Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-24
A RUSTIC FESTIVAL


Auspicious Inauguration of the Washington
Light Infantry 3 Unique Entertainment.
Yesterday evening the rustic festival Of the
Washington Light Infantry corps was opened
and from this time until April there Will be
sounds of reveiry by night at the Infantry
armory.
Commissioners Ross and Douglass were On
the program to open the festival. They were
present in due season and, in conjunction with
great crowd Of visitors. were given an illumi-
natory surprise. As they entered the hall the
hundreds Of electric lights were turned on.
The effect was q brilliant success.
There was complimentary music by the or
chestra, an introductory speech by Col W. g.
Moore and then Commissioner Ross delivered
a brief and pleasing address, Business fol,
lowed closely upon the speeches. but 1t was odd
sort OF business for those who have had expe-
riences at fairs There was no clamoring for
votes, no annoyances. even Of the most polite
description. The only necessary tax was the
admission fee and that WAS small enough to
suit everybody. Dancers occupied large pro-
portion Of the floor space from 10 o'clock until
midnight
CLEVER DECORATIONS
II is easily within the narrow bounds OF truth
to state that there has never been such clever
decoration in any other entertainment given
in this city. The interior walls are completely
concealed by hundreds of cedar. pine and holly
trees; wagon loads Of laurel have been used.
Festooned from the white and gold ceiling are
nearly l 800 yards of garland, studded with
over 5000 artificial roses-the latter made by
some of the lady friends of the corps. The
ceiling is dotted with over 200 incanGescent
electric lights in tinted bulbs, and myriad gas
Jets glimmer family through richly colored
GLOBES. The effect is charming and cannot fail
of appreciation. Capt. Chas Ebert designed
the entire affair and has labored necessarily
and successfully to elaborate upon his original
idea. He has been assisted by members and
friends Of the corps, all of whom deserve credit,
but the principal honor is Capt Eberts.
THE wIswAN.
Entrance to the hall is through a rustic ar
Dor, the lattice work profusely decorated with
garlands and flowers On the right hand
is ''the wigwam," where Capt. Allison
Nsilor has gathered together Almost in
teresting collection of Indian and other
curiosities. There are Navajo blankets ghost
shirts feather ornaments. elaborate specimens
Of bead and porcupine work, furs, bows and
arrows. pipes. war clubs, moccaslns. war bon
nets and other chronological bric-a-brac- One
object Of considerable interest and value Is a
table which was used a writing table by Gen.
Washington. Then there is a bronze bell. TIE
first casting ever made by the late Clark Mills
the bronze having once been part OF a gun cap
tured at New Orleans by Gen. Jackson. Other
interesting articles combine to make the
museum decidedly popular.
Beyond the wigwam is a lattlce-work pavilion
in which the rustic hustlers" sold temporary
rights to paddles. The operators were ener-
getic. amusing and successful.
The mysterious lady" has a room in which
she will be pleased to meet her friends Her
identity is not quite clear as yet. She is truly
mysterious
In the southwest corner Of the armory is the
confectionery and fruit pavilion-a remark
ably pretty combination of the carpenters 8,
decorators and confectioners arts. Down
the southern side OF the hall is a long stretch
of grass and cedar, and in the center thereof
Is a miniature niagara. loaned the Infantry by
Small. In the southeast corner is the most
attractive Of shooting galleries. Ladies and
gentlemen will have opportunity to win prizes
there.
LOVERS LANE.
Lovers lane is walk beneath the trees
past the old Homestead well Cwhere liquid
refreshment may be hadD to the gypsy camp at
the entrance to the forest A real Virginia
worm fence adds TO the true rusticity OF the
decorations. Near the gypsy camp is the rustic
lunch room
More beautiful than any other single feature
in the room is the flower pavilion. Flowers and
evergreen have been lavishly yet tastefully
used, and the combination of electric lights is
wonderfully effective. The orchestra gallery is
concealed behind heavy foliage, but the music
has no apparent difficulty in making its escape.
The cigar pavilion is a very pretty structure:
its automatic knocking is worth listening to.
Scattered throughout the hall are a large num-
Der Of japanese lanterns, rustic seats and gar
den urns, the seats and urns as well as swing
being loaned by Morsell.
Two huge baltimore and Ohio locomotive
headlights have been SO stationed on the street
to direct the attention Of the passerby to
the festival
THE LADIES IN CHARGE AND THEIR ASSISTANTS
Those Immediately interested in the various
subdivisions Of the festival are:
Cigar pavilion-Mrs. Chas Childs in charge:
Mrs. John S. Miller. Mrs. p NJ. Kennerly, Miss
Bertha Gibson, Miss Annie Barron. Mrs Chas
c. VI. Loeffier. Mrs. James A. Hunter, Miss Eva
Childs Miss Nellie Lucas.
Flower pavilion-Mrs. John r. Galloway in
charge; Mrs E S. Brandt Miss Kate Thomas,
Hiss Lizzie Brandt, Miss Alma Ebert Miss
Annie L. KneesI. Miss May Graves. Miss S. A.
Shreye. Miss Lille Clarvoe. Miss Emma Blacke-
ney, Mrs Lena Bellefeuille. Miss Laura
Cowling. Miss Emma Brandt. Miss Ottilie Ebert.
Miss Lizzie Kepner. Miss Belle Barrett. Miss
j. Z. Ourand, Miss Lille Hosch, Miss Mamie
Cook.
Gipsv tent-Mrs- E. J. Babcock in charge;
Mrs Abram Frey Mrs. ". s. Eaton. Miss Apnie
J. Willett, Miss Nellie Moore. Mrs. A. @. White,
Mrs Mary f. Loehr, Miss Marguerite +. Yost.
Lemonade weL-Mrs +. l. Ourand in charge;
Mrs Charles H. Ourand, Mrs. George H. Tucker.
Miss Fannie Dalton, Miss Mary Schotield, Miss
Maud Durfee, Mrs Howard Beali. Miss Emily
Dalton. Misses Fannie, Agnes and Cecilia Duffy
Miss Estella Ashley.
,ouiection-ry and fruit pavilion-Mrs. In
diana Cowling in charge; Mrs. A. A. McEuen
Miss hate Waddington, Miss Edna McEuen
Mrs. Beall, Miss Mamie Mann, Miss Minnie
limo AtGs Lam boz Nhar ID
ton, Miss Estella Mann, Miss Lille Griffin.
The what 10, 1t or the mysterious lady-Capt
I'has. C. NJ Loeffier, Capt Chas. Childs and
Mr.. Abram Frey.
Shooting galiery-Capt Jno. s. Miller, Sergt
W. f. Wise.
Lunch room-Mr. Martin Hebner
The Church VIII Do wltbout Hin,