Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-03-05

",
 IN TIE FIRST GALLERY. inc enormous throng of Superbly dressed | men and women combined to make charm | ing and imposing scene. The pension building court, with its acre of ! dancing floor, was beautifully garlanded with | flags and flowers. ln the center stood two l story Japanese pagoda. The lower part of l the structure was q grotto built of rocks and ! ferns The first floor was occupied by the 1 Germania orchestra, of 100 Philadelphia per l formers, who played the dance music Above them, on the second floor, the Marine band was stationed. Under the direction of Band l master Sousa it furnished the music for the | promenaderS. The unique structure was abla2e with lights | and parti-colored streanerS, and above, in | letters of fire, the word, Constitution The great central pillars of the court were entwined with laurel and bunting. The sur face front of the galleries were festooned with the national colors, and in the spaces be- tween were placed alternately silver plated armor, mounted in plush and the coats of arms of all the states and nations. Carved eagles, trimmed with flags, surmounted the coat of arms. The face of the galleries and the seventy-six supporting Corinthan col umns were decorated with great garlands of laurels.
 
 of panels, five feet by ten, each made of flowers and each symbolizing a department of the government. The navy was indicated by a man of war; the interior by log cabin and newly felled tree; the agricultural by a plough and sheath of grain the post office by a mail bag and envelope duly stamped, post marked and addressed, all in flowers. to Benjamin Harrison, Washing ton, D. C.; the department of justice by an l,-l- inscription "Fait Justitia," with the enl- blematical scales. Mounted cannon and cannon balls were the insignia of the war department. The u eaSury was represented by large safe the state department panel bore large, open book, with the words, "Constitution, "Liberty."
 Five thousand yards of laurel festooned six inches thick covered the ceiling. From the dome in the center was suspended an inn mense ship of state, thirty feet long, and with three masts. Immense portraits in oil of the president and vice president formed conspicuous feature of the decorations ill their position against the upper galleries Twenty lime lamps shoue dazZilngly from the top balcony, and over 2,0O0 electric lights blazed along the sides of the ballroom.
 The first carriage reached the pension building at S:3o and by o'clock the streets leading to the great structure were q mass or cabs, carriages and pedestrians. At $50 5000 people were promenading around the great court. For the next two hours the throngs poured into the building at the rate of 100 minute Many of those who entered early went at once to the balconies, so that by midnight there was dense terrace of faces above, looking down upon the ocean of hu- manity below.
 The throng simply enormous. The hall was admittedly ventilated that few ex- perienced any discomfort.
 The president was escorted from the execu- tive mansion by Chairman Brittor, and as the carriage drew up at the curb Gen. Nc Cannon opened the door of the vehicle and, offering the president his arm, quickly es- corted him to the room of the commissioner 1f pensions Following the presidents car riage were those containing Mrs Harrison, Mrs Russell Harrison, Mrs. Mckee and Mrs. Halford, accompanied by MT, Russell Harri- son, Mir Mckee and MT. Halford.
 A room ad joining that of the one occupied . by the president was reserved for the ladies of the presidential party. As soon as the president had removed his coat an informal reception was held He shook hands with hundreds of intimate friends. Meantime the vice president had reached the building under the escort of Col. Myron NJ. Parker, Mrs. Morton and three daughters under the escort of Judge Strong. Both the presidential and vice presidential parties were surrounded by members of the floor and reception commit tees. In a few minutes the two distinguished groups met in the presidents apartments and exchanged greetings
 Mir. Harrison wore a superb gown of april cot and pale gray satin, the bodice cut low.