Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-11
PLEASURES OF CAMP LIFE.

of thirteen windows each along the front
of the building
That's merely a coincidence" ventured
the reporter.
But, look a-here." persisted the super
stitious man. Here's thirteen entrances
and exits on this here side" and he told
Off the thirteen
It's a good thing they got so many"
ventured the reporter.
"Ye8: but look a-here" the superst-
tiOus man this time snorted. "D'ye see
these here rows Of seats for delegates?
Count 'em. There's thirteen IN a row.
What dye think. n yesterday the first
Mckinley train 20 start for ST. Louis,
the Kansas corn-train, war struck by
lightning. n all O. McKinley's pictures
wax torn TO ribbons. / tell ye this here
thing IS hoodooed n no mistake Why,
down m the telegraph-room there's thir
teen tables n the reporters Is going 10
sit thirteen I'm n row. Say, it's demmed
lucky this here thing amt a-goin' to be
held the 18th OF the month. They'd be
another cyclone"
All that this superstitious man said
about the Convention Hall is true. There
are an astonishing number Of thirteens
about the place There could hardly have
been moro combinations II the place had
been built under the supervision Of hir-
teen club. The Convention Hall stands
next TO the now City Hall, just outside
OF the path OF the tornado. A block away
from IL strong buildings were torn down,
and a lot OF the fatalities occurred. II Is
taller than the average three-story build
ing. but it covers so much ground that
II looks squatty and the numerous stair
WAYS on the outside don't add 10 It's
81. "a lg a 70 =
ed and sanded 70 represent granite. and
that gives IL an appearance Of solidity
that it really does not possess IL Is
strong building, however in every re-
spect.
IL could not possibly have been bet
ter arranged than II is for the purpose
for which IL is 10 be used. IL IS a great
amphitheatre. Galleries OF seats rise on
all sides. and from side 10 side and end
TO end there is nothing TO obstruct the
view Of the platform. So that the seat
in the farthest corner for seeing pur-
poses. Is Just as good as those nearest
the platform. OF course, II Will not be
possible 10 hear there so well.
The space reserved for the delegates Is
on the main floor. exactly in the centre
OF the building. IL is a great square, con
tanning nearly a thousand chairs, far
enough apart 10 seat everybody com
fortably The platform. directly in front,
and facing the main entrance, Is rather
small. but Is large enough for dozen
men TO be seated comfortably, and 10
give room besides for the orators 10 do
all the arm-slnging and perform all the
athletic feats that 90 with the oratory
their condition and enthusiasm may sug'
gest
The delegates quarters are protected by
IFTuN. r.rr
Outside OF this enclosure. and on all sides
OF IL, are seats on the same level for
the use OF the alternates. The news
paper-men's tables are In the enclosure
and between the platform and the dele
gates there will be seats for representa-
tiyes OF every big paper in the country
but the smaller ones will have 10 ~
without. All told, there are as seats re-
served for the neyspaper-men.
Back Of the platform and on the same
level with II are fifty-three seats for th'
members Of the National Committee. Back
Of these and on all sides OF the enclosure
outside OF the seats for the alternates
are the tiers OF seats for the visitors
| There are twenty-five tiers between the
main floor and the gallery, and In th'
/ gallery there are twenty-five more IL
all. the managers say there are something
| like 1900 seats. and II Is expected ina
that number will accommodate the crow
that viii attend.
The interior OF the building seems
roughly finished. but the roughness ha
been concealed. or will be concealed. b!
| decoration. Under the various tiers o
seats there are room for dozens Of pur
poses There are writingrooms, read
ing-rooms, commlttee-rooms, telegraph
rooms. rooms for artists, and what not
! all roughly finished. but az comfortaol
and lifted for the purpose 10 which the.