Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-04-29
DECORATED IN SPOTS.
The Rain Retards the Work-One Grand
Arch Completed-A Glance Mt the
Principal Places Where

Principal Places Where
Bunting is Profuse.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArCH.i
NEW YORK, April 28.-There are decora-
tions all over town, but it can't be said yet
that the town is all handsomely and elabor-
ately dressed in honor of the great Centen-
nial show. In spots here and there some
thing may be seen which is worth looking
at, and undoubtedly tomorrow there will
be lots more bunting put up and more flags
foated. But up to date there are almost as
many signs on Fifth avenue on the line of
parade, reading ''Seats Here for the Parade, !"
as there are flags
That the decorators are not yet through
with their work was plainly seen to-day.
There was the sound of hammers all along
the line of the march of thegreat Centennial
parades, for the heavy rain of the past two
days had put stop to all work of prepara-
tion and decoration, and when the clouds
began to break away to-day, the work was
resumed without moments loss of time.
The chief interest seemed to center at the
Washington square and at Fifth avenue,
where
THE FIRST GREAT ARCH
stretches from curb to curb between the
Rhinelander residence and that of ex-Mayor
Cooper. The arch is built entirely of wood,
and is ornamented with frieze of garlands
and laurel wreaths in papier mache. It is
painted ivory white. and is surmounted by
a carved wood statue of Washington, ten
feet high. This is the statue that is said to
have been first erected on the Battery in
1892 At the foot of the statue is a large
trophy of national flags, and from the four
corners of the arch streamers are extended
to the cornices of the neighboring resi-
dences. -Four large trophies of flags
are on each side, and upon either keystone
is perched a.fne specimen of the American
eagle. The arch has also been fitted with
,colored electric lights, and at night viii
present most beautiful appearance. This
arch has been erected by the private enter
prise of the residents in the immediate
neighborh0od, and that in measure, may
account for the fact that there are very few
decorations noticeable on the buildings
within a few blocks of the arch. There are
stands in front of almost every house, how
ever, as far up as Clinton Place.
CHURCHES AND CLUBS.
The First Presbyterian Church yard, be-
tween Eleventh and Twelfth streets, has
been utilized for one immense stand. The
Presbyterian building, on the other side of
the way, presents very brilliant front.
Shields and trophies are made use of to
catch up streamers of red, white and blue
bunting, and flags are placed in divers shapes
in the windows. At the corner of Twenty
first street the South Reformed Church yard
is filed with stands. The Union Club is
beautifully decorated. The window lodges
are covered with hanging flags, the cornices
are bright with bunting and long streamers
extend from the top of the building down to
the balcony where the stands are. The Lo-
tus Club, over the way, had not yet deco
rated, nor had the Fifth Avenue Hotel at 8
Pm.
Nothing was done to-day toward the COM
pletion of the decoration of the arch at
Twenty-third street, but it is said that four
hours will suffice to transform it from its
present heavy rain-soaked appearance into
a veritable picture of 1ightness and lite.
Looking through the arch, one first sees the
four golden eagles in the midst of trophies
of flags that surmount each window on the
corner of the Albermarle Hotel. The same
idea has been carried out in the ornamental
tion of the Broadway and TwentY-fourth
street sides of the hotel, and the effect is
very pretty.
NED STOKES NOT BEHIND.
The Hoffman House people have been
1aVlSu III Lu6 expenditure VI uOucy anu Lal-
ent The entire front of the house is COW
cred. A portrait of Washington and one of
Harrison occupy prominent positions in the
display, and there are shields and banners
all over the house.
Crossing between the two grand stands
on the west side of Madison Square one has
clear field up Fifth avenue again. At 2:10
Redfern has set picturesque example that
has not been followed by Delmonico next
door, though perhaps the distinguished
caterer fears to detract from the beauty of
the arch that spans the avenue at the corner
of Twenty-sixth street. Yesterday this
structure stood sad and gloomy, bereft of
the decorations that had been partially
fixed before the rain began, but retaining
still the necessary proportions for its trans
formation tomorrow into thing of beauty.
The Union League had not yet hung out
their banners, but the Republican Club,
No. 450, was resplendent with bunting.