Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-03-05

entrances to the building, one on each side.
The galleries, which extend around the four
sides of the court, are supported by $50 old
bronzed pillars OF the Ionic and Coric order,
and are reached by four broad staircases OF
easy ascent. Opening upon the main floors
of the court and upon the first and second
galleries are the Offices and workrooms OF
the 300 clerks now employed in the Pen
sion Bureau.
Four years ago, when the first inaugura-
tion ball was held here, the then unfinished
condition of the building rendered highly
effective decoration exceedingly difficult
and in some respects quite impossible. But
tonight the perfection of decorative art
seems to have been attained.
A SCENE OF BEAUTY.
The most conspicuous feature of the in
terror scene is two-story Japanese pagoda,
about 20x30 feet in size, in the center of the
court, built over and around the fountain,
whose buildings have been, for the occasion,
hushed. The lower part of the pagoda is a
picturesque grotto of rocks, ferns and flowers.
On its second floors are stationed the 100
performers composing the orchestra.
The whole structure is gay with streamers
and festoons of bunting, flags, silk draper
les, flowers and colored lights Not an inch
of the wood framework is left exposed. Pen
dant by slender threads from each of the
sides of the two gracefully curving roofs
are a large number OF red, white and blue
incandescent electric lights, which produce
a highly picturesque effect. Tall, graceful
palms and towering tropical plants and
masses of smilax adorn the floors and roofs.
This unique music stand is indeed a thing
of beauty.
On the west front of the first gallery hangs
large oil portrait of President Harrison,
and on the east front one of Vice President
Morton, each richly framed in blue, purple
and old gold silk plush. The portraits,
with their frames, are 14x15 feet in size, and
are tastefully draped with laurel and silk
bunting in the national colors. Extending
around the entire circuit of the court, under
the three galleries and over the heads of the
promenaders, are thick laurel garlands
festooned in graceful lines.
PROPULSION OF FLOWERS.
Similar gstlands are looped and twined
above the rich capitals of the bronzed Ionic
pillars, forming, with the arches, q success
sion of eclipses.F Directly over the west en-
trance to the building, and high above the
parapet of the first gallery, in glittering
colored gas jets, is traced the word, "Con-
stitution," and higher still shines single
fve-pointed star, its crystal setting reflect
ing the rays from its hundred points of
light. The faces OF the three galleries are
almost completely covered by rich dra-
peries On the front of the lower gallery,
and Just above the capitals of the pillars,
are hung broad shields, upon which are
artistically painted in rich colors the coats
of arms of all the'States of the Union.
Large carved spread-eagles, laid ir gold,
surmount the shields, back of wh;,a are
draped six silk American flags, r-ur :eet
long, the whole trophy trimmed wita gar
lands Of smilax and roses which combine to
produce a charming effect Alternating
with these are miniature suits of steel and
gilt Roman armor, bristling with ancient
battle axes, spears and swords, and mounted
on shields Of purple, black, scarlet and blue