The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-05-26

The city is in the hands OF the com
mercial travellers Of Kansas.
Ii has been thrown open TO them by the
chief executive, and the police department
has turned over everything in their line.
The bright colors Of the stars and stripes
foat from every flag staff and most of the
business houses are decorated profusely.
Floral designs are everywhere to be seen
with the emblems of The order wrought
In flowers OF different colors.
Everything about town looks gay and
the travelling men can well feel honUred at
the heariiness of their welcome.
Yesterday morning bright and early the
band was out making trips TO The various
Cepots wita the reception committee. All
the incoming trains brought long delega-
lions OF knights of the grip. many OF whom
were accompanied by ladies. By noon 1t
WAS estimated that there were over 800 in
the CITY. which number was swelied to
nearly 500 when theeveuing trains arrived.
Many of tie travelling men Attended the
grand council meeting at Odd Fellows
hall which was the primary cause for the
gathering, while most OF them attended
the races, the baseball game aud the vaTi-
Gus other places OF interest in the city.
Carriage riding was d favorite means OF
passing away the time by some OF The gem
tlemen who were accompanied by ladies. for
the wide and well shaded streets present.
ed great inducements TO those desiring TO
See the fine homes Of Wichita.
The meeting OF the grand council was
strictly secre;. and nothing WAS done there
except business.
When the grand council was opened in
the morning Mayor Cox was present and
extended the knights hearty welcome.
He gave them the freedom of he city first,
and then talked to them about Wichita,
it. great advantages and Inducements il
offers for public gatherings. He gave
them many pointers about its location as Il
wholesale center, and there Is no doubt but
what some of them VIII, when they get
tired of travelling, settle down in this
magic center of trade and go into the
wholesale business for themselves, and get
rich.
THE GRAND BALL.
II was long after the breaking of day yes
terday morn ng when the ain of the ham
mer had Ceased In the audit rum.
Scarcely had the army of carpenters left
when the immense building WAS invaded
by another army consisting of decorators
Great bundles of fazs and flowers were
brought IN vehicles OF all descriptions and
deposited in the big ante rooms only to be
delightful order wherever drapcry would
look most attractive. BY night the ma
tioual colors hung from almost every
where nail could be driven or a rope
stretched
The ladies lent their artistic hands and
when night came the platform looked like
the garden of some Roman villa adorned
Rs it was with plants. flowers and minia-
ture trees.
Owing to the unfinished condition of
The building there WIS no background
suitable 20 show off the decorations as
they would have appeared If surrounded
by the proper conditions. Every body,
however, recognized their profusion and
the taste OF their arrangement.
4 FLOOD OF PEOPLE.
When the electric current was turned
pnUo the wires from the power house four
hrc lights and 100 incandt scent lamps shed
their illuminating rays upon tie sur
roundings. and when the crowd that hai
throngtd around saw the transformation
they shouted with delight and not "A few
Of tbem compared The Illuminated arch
itectural monster to some Of the weird
looking buildings of the Magic City.
THE WISE CANE EARLY.
The slow aud solemn tones of the cathe-
drai bell, near by, had scarcely told the
AngelGsss when the crowd began to gather,
immense aad came early to avoid the
rush. By s o'clock the cracking OF
whips, the Gathering OF horses boots, the
dull roll OF The carriages aud the merry
bauteIing jokes of the lively JeEus, com
blned to make second Babel of the scene
around the Auditorium. A. one time
there was veriiable blockade of carriages
and il required three nr four POpuiist
policemen to disentaugle them. From
that Till 10 O'Clock the stream OF people
that entered the Auditorium was con-
tinual, and the managers OF tue ball won
pered what they could do 10 accommo-
date ali of them. II was the greatest
gathering OF the disciples of terpsichore
ever seen In Kansas.
A SCENE OF BEAUTY.
Il looked like all Wichita was under the
roof of the auditorium when Shaw's or
chestra struck the opening notes of the
grand march. One travelling man re
marked that he never realized how large
the Peerless Princess WAS Till he saw that
multl ude. In the gay DAYS Of the glor Gus
past great social events have been neld in
the CITY, but none exceeded the affair of
last night in the immeusity OF beauty aud
chivalry. TO say nothing OF numbers
EvcrythinC outside Of The Goor space was
crowded like ssrdiDes aud still the people
rolled in lake flooded stream into an al
ready swollen lake.
Ladies' came dressed in blue. pink, whit
cream, amber. yellow, green and violet
Jewels sparkIed. shone and giittered on
their fingers. on their necks, on their hair
aud from their ears and bosoms. Most of
their costumes were low and the fair while
shoulders and dimpled arms showed the
IT marAabie effect OF the sturdy race and
The fair Climate OF Kansas on the rising
generation. Everyone Wore bouquet
he gentlemen were dressed according to
all modern fashions. Many wore fun
dress suits aud the diamonds they wore
would throw the avaricious tax assessor
into spasms. Smiles were as proiuse rs
the other happy adornments aud the men
swore that such lauies never before eN,
listed while the ladies felt quite sure that
Wichita had finer and nobler gentlemen
than any other city under the sun. 1t
would, in truth, be hard to exaggerste in
describing the pretty scene at the opening
Of the ball.
The auditorium is the biggest hall in
Kansas, and Yet IL was too small 10 accom-
MEDIATE the immense crowd Prof. Beal