The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1897-03-04

lonS from the 1OOt OF the CapltOl 20 the
foot Of the treasury, and thence, after
short break at Fifteenth street, for
another mile and half past the north
front of the treasury, past the White
House and the senate, war and navy
departments to Washington circle
There the inaugural procession turned
on Its backward march past the review
ing stand of the grand marshal on X
street. 1t is one of the most remarka-
bic thoroughfareS among the capita 8
OF the nations, and its decora-
tion for the American Olympiad is a
matter Of long thOnght and of eXpendi.
ture of money. The great trough o.
buildings from the Capitol to he treas.
ury, one of the most magnificent vistaS
III the wor d of cities, cannot brook any
cheap adornmcnt and this year tho
decorations are abundant. The avenue
Is II wealth of bunting. There are
flags Of all nations waving from tn Q
windows or floating from every avail.
able flag pole, probably every flag IL,
the International code is rcpresenJcC,
from the Stars and Stripes and the bluo
cross Of st. George TO the white elephant
Of Siam, and the black and yellow
dragon flag of China.
The presence of the crowd on tho
streets also lends good deal of brill.
lancy and movement to the scene and
detracts from the need of excessive
decoration. From house front to house
front, except III the center, where the
"a,
SOLID mass of humanity, many colored
and constantly shifting; VERT able
human carpet for the great avenue
through watch thu flood Of the inaug.
ural procession rolls.
Above thu heads of the crowd on
either side T,sc the walls of the houses,
enriched with every variety of flag and
.streamer that the mind of the resident
property holder can devise. There are
sunbursts of red, white and blue under
almost every window-sill, and where
the national colors are wanting, there
the yellow and black of Russia tho
double-headed eagle of Austria. the
ied, white and green of the Barbary
states, and every other national COM
bination that would naturally suggest
itsef to the naturallzed population of
most cosmopolitan capital.
The decorations of business houses
and residences was varied to suit tho
individual tastes and the financial
ability of the owners, many handsome
displays being made III the business
district especially.
But more substantial and extensive
than the decorations of the private
buildings are those of the public de-
the interior TO the state, war any navy
buildings, has thrown abroad all its
store of bunting in honor of the day.
The base of the treasury building is
one of the favoritc grounds from which
to view the inaugural and there have
been er ected standAu the south, east
and north fronts. These, with their
uniform salmon-like tint and frieze of
brilliant crimson, together with their
ivid freight of spectators add to the
decoration to the building. Further
on in the stretch of the avenue before
the presidents house, the stands are of
the most classic form and substantial
style. From over the white reviewing
stand of the chief executive, floats
hundred banners and its snowy wall
and flag draped sides, make it the gem
OF the whole collection Of reviewing
stands. The Others on this favored
stretch of the great thoroughfare arc
decorated with the national colors in.
terspersed with laurel wreaths, golden
eagles and banners of every hue, shape
and size. The stretch of the avenue
past the presidents reviewing
stand is the most choice bit of the
whole panorama through which the
great procession moves, and thence
westward the decorations fade gradu