The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1888-02-17
THE PRESIDENTS VISIT.

The special dispatches to THE DAILY
NEWS of yesterday from its correspon-
dents in Washington and Jacksonville,
gave assurance of the final and favorable
decision of the President in the matter of
the long talked of Florida trip. The
Chief Magistrate is to arrive next
Wednesday in Jacksonville, stopping
there on his way to st. Augustine, to
visit the Sub-Tropical Exposition, and
making this city the terminus of his
Journey, where he will spend a night
and the greater part of two days. He is
expected in the Ancient City
Thursday morning, very quietly and
unostentatiously. The management
of the Ponce de Leon have been busily
engaged making preparations for the
entertainment of the distinguished
guests. The magnificent suite of rooms
in the western wing, known as the bridal
chambers, will be made ready for the
President and Mrs. Cleveland and other
rooms on the same floor and in the vi
cinity will doubtless be occupied by the
other members of the Presidents i'm
mediate party, consisting of Secretary
Whitney and wife, Col. Daniel Lamont
and wife, and possibly Secretaries Fair
child and Villas and their wives On
the arrival of the special train the party
will be met at the depot by guard of
honor, detailed from the Second
Artillery, U. S. A., who will act as an
escort from the depot to the hotel. Gen.
Ayres, commandant of the post, will act
as commanding officer. and with Rear
Admiral Upshur and other distinguished
military and naval officers at present in
the city, will join in the pleasing duty
able. The remainder of the Second
Artillery will be posted for guard duty
near the entrance of the hotel
Once within the hospitable portals of
the Ponce de Leon, the party will be-
come. the honored guests of the house and
will pass through the quadrangle to the
main entrance between files of employees
in full uniform and be received at the
u.
while the Ponce de Leon military band
will discourse appropriate music from
the central balcony above. Arrived
within, the party will be enabled to en-
joy period of welcome rest and retire
ment, unmolested by the public, who
will be given an opportunity later to pay
their respects to the President and Mrs.
Cleveland.
Refreshed by this season of respite
from the excitement of their public
reception in Jacksonville, and by appro-
pirate services of the midday luncheon,
an informal reception will be in order
for the especial benefit of local officials
and friends and acquaintance of the
party resident in the city and among
the guests of the Ponce de Leon and
other hotels. A public reception will
doubtless take place later in the day,
and brief drive about the city will also
probably be included in the programme.
At night the entire building and grounds
win be deliberately decorated and bril-
liantly illuminated in a manner quite
unique and startling.
Such substantially will be the order OF
arrangements, the intention being tc
have them as quiet, simple and unosten-
tatious as possible, giving the dis
tinguished guests as much opportunity
as possible for rest and quiet enjoyment
of their visit, instead of the worry an6
turmoil Of formal public reception
The arrangements are in the hands OF
those who can scarcely fail to make the
occasion season of real enjoyment t.
the Presidential party.