The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-18
BIG RAID ON NORFOLK.
xlv<L RENDEZVOUS EXERCISES
DRAW LARGE CROWD.
The City deliberately Decorated, and Every
thing In Readiness for tho Fun
which Begins To-Day.

NORFOLK. VA. April T-speciai'-
Norfolk to-day is in holiday attire IL Is
the staid housekeepers day out ana sne
Is out The streets are crowoeo WIN
human beings, the hotels are jamnieo VIII"
people. the street fakirs arc reaping
harvest and even the circus iemohaoe
vendor has appeared with his familiar cry
of give cent. nickel or half A dime Tor
the sparkling lemonade" Everybody 10
wearing badges or flags on their COATS
Houses. wagons. carriages. horses: ana
even mules are decorated. Tne smail poy
&c in his glory, for this week ne can MAKE
as much noise as he sees ht' re can o'v"
tin horns or shoot off fire crackers 10 MS
hearts delight. Never before were so
many people in this city: not even during
The memorable DAYS of the Yorktown CEN
tennjal. People who could not otherwise
be induced to entertain strangers In their
homes have caught the fever OF excite
mont and placed all available space In
their homes at the disposition Of the
Rendezvous Association. Cots are being
placed in parlors, dining-rooms and
Kitchens and before Tuesday night Nor
folk will lodge and feed 100000 people.
AT the present writing II is impossible
70 estimate the number OF strangers In
town. Every train or steamboat is flled
with people. Main street is impossible
for walking pedestrians. Never be-
fore was so much bunting flung to the
breeze In this city as is floating to-day.
Among the most handsomely decorated
houses in the city are the United states
Custom-house. the morning newspaper
Offices the city hall, Ballentine building
and the Washington House. The firms
who had the contract for decorating the
All $IAtr kAG y in,
the prize for the best display Of bunting,
and one of them will probably succeed.
Mr.. It. r. Ballentine. the rich farmer.
who owns the Ballentine building. says
that he will win IL he has TO spend s.,
TO do so. Three oil paintings. which ex
tend across the front Of the house. cost
almost as much as the average house in
Norfolk. Then there are hundreds of
flags. representative Of the colors Of every
nation. which will be represented in the
rendezvous at Hampton Roads.
Nj mberltss bands are to-day discourse
Ing music from as many stands erected
through the city. The Richmond How
tiers Band has a position in front Of
the custom house. and thous ands OF peo-
pie listen to their concerts.
But even with the big crowds here
there is room for more. II the houses
can't hold the people who come to help
N
n the worlds history. then tents VIII
be erected and filled with cots and ham
Knocks Then as last resort. the freight
warehouses will be called into service.
Richmond people are well represent sd
In the crowds here to-day. Many ladies
from the capital city are visiting friends
and they crowd the streets In great num-
bers.
Nearly four thousand school children
went down TO the feet to-day by invita-
ton Of Captain James w. McCarrick
and the managers of the steamer Column
bia All Of them met on the big boat on
an equal footing; the rich and the poor
mingled freely together. The schools
have given holiday. and all OF them
accepted the invitation. They returned
tonight after witnessing the electrical
display.
"he iail nj this time is filled with sus-
picious characters. The police force as
teen increased. and crooks are not given
any chance to ply their vocation. They
have been arrested as soon as they make
their appearance on the streets. They
include shell-workers, TANNERS and
all others Of the light-1ngered gentry.
Tomorrow will be devoted TO the bicy-
clists. They Will have several contests
for handsome prizes. and fancy trick
riding by professionals. The .endszgous
committee have arranged a programme
for the week, so that every event can
be witnessed in Norfolk. There is no
necessity for leaving the city, but male
visitors may have to pat up with a nights
lodging on a clothes-line before the week
IS out. The ladies. however. will be given
ample accommodations at private houses.