Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1889-03-14


tho Ionic and Do:fe ordsrs, and are reaches
By four broad stair cases of eest ascent
open1nG upon the main floors of the couri
and upon the Arst ana second galleries an
the omces and workrooms Of the thirteen
hundred clerks nov employed in the pen.
sion bureau.
The larger part of the pagoda 10 q pictur.
e,uue grotto OF rocks, ferns and flowers. On
Its second floor are stationed 100 perform.
ere, comprising Beck's orchestra, Of Phila.
dslphia, which plays dance music. Above
| them, on the third floor, the famous Marine
band discourses music for the promenade
The whole structure 10 gay with streamer,
and festoons Of buntinRs, fiass, silk drape,.
les, flowers and coiored lights. Tall, grace.
ful palms and Towering plants and masses
OF smilax adorn the floors and roofs. Thi.
antique music stand is indeed thing oil
beauty.
Directly ovsr the first gallery in the gilt:
Constitution, !" and higher still shines a
single five pointed star, its crystal setting
| rejecting rays from its hundred points OF
/ light. The facss Of the three galleries are
almost completely covered b. rich draperies.
On the front of the three galleries and just
above capitals Of pillars are hung broad
shields. upon which artisticslly painted in
rich colors, are coats of arms of all the
states of the union. Huge carved spread
eaglee laid in gold, surmount tho shields
back OF which are clustered and draped six
silk American flags four fest long, the whole
trophy trimmed with garlands of smiiax snd
roses, which combine to produce q charm
ing effect
Bread leafed palms ten and fifteen feet
in height, orange trees, rare tropical plants
In bloom, bushes of superbly beautiful roses
La France, Marechal Neil, Jaequemenot,
American beauty and all the other varieties
now in season, hyacinths, lilies of the valley
white and purple violet,, tulips aud carna-
tons, all their soft dolores harmoniously
blended, present a scene Of beauty upon
which the eye rests gratefully.
Other striking beautiful features of the
interior scene are eight large panels upon
which are repre-: onted in floral pictures the
executive depai tment of the government.
They are eight BY { n feet in dimension, and
are suspended at even distances from the
front of the lower gallery.
From the topmost peak of each of the
three sections of the roof of the building, q
sheer hundred and fifty feet from the floor.
radiate q th1usand streamers of red, white
and blue bunting, alternating with gariands
Of evergreers and forming an immense
canopy.
From the center Of the middle canopy de-
ponds probably the largest and most oom-
plete piece of floral decoration ever seen. It
IL full rugged three mast ship representing
the ship OF state. It Is thirty feet long and
perfect model in evsry detail. Tens of
thousands OF Oh ice flowers were used in its
construction. 1t is a marvel of graceful
beauty. From the center of elch of the
canopies overspreading the end sections of
the court depends floral ball, fiftesn feet
in diameter, a mass OF brilliant color.
Twelve immense chandeliers of white and
arc lights snd as many powerful lambre-
kin gas lanterns, and from t. hiehes: gal
lery a score of o.lcium lights with their
ever shifting colorings combine to flood the
great hail with clarifying radia nee. Taken
as whole or in detail the deco rations are
undoubtedly tie richest and most elaborate
ever produced on this continent.
O'Clock word came that the presidential
party would g. on arrive. A few minutes
later President Harrison and party reached
the building, escorted by Colouei Britton,
chairman Of the executive committee. They
were met at the entrance ty reception
committee, headed b. General J. X. Nc
Cannon. AZ olsn passage was formed by
this Ia the party proceeded to the stair
way reserved for them. TIE ex-president
took the arm OF General McCammon and
General Harrison was escorted by Colonel
Britton. The others followed.
About 1880 President Harrison was
joined by the ladies OF HE family and the re-
cep;ion committee forming in line three
and four abreast in the front and rear of the
party procession was made up for tour
of the bail room. At the request of Mr..
Harrison, that no police should surround
him, the pleesurable tasx of protecting him
from the crowd was devo!vtd on the COM
From the stairway leading to the floor the
bill room presented the spectacle of vast
81
inch Of space. President Harrison expressed
his doubt of the possibility of opening
pa usage way but said he was willing to make
tie attempt. After much exertion an open
ing was effected in the crowd and the pro-
cession began its tour around the hall,
Colonel Cody Buffalo Bill and Captain
Bracket in advance, their herculean should
ers doing good service in making pathway
and followed by about a dozen committee
man preceedln0 the oueste