The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-08-23
The City Decorated.

The decorations, which on Wednesday
promised to be so elaborate, surpassed all
expectations yesterday, and never before
in the history of Indiana's capital has any,
thing been witnessed that would compare
with this show of color in tasteful designs
and liberality of display. This city has
been the place for many great occasions,
and done honor to then, in generous recog-
milton. but it remained for the people to
attest their appreciation of the corner
stone laying in manner which they had
never equaled before. On every hand were
the most inspiriting scenes-scenes which
recalled emotions of quarter of century
ago, and. and as if infected with the patriotic
contagion even before its grand pageant of
yesterday. the people went to work and
changed the brick walls of business houses
eS rna wb Snd & &h"P%E P%SM aaDs
to have been made only to furnish conven-
lent places for displaying thousands
of the Nations flags, and cOpings
only to be Joined by graceful fes-
toons of bunting. House was joined to
house, and reaching across the street in
many instances. square after square. was
connected by red, white and blue bands.
forming, as it were. q thoroughfare Of
patriotic color.
In one particular there was an essential
difference between these decorations and
those of other occasions. Generally, and
so generally that there can be recalled but
few exceptions, Washington street had a
monopoly of the display. On this occasion.
however, it extended north and south
far as the eye could reach,
and on all il was alike prOfuse.
The Circle presented n most attractive ap-
pearance. Underneath the scatfolding
was the ceremonial pile. inst start
around and above large national en-
blems flung their folds to the breeze as if
from conscious pride in the scene to whose
attractiveness they added. AS thus seen,
the mind of the beholder instinctively
hurried to those whose deeds of valor We're
to he commemOrated. and, except that the
material is SO subject to decay, thus
adorned, it would make a splendid monu-
ment. Certainly. no soldier could look
npon the scene and feel that his deceased
State and county buildings were apprO-
priately decorated. though the display at
none of them was so prOfuse as on some OF
the business houses. At the Capitol, the
pedestals at the east entrance supported
cannons and caissons, tastefully draped. and
the tents stretched upon the lawn added
materially to the beauty of the scene. the
whole giving the idea of soldiers IN
camp while the cannOns were mounted as
if the enemy were not far away, but might
be expected at any time. Each Of the col
umns at the county building was wrapped
with bunting, and from the coping around
each story were suspended festo0ns of the
same material. The hotels made unusual
displays. the New-Denison, where the pres
idental party were guests. being specially
elaborate.
On such an occasion it was mete that the
Autographs of President Harrison so IA
miliar during and after the campaign
should form part Of the decorations. and
in many houses these appeared between
flags at the windows or in verandas.
Along the line of march hundreds of them
were displayed, showing that the people.
in honoring the soldier dead, were not un-
ly of the one who has as heroically cham
pioned their interests since the war as he
gallantly fought by their side during the
struggle for national unity.