Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-04-30

The outer walls Of tho auditorium an1 the
sides Of the double staircasos formed three sides
| Of garden. and trrliised vines AMI Towering
shrubs addci 20 the novel effect. while real fruit
: Trees set about in artistic abandon, challenged
| ono 10 dispute the fact that no had just como
/ iu from out OF doors. There were apple
| troos In Dlossom and pear-trees In bui ;
I peHch-trecs with strong sugGcsiivcncs- Of
fruiuulnoss. aud cherry trees with every
eyiden OF reality, except the hstcnoi sticking
+ in the base. The mural decorations IL 'luded
/ ounces and prunss ana grapes oven White
/ lilAcs aud wistcra and i've fingers aud smilaK
/ climbed tho bA u,trades and made up con-
! tinUous panorama of floral verinre. In tho safe
corners OF The corridors stood still rarcr plaHtA
/ and on each stair-landing was a miniature grove
~ beauty. ON TWenty-ninth street, whore Is the
carTiare entrance on opera nights, there was to-
/ night another garden bus more artistic al In ap-
( poarance than That a. the Broadway entrance.
BEDS Of PLANTS.
There were at least = score Of beds Of Towering
plants aud no two were the same shape. heIs
was rectAngle th-re q diamond here a cres-
cent there a cross; here an oyal, there ui-
angle here a circle. and there some m ore conf
pick design. One bed was all viOl-ts, another
all geraniums another Was complete bed of
daisies and still another Eas full OF tulips, while
ali around WAS a border Of dwarf shrubs AID
daisies, and between the figures was room for
couples 70 walk. The immedlste entrances TO
the great daucing-hoor we're kept clear.
A DAZZLING SCENE.
There Is no word that better describes the first
sensation experienced on entering the vast audi
torlum THAI 10 say II Was dazzling. 10 was not
all bunting that met the gaze, IS folds OF silk
aud velvet or plush are more ioleraoie. From
tho contre of the dome long streamers radiated
to the side walls, and all around tue uefs OF
boxes and the balconies As well there was q
wealth OF decoration such 50 had never before
been attempted Ia New York city. Lltle knots
OF coiors and picturesque designs, intertrimmed
with red, white. and blue, wore 30 arranged that
tho advent OF pretty costumes not only enhanced
the general effect but the costumes themselves
benefited thereby The fronts Of the lower tier Of
boxes were drAped with fol plush as back
ground TO the costumes Of those dancing
aud were festOoned with wreRths OF flowers.
while great piles OF flowers on tho front rails Of
most of the boxes gave color TO the rumOr that
all the flowers IN New York had boon bought up
for the evening. There had been another story
circulated around 70 the effect that the decOrA-
tons had exhausted ten carloads OF eyersreens,
1900 specimens Of azaloas, 5000 forms, 1000
tulips one had only 20 turn from tho
contemplation Of the tiers Of boxes
and look towards the siage-end OF the vast
dancing-1oor TO see whore several carloads OF
plants and flowers had been bestowed. There
on the stage just before the curtain arose Was a
most majestic floral pile. Not only Yves there
this huge architectural mass OF flowers ami
plants. but their disposition was 30 artistic
IS 70 command tho admiration at first
sight that grew AS II WAS studied more
closely. This structure arose apparently
10 half the Delgnt OF lue pfpSceuluM a en-.
The base occupied several yards OF the dancing
moor but this loss OF space WAS atoAed for in
gain 10 the spectacle. 1t arose in several ter
races Of difierent-colcred flowers. The nrst ter
race was OF rcd azelIas then terrace OF white
ones; then blue hydrsngas, and then repeti-
ton OF three colors. eliminating la a beautiful
hpex OF dropping plants on each side OF this
immense pyramid stood gigantic paim-trees
each doing Il N duty 10 a beautiful SILK nag,
willis back OF IL all was q perfect grove OF
mines cedars, and other evergreenA Perched
over this floral mound we're fOcK Of snow
white pigeOns 80 suspended as 10 admit Of tho
inference that they had just left tho shade OF
that forest Of green. Tho leader OF the birds
held In its mouth a wreath OF flowers trimmed
with streaters and ts position IN relation 70 tho
Presidents box was such that one could easily
imagine that the wreath was destined 70 ind a
place On the head OF " His Excelleney.'
THE PRESIDENTS BOX.
The presidential box was the centre one Of the
double tier erected at tho back OF the stage.
rnis one, however. runs up 70 tho top Of tho
second tier. Tho front was almost covered with
paIus. with large American eagle In the CEN
Ire. surm0unted BY the words: Washington
1859 and 1853 F" In colored electric lights. The
whole front Of both tiers was curtsinod with silk
nags ana decorated with groups OF stan
dards and great masses Of flowers. Stand
ing at the etsge-end Of the great ball
room, and locking outward and Upward TO tho
tiers Of boxrs thai make up that monster semi
ctscle, The scene was Que OF tho most enhancing
Of beauty even before The boxes we're filed. Tbs
Dox parties began 10 come Ia long before tho
Mspar had arrived. and by the time the word
went round that Tho presidential party was