Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-05
AT EVENING
The GrandeSt Interior on the
Continent
Presents a Radiant Scene as
the Inaugural Ball Opens.
ThirU-SsVen Thousand Square Feet
Occupied BY the Elite Of the Land
While Round About them Are the
Most Beautiful Decorations Ever Seen
in America.
WASHINGTON, March 4.

WASHINGTON, March I.
The court of the new pension building is
undoubtedly the largest and grandest interior
of its kind on this continent, in respect to
symmetrical beauty, and has few superiors
in the world. The area of tesselsted tile
floor is obout thirty seven thousand square
feet. The court is divided into three sec
tions by two transverse screens and four i'm
mense columns, each eighteen feet in cir
conference at the base, and nearly ninety
feet high, surmounted by classically beauti-
full Corinthian capitals. These columns sup
port wide, high arches upon which rests the
roof There are four entrances to the build
ing, one on each side. The galleries, which
extend around the four sides of the court
are supported by one hundred and fifty gold
bronzed pillars of the Ionic and Doric or
ders, and are reached by four broad stair
cases of easy ascent. The most conspicu-
Gus feature of the interior scene is the two
story
japanese Pagoda,
about 20 by 80 feet in the centre of tn,
court built over and around the fountain
whose buildings for the occasion were hushed
The lower part of the pagods is picturesque
grotto of rocks, ferns and flowers. On its
second floor are stationed one hundred per
formers, composing Beck's orchestra OF
Philadelphia, who play dance music. Above
them on the third floor the famous Marine
band discourses music for the promenade
The whole structure 10 gay with streaners,
festoons, bunting, flags silk draperies, flow
ers and colored lights. Pendant by slen-
der threads from each of the sides of the two
gracefully curving roofs, are a large num-
Der of red, white and blue incandescent elec
trio lights, which produce a highly pictur
esque effect. Tall, graceful palms, flower
ing plants, masses of smilax adorn the floors
and roof.
On the western front of the first gallery
large oil portrait of President Harrison,
and on the east front one Of Vice President
Morton. each richly framed in blue. purple
and old gold silk plush. TIE portraits with
their frames are "a By Is feet, tastefuily
draped with laurel and silk bnnting in na-
tional colors, extending around the entire
circuit of the court under the three galleries
Over the heads of the promenaders are
Thick Laurel oarlands,
festoeued in graceful lines. Similar gar.
lands we're looped and twined above rich
capitals of bronzed ionic pillars, forming
With arches . succession of eilipses- Di-
rectly over the vest entrance to the build
ing. high above the parapet of the first gal
lery, in glittering coiored gas jets, is traced
the word Constitution, and higher still
shines single hve-pointed star, its crystal
setting rejecting rays from its hundred
points, lighting the faces Of the galleries al
most completely covered BY rich draperies
On the front Of the gallery, just above the
capital of pillars, are hung broad shields
upon which were artissically painted coats-of
arms Of all States of the Union. Largs