
gems through red, white and blue
globes. AT points of exit AMI entrance
10 the hail, which dip like grea. wells
into the auditorium. are the nations
standards planted at either side and
drapei 20 as to hide the rough boards
which form the rough staircase OF
these avenues 10 the convention, OF
which there are sufficient % empty
the hail ia ease OF an accident in three
minutes.
A Bo ton club has planted its mag
nisieent banuer-five feet iong-ju-t
behind the stage and il proudly floats
there in letters OF gold upon field OF
blue which appears 70 be nppermos {
in the minds Of the delegation. The
banner Is inscribed: Home Market
Club OF Boston; American wages for
American workingmen,
AMERICAN MARKETS
For American people, protection for
American homes"
This banner, marked by delegates as
they come into the hall aad hy specsa-
tors a. they gather in the galleries and
balconies. IS ehecre,i time after time.
THE GAYEI props.