Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-10-10
City Profuseiy Decorated

churcnes Al eepcclAl musical program
was rendered
City ProfaseIy Decorated
10 10 probable that no city was ever
so beautifully. 50 gaily, so aFtlsticaliy,
and above all, So universally decorated
IS /. New YORK today. The citizens
have responded with remarkable una
nlmity 10 Mayor Grants request 20 aid
IN the Columbus celebration by the
decoration OF their homes and their
Office buildings IL was 10 be expected
that the clty's buildings, federal build
ings, hotels, eluo houses and prom
inent business houses would be re-
splendont IN gala attire, but the ready
Response OF private citizens comes as
something OF = surprise IN the INST iry
Of celebrations, even IN patriotic New
York. Some of the residential streets
are as gay as Broadway. Tie flag Is
seen every where IN ali sizes and ar
ranged IN every conceivable form.
Huge breadths OF cotton, dotted with
stars and barred with stripes, and, OF
course, colored red, white and blue,
are Also used extensively tor
drapery purposes Next 10 the stars
and stripes mos, frequently seen are
the red aud yellow coiors or Spain and
Italy's eros. IN It's center OF green.
white aud red. The three flags blend
we'll and are effectively used together
in thousands of cases. The portrait OF
Columbus occupies prominent place
! IN all the more elaborate decorations.
! The great Ilscoyeresare shown IN many
different situations. The favorite pic
ture represents his landing tor the tirst
| time on the soil Of the new world.
Usually few pretty female natives
are ciasD.ng their hands over their
breasts and peeplng out at Christopher
from convenient clump OF bushes.
Thousands Of cheap prints showing
Columbus with y sancutied look and
earnest expression are being hawked
about the city by peddlers at dime
each. Every small shop has one in the
window with an appropriate frame OF
stars and stripes bunting.
some of tho Chief Displays
Broadway and Fifth avenue, of
coursd carry off the palm for bril-
lIancy and profusion OF effect. From
the battery TO Thrty-third street
Broad way runs between two banks
Of cblor, every building showing
some device. Bowling Green, with Its
historl lc memories, begins the blaze.
The Washington building IS the most
notabl 10 there. The next building to
catch the eye by its profusion of decor
alton is the Equitable, which Is literally
covered with flags. banners, shields,
streamers and pictures. Across the
way OLD Trinity joins IN the galety. A
block from Broadway down IN the
| Wall street district. the walls of many
| public buildings hide their soiled fronts
under panoplies of color. The Drexel
| building, sub-tressury building and
| Custom house are the most profusely
| decorated. Coming back to Broadway,
one notices such buildings as the pet
roleuni exchange, the stock exchange,
tho maritime exchange, the Western
| Union building, monuments of modern
enterprise, are swathed in brilliant
colors. chiefly the red, white and blue
| of the nations flag. Passing by st.
Paui's chapel, gracefully trimmed with
the national ensigna, the stranger finds
himself confronted by the city hall,
| which, ss befittlng is certainly the most
| elaborately decorated building IN New
York. On all four sides the walls are
| literally smothered with flags, BAN
ners, shields and all uanne. of gay
devices. The cosmopolitan idea has
ptcu SdIIlcN Oub VI ltS lulicot cAttnl.
| No matter from what remote country
| comes the stranger who stands
in the park and views the historic pile,
| he will see his nations flag entwined
around It's coat of arms. Surmounting
all are gsIly iluttering strings OF hum
dreds of small banners. Newspaper
Row Is resplendent. The home of ev-
| cry journal 10 more or lees attractively
decorated. The II ost elaborate work
| has been done on the Pulitzer building.
Colored lights make the building a fine
sight at night. From city hall up
| Broadway loses itself in maze of color.
Each building without exception has
something in the way of decorations.
Many have original and striking de-
signs, all having reference, of course.
TO Columbus and the greatness of his
| new world. To describe each in detail
| would be impossible.