The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-03-05
A GRArIIlO pESCRIIrlON

or the Scenes nnu Incidents on tho Streets.
Gorgeous Decorations-The Grandest In.
nugurnl Occasion of tho Ccntury-IIow
the Crowds Acted,
WASHINGTON, D. G., March 4.-surely
there never was such another public
way as Pennsylvania avenue-onc 50
well adapted for the elaborate pomp and
circumstance Of u great popular demon
stration such as the inaugural process
sion. In ordinary days, when free from
Ornamentation, the eye takes in its ma.
iestic stretch from the fair white Capitol
Crowning the hill, westward to the point
where the massive porticoes OF the
Treasury building cuts oil the view, II is
a noble sight. But on this 4th OF March,
1880, when, Ms II to make amends for the
foliage, stripped of by the blasts oil
winter, tall trunks aud trailers OF bunt.
ing sprang up and bore vast bowers oil
various hued cloths and flags, and
streamers and lanterns, adding beauty
to architectural forms already full ol
grace, and burying in happy oblivion
the palmer homes and shops, this grand
thoroughiare must have filled with ex.
ultation the heart OF every American
who gazed upon II, and stamped upon
his mind . picture never to be forgotten.
On every reservation along It's length
in summer, reslful spots Of green
the turf and shrubs have been hidden
by vast temporary struCtures for the &C.
commodatiou Of tho gazing public. The
sound OF the hammer has been heard In
tho land for days past, and the result up
to yesterday was not pleasant 10 look
upon.
Gen. Reynolds in bronze appeared to
DO making the greatest effort bt Ills liie
to eytriCate himself from the massive
timbers that bound his feet and forced
him to help bear up the stand which
was TO carry some sitting hundreds OF
spectators. The allegoriCal figures on
the peace monument ust below the
Capitol, seemed TO have real cause for
their marble tears In the unsightly scat
folds that enCompaSsed them. But over
night, Aladdin rubbed his lamp and tho
good eenil assisting, when the day dawn.
Cd nll was changed, and these same
structures were draped with stars and
stripes, and flags Of every kind, and
warm hued cloths hid from view the
strong but homely pine, and they were
beautiful 10 look upon. PIP
GORGEOUS DECORATIONS.
Few indeed, were the houses along
the avenue from the Capitol to the Urea,
sayy not arayed In holiday attire. The
hotels and other buildings Of q public
character, were ornamented with a lav.
ishness mover before eQualled, while
from every window and corpiCp OF the
business placer and chops, tho national
colog we've displayed In strcamers, ban.
iiers, flags, and lines Of beauty. Here
the decorator achieved his perfect work,
Where all otthe bunting came from was
a mystery. II waved from lofty poles
In banners Of imperial BlEei II dangled
from slender ropes and wires and thou,
sands Of little trlahglea and pieces oI
fantastic shape II ran riot like tho con.
yolullons Of giant crOepOrs across tho
vast expansCs Of brick, and everything
II touched II glorlned. Viewed from Tho
omInenCe Of Capitol hill, the general Of
feet was Rs the spectator locked into
some giant Kaleidoscope, 90 warm and
rich, and iIll oil nrisnatic Colorlnp wal
Tie scene, And that Impression Wal
further hoTnO out II one changed hii
pOinl OF View, for At every step d nov
combination was effected tho first pic
ture vanished and tue pieces rearranget
themselves In new and even moro al
mlfable deslgns, A noticeable feature
Of tho day was tile ptofuse decoration O
houses on side streets a1d avenI6s rC
mote ifpm Tue llhb'6l march, DlsCrim
inhiloh would seem 10 DO almost invldi
ous, but II Ia onl Just TO say that Of al
tho squares ON the route, those alOnI
Pennsylvania avenue between Seventh