The Progress., 1893-03-04

cording to the plans then made, but the
number and size of these structures have
been doubled since that time, and this may
Ne taken as n fair sample of the way In
which this Inauguration has been growing
day after day.
While the people of Washington are
thrifty. as they have right to be, they are
not extortionate At the hotels the prices
are reasonable, considering everything. At
the most of them the terms are S. day for
board and lodging, but guests must be will
ing to sleep four in a room, and each guest
at these rates must pay for four days board
whether he stays four days or not. This is
not extortionate and is considered by all
experienced travellers as very reasonable
csnprpe and requirement OF course fine
parlors and special accommodations Will
cost a great deal more money. For instance,
Mr. Cleveland will pay S475 day for the
parlors which he occupies at the Arlington
hotel. At least that is said to be the price
which he is to pay, but some people doubt
if he is to pay anything more than the usual
price of So or 81 a day for each person in his
party.
Eight years ago Mr. Cleveland stopped at
the same hotel when he came to Washing
ton to be inaugurated, and thus gave the
inn such areputation that its proprietor has
since made fortune. 1t fixed that hotel as
the leading caravansery of the capital and
brought such large volume of gilt edged
trade that since Mr.. Cleveland was here be-
fore the capacity of the house has been
doubled. 1t would scarcely be right, after
Mr.. Cleveland had made the fortune of the
owner to be required to pay s475 day for
his accommodation, nor is it likely that he
is to pay any such sum-
The proprietor of another good hotel
made desperate effort to capture the pres
idential party He went to the expense OF
| fitting up special parlors for the use of the
president and his wife and invited Mr..
I Cleveland to be his guest without charge
/ or at mere nominal price. He brought a
( great deal of political influence to bear for
/ the attainment of his purpose, but all un-
availingly Mr.. Cleveland decided to make
, his Headquarters at the same place where
/ he stopped before, and the enterprising but
unlucky owner of the other house will have
to find some other way to pOpularize his
| hostelry
Rivalry for the presidential patronage i,
already active in this city. Not only the
7
| grocers, the butchers, the plumbers and
even the churches, are eager to number the
boss of the White House among their Gus
toners. To be the White House physician
the White House druggist, the White
House butcher or the White House spirit
ual adviseris considered almost as desirable
l as to be "hatter to the Prince of Wales" Of
''bootmaker to her majesty the queen" oil
the other side of the water.
Curious crowdssurround all the places il
the ecitywhere arrangements are being made
for the great event of next Saturday. Fol
instance, at the pension Office, where bis
| gang of workmen are completing the mag
/ nifcent decorations, policemen are always
on hand to keep the crowds moving Th'
scenes to be witnessed in that gigantic hal
are indeed interesting. Workmen climb Il
dizzy heights, draping and festooning th'
T, timbers and steel rods, causing the specta
tors below to hold their breath in fear of &C
l cident. The entire ceiling of the big hal
has been covered with a canopy of white anC
gold, forming in itself a most gorgeous spec
tacle. Ten thousand yards of material wer
required, and to hoist it into position $500
feet of rope were employed. Silk banners
innumerable flags, the coats of arms of al
! the states in silver and gold, decorate tn
galleries and doorways. Nothing prettie
than the electric arches at either end of th
hall was ever seen. Each is G5 feet high
decorated with plants against background
ofpure white. and bearing the words ''Cieve