The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-06-04
FROM ST. LOUIS.
"M. A, y" Writes From the Conven-
ton City.


which all eyes are turning to-day.
What is probably the finest build
ing ever erected for convention
purposes has just been completed
and is now in the hands of the dec
orators. Fourteen thousand chairs
are all ready to be placed in posi-
ton and many thousands of flags
and huge rolls of bunting. Every
foot OF interior wood work will be
covered with some sort of emblems.
The plan is to tell the political
history Of the country through the
medium of banners and bunting, all
unfolding from a common centre.
Exactly in the middle of the
ceiling will be an immense star,
made up of three foot silk flags, from
which all the decorations Will radi-
ate. Branching out from this to
the four corners of the auditorium
are four lines composed of the flags
of all nations, intended to denote
that the eyes of all the world are
on the United States. Suspended
from the central star Will float a
Presidential flag twenty four feet
square. The eight girders are coy
cred with red, white and blue bun
ting, and in the centre of each
panel will be twenty foot panel
holding a shield on. which perches
an eagle twelve feet from tip to tip.
Each one of the forty-four posts is
capped with large shield, group
of flags and the name of state.
Suspended from the gallery rail
and looped gracefully back are
beautiful silk banners seven feet
long and four and a half wide, each
with a coat Of arms of one Of the
states emblazoned on it and heavily
trimmed with gold bullion fringe.
Over the speakers stand will be
an immense portrait Of Washington
surrounded by a circle of thirteen
silk flags, emblematic of the orlgi-
nal thirteen states. The outer Dor
der Of the design is composed of
one flag for each of the forty-eight
states and territories. An eagle
beneath the portrait holds in its
talons the flags Of the navy.
LlncoIn's, Grants and Sheridan's
portraits occupy conspicuous places
among the decorative effects. A
portrait of Admiral Farragut is
almost buried in a drift Of national
naval code colors. The ratings are
to be draped with navy crimson
plush, edged with gold bullion
fringe foot deep. In the centre
of the press box is an immense
shield bearing the inscription The
pen is mightier than the sword"
done in raised letters MADE with
silk flags.
Ninety-six tables will be placed
for the use of the reporters. APP
plications for admission have been
made for two thousand correspond
ents, but only four hundred and
eighteen can be accommodated.
The expenses of the St. Louis
committee have already exceeded
by $50, 1000 the original subscription
guaranteed when this city was in
the race for the convention. The
chairman of the committee and
several of the committeeman are
Democrats, and it is likely they will
have to go deep down into their own
pockets to meet the deficit. The
decorations alone will cost SIS, 900
and will be the finest ever seen
inside a public building. They are
in charge of the man who decorated
the Atlanta exposition buildings.
To help ''raise the wind season
admissions will be given to all
who are willing to pay $40 apiece for
them. Conventions come high but
we will haye them. All the hotel
space is taken, Ohio alone having
secured accommodations for 5000
persons. Private houses are now
being canvassed and catalogued for
accommodations.
If the delegates can take time to
look around while here they will see
a city with the most beautiful sub
urbs on the continent Of North
America. West of Grand avenue
Tor seth street, running out to Goth
street they will find 100000 pros
porous people living in elegant de-
tached villas Of most beautiful
architectural variety, surrounded
by ample grounds and shaded by
leafy colonnades Of clustering trees,
where SIX wears ago there was only
here and there a farm and mere and
then lonely looking house.
Forest Park, Tower Grove Park
and Shaw's Garden are among the
loYeliest in the United States, in
fact Shaw's Garden excels anything
of the kind in the world except the
Jardin de Plants of Paris.
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