Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-06
AT THE BIG TENTS
The Work of Preparation Well Ad-
vanoed i All.
ADVANCE GUARD ON TIE GROUND
$50
Comfort for Delegates at tho
Church Headquarters.
THE VARIOUS STATE COLORS
ANCE GUARD ON TEE GROUND
THE VARIOUS STATE COLORs

1--WE are just twenty-four hours ahead of
our needs" said Chairman W. Fl. H. Smith
Of the committee of 90 to Star reporter
on the platform of Tent Endeavor at noon
today. I'VE are. therefore. in splendid
shape. Provided the storms do not come to
delay us. our task Of preparation for the
convention will all be accomplished in
ample season. The tents will not be needed
before Thursday morning, and we conf
IDENTIFY expect to have them all ready by to-
morrow night at the latest or by Wednes-
day morning, at all events Tent Wash
ington is all seated and partly decorated.
and the seats will be in the other two tents
In a few hours. We shall not let I'D for a
moment. but the largest possible force of
men will be kept at work until everything is
in readiness"
Mr.. Smith was just then keeping an eve
and an ear on the rehearsal of the Juniors
who were going through their march and
drill on the great stage When they had
finished their pretty performance and had
chanted their promise to be true and faith
1ui EndeaVorers. they took their seats flags
In hands. and Mr.. Smith made a brief an
nouncement to the effect that the Junior
superintendent would have to assume the
responsibility of issuing tickets of admis-
SION 10 the great meetings to the little folks
He said that the committee could not take
that responsibility, and that the superin
tendents must decide which of the minors
were old enough to stand the fatigues of
attending the meetings and combating
against the great crowds.
White Lot n Center of Inter~.+
This rehearsal attracted quite an au-
dience of onlookers to the tent Indeed the
White Lot is the center of interest to most
Washingtonians today, for the preparations
Tor the convention are so far advanced
ha
fair is really at hand. Tent Washington
as Mr.. Smi tn said, is practic ready for
the meetings. The benches are all placed
and the decorators are at work putting 10
the great bands of red, white and blue
bunting that hang in graceful festoons
from the sides Of the canvas meeting
house to the center, high above the heads
OF the people. AS these streamers are final
iy arranged they will form an almost per-
feet covering of color while the stage will
be banked in red. white and blue
Tent Endeavor has yet to be seated and
decorated, and Tent Williston will probably
have the seats In order this evening Great
wagons are constantly in motion hack and
forth across the lot, carrying the benches
and chairs into their places. and the work
men labor necessarily to bring order out
of the comparative chaos that prevails.
Thus far there is nothing in view to dis
tinguish the three tents which are men,
toned. however, by the members of the
committees as Familiarity by their names
as though they mad been In place for years
Instead of for only few days. Tent w ASH
ington is nearest the monument on the
south side OF the ellipse. Tent Endeavor
Is nearest the Treasury Department, and
Tent Williston Is nearest the new Corcoran
Art Gallery. This evening great canvas
be placed over the main entrances. while
other signs will be put UP to designate the
various chorus and stage entrances.
To Move Headquarters.
Thus far there has been no effort made
to move the headquarters from the street
offices to the Light Infantry armory. which
will be the center of the business inter-
ests OF the convention after today. Car
penters are at work preparing the frame
work for the various state booths, and
there Is only faint touch of color to be
seen where the decorators have been try
ing effects. 1t is hoped that all of this
work will be completed by this evening.
and that tomorrow the place can be for
mally occupied and used thenceforth until
after the convention. 1t Is not likely. how
ever, that all Of the workers at head
quarters will move down from F street,
for 1t is thought that time and effort can
be economical by keeping open the two
places simultaneously. For instance, 1t Is
probable that Miss Bell, who is now vir-
tuaily In charge Of the reception commit
tee work. In the absence Of Mr.. Bagby, will
remain at the F street place, and that
most of the reception committee work will
be done from there
The Advance Guard Here.
The advance guard OF the Christian
army is on the ground. One Of the earliest
arrivals has come clear across the country,
Chairman Watt Of the California delega-
ton. He is here early because he wants
to boom the 81 convention, which is to be
held in San Francisco. He gave orders to-
day for the painting Of a great sign. Cali
fornia, 81" to be hung across the booth
at the armory, that is to be the headquar-
tiers Of the entire western delegation. who
are talking 81 with characteristic energy.
He also made arrangements today for the
distribution Of thousands Of pamphlets
descriptive OF CALIFORNIA; advantages and
attractions.
A couple Of delegates from Iowa arrived
today. and soon found their way to the
Western Presbyterian Church. which is
1owa's headquarters. A Pennsylvania wo-
man was in the F street office this morn
Ing, and was sent to her headquarters
church, where she found warm welcome.
The first formal arrival of delegates in a
body VIII be at $50 o'clock tonight. when
one OF the three installments Of Massachu-
sets Endeavorers will reach the city. A
delegation from York, Pa, Is also sched-
uled to arrive at 10 o'clock tonight, but
that Is understood to be mistake. and it
Is thought that the York folks will not get
here until Wednesday morning
HIT Bands md Badges.
In preparation for the on-rush Of dele
gates the main work at headquarters this
morning was the distribution Of the COM
mittee hat bands. which are to take the
places Of badges to designate the various
bodies. The reception committee has
three different kinds Of hat bands, one
being fer the staff. sixty in number. one
Tor the aids, eighty in number, and the
other Kind for the rank and file Of the
committee, who number upwards Of
thousand. All the morning the aids and
suhchairmcn from the various churches
were streaming in with requests for bands
and streaming out again with the tri-color-
ed slips Of ribbon. which are furnished
with neat bow at one end, and bear
the name Of the committee in gilt letters
In the center. Besides the reception COM
mittee the entertainment and registration
committees have hat bands as distinguish
ing marks. The hands for the last named
committee failed to arrive today, and some
confusion resulted. i
The section leaders ct the chorus were
also summoned to headquarters today to
receive badges for the singers, which are
divided into four colors to denote the va
rtous parts. Thus. aired badge indicates
a tenor singer, a blue badge a bass voice,
a purple ribbon a soprano, and a delicate
sort of crushed strawberry called "fraise''
stands for a contralto. a On each side a let
ter Is printed to Indicate the section to
which the singer belongs. What with the
10 <st,,N bod