Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-07
A Lively Day at Christian Endeavor
Headquarters.
EVE CT TIE GREAT CONVENTION
Decorating Public and Private
Buildings in the City.
5 G. Z y + S ! Y 7 ii E T E y I S


thousands of yards of bunting are display
ed. while hundreds Of people wearing gay
colorel badges are wandering about the
streets. many of them taking in their first
Impressions of the national capital
Notwithstanding the fact that the
jcrity of the expected host will not arrive
in this city until tomorrow. the advance
guard have already put in an appearance,
and there is an unUsuea hustle about the
street corners. while the members OF the
reception committee, who seem to be we'll
nigh ubiquitous, are being stopped at every
turn by newly arriving visitors, who
anxious to obtain information and guild
ance on every conceivable subject.
Nothing could speak better for the sys-
tematic manner in which ali the arrange
ments for the great Christian Endeavor
convention have been made than does the
ease with which every visitor IS taken care
of and sent on TO the church wnere ne IS
to make MS headquarters during has stay
in Washington and to the house Wnech Is
to be his temporary home
At both railroad stations active and capa-
BILE committees are on hand from early N
the morning Until late a. night, so that
every fsndeavorer is given a hearty Wei
come as ne alights from the train and IS
started on MS way. The laborS or the re-
ception committee have been comparatively
light so far but this evening anu tomorrow
theirs will be no sinecu-e, and they VIII De
called Upon fnr service without d iaohehl
iet-up-
So thoroughly has the work been ap-
portioneI and specialized that so Tar there
has not been the slightest CONFUSION On
the other hand. everything seems TO De
running Ike clockwork- New arrivals are
sent at once to their respective church
headquarters, and in this way conses-
ton about the headquarters has been
avoided All the work of registration
and assignment of rooms is performed
at the churches, where also badges ana
Christian EndeavOr literature are d1Strib-
uted so that for the average arrival there
is not the slightest necessity of inquirns
his way to general headquarters So 1t
is that about the rooms on F street. as well
as at the committees headquarters in
the Light Infantry Armory, there has
been gathering of any size
At Headquarters.
AT the headquarters at the arnory all
was hustle and activity from early
hour this morning. Chairman w n. II.
Smith and his efficient assistants were en-
hand, and il any thinks they had an
easy tine of 4 all that is needed to dispel
the Illusion is to watch them for period
of five minutes. During that space of
time they are called upon to furnish in
formation on half a dozen different sub
jects. and at the same time TO Keep every
thing straight and moving smoothly. The
work Of decorating the big hall and
ranging the booths for the various state
delegations and church societies is prsc-
tica!ly completed, AID the scene presented
as ore enters the building is exceed
ingly attractive one The various COM
mittseme.I, many of whom, of course, are
young women. are here, Jnera and every
where. Ike swarm of bees. At first
glance one would be tempted to say that
there was a good heal of chaos. In real
ity all is order and system There are
no drc2es. Each bee has his or her par
ticular work carefully laid out and does
il with a zeal and willingness that speak
christian
mates them all. If an employer could
get such aSsiS tsntS Cor money, such whole
souled interest N the work. he might nat
urally regard himself as very fortunate.
Decorating the City.
The work of decorating buildings and pri-
waite houses about the city has gone on
steadily for the last few days. so that this
afternoon tn, streets present quite a holt
day appearance. and it is safe to say that
wher the great army of young people is
here each will feel that the citizens of
Washington have tried to make him well
come. From the Capitol to the treasury
there are few buildings that are not he
decked with banners, gay and vari-colored
streamers, while on almost every available
corner or cornice is fastened little red and
blue Christian Endeayor flag.
On some of the larger business buildings
and hotels the decorations are really quite
elaborate and ell in keeping with the i'm
pCr-aEc. OF the occasion good deal of
artistic taste has Leen used. and it matters
rot by which station the Endeavorers ar
rive, they are met, they turn into the
avenue. by brilliant blaze of colors. On
every side decorators are at work putting
On the finishing touches and everything is
in q surprisingly forward state. 1t is diff
Iicuit now to see where any time could have
been gained either by the committees in
their arrangements for the convention, or
by business houses or private individuals in
their preparations for the entertainment of
10 Of THrtg ffnr dnl
The work of securing rooms and board
for the visitors was practically completed
days ago and around headquarters now 1t Is
said that there is possibility of con-
fusion arising in the work of distributing
strangers TO the homes that have been as
signed to them So thoroughly has the sys-
tenn been worked out that now, on the eve
of the convention. there Is a general feeling
about headquarters that there is little left
to do. The machinery, true and tried, has
been set in motion and it runs along as
nicely as any one could ask for. During
the day headquarters have been transferred
to the Light Infantry Armory, but the
rooms on F street are still used as gath
ering place for the local workers and the
members of the reception, entertainment
and other committees who are clearing up
the thousand and one final details. 1t has
leen long. hard strain on them all and
there is no let-up yet. but still they go
ahead, patiently and skillfully. 1t is doubt
full If there ever convention or large
gathering held in this city where the ar
Tangcments made in advance We're more
complete or worked out with as little fric-
ton as IS the ease with the convention
which formally assemblies Thursday morn
ing.
At the White Lot.
Around the White Lot today there were
signs of life and activity every side.
Carpenters were busy putting on the last
touches to the interior arrangements in the
tents. while decorators by the hundred
were stringing great streamers of bunting
all around and over the mammoth canvas
meeting houses. There was little left to
DO, however. and the chances are that by
sunset everything will be in place and In
complete readiness for me first of the meet
ingS- Electric light wires were being
strung in the tents. and in all directions
outside, and the great ellipse will be bril-
Hantly illuminated at night by hundreds OF
are lights.
The work is about equally advanced on
each of the tents The seats are all in
both on the ground and on the raised plat
forms. while over each speakers rostrum
mammoth sounding board has been con-
structed, so thai If a speaker has anything
like good voice he should be heard to the
farthest limits of the Enclosure without the
slightest difficulty.
The seats for the congrega tons are long