The record-union., 1897-06-23
1'umblerS.

balloons to a line of ventretive, parallel
with the footways extending to the
Law Courts and the city limits. The
masts were of gold with bannerettes
between in graceful trooping garlands
of paper and muslin flowers which We're
quite effective, the design being light
and striking.
The Griffin, the site of the old Tenn
Pile Bar, was so covered with decora-
tions for both day and night as to be
almost unrecognizable. GarlandS,
shields and national flags were on the
four sides, while among the notices the
most common was Victoria, Our Be
loved Ruler of Great Britain's Realms. ="
The prevailing color in Fleet street
was white and gold, and a light arch
spanned the street unlike the majority
of arches, suggesting the Indian En-
pire, as decorative use was made Of the
elephant.
Ascending Ludgate Hill the sight was
most attractive. High walls of color
and immense seas of faces sloping up
to the great gray walls of Christopher
Wren's masterpiece, st. Pauls Cathe-
dral, which seemed really to rise out of
the hearts of the people-was sight
tremendously impressive. Round the
cathedral the roadway had not been
decorated, but the abutting premises
were clothed from the cornerstone with
decorations rejecting and emphasizing
the whole genius of a people represent
ed here in symbol or in substance.
AT the turning of CheapSide there was
plenty of color, plenty of money spent,
but no effect that was noteworthy url-
til passing out of it, the Mansion House
stood revealed, perhaps the most gorge
Gus and artistic bit of decoration on
the entire route From the central flag
staff was flown the royal standard, sur
rounded by twenty-five national ban
ners mounted on f1oWer-wreathed poles.
In the center of the pediment stood the
shield of the London heraldic coll
ors, backed by a handsome trophy of
national flags and f1anked on either side
by large cornucopias. On the central
cornice was the inscription, God Bless
Our Queen in gold letters. and on
either side the dates, 1887 1891" The
windows were decorated with crimson
plush draperies, gold ornaments and
emblems typical Of the nation. A num-
Der of heraldic shields, backed by err
mine mantles and trophies Of national
flags, adorned the front of the building.
In front of the balcony there was a pro-
fusion of blue plush drapery ornament
ed in gold. with imperial crowns and
monograms and finished with bullion
fringe rosettes and tassels. The coll
urnns of the building were entwined
with wreathS and here and there be-
tween depended rich baskets OF flowers.
Passing onward through King Will
lam street to London bridge Venetian
masts were again noticeable, bearing
golden banners entwined with floral
garlands and having laurel wreaths un-
derneadh a crown at the top of the
masts. The monument was draped with
lines of flags and festoons of lanterns
carried to the surrounding buildings.
London bridge was quite effectively
decorated. Both sides supported tall
nlasts, topped with royal crowns in gold
and bearing banners. The first and
each alternate mast carried a floral
wreath tied with gold silk and the in
evitable letters ''V. r." The second and
each alternate mast was entwined with
evergreen festooning, bearing a shield
backed by a trophy of five national
flags. Each mast or lamp post bore sus-
pended two floral baskets At each end
of the bridge was a graceful floral arch.
the supporting uprights of which dis
played the syn1bolical "P L." while
the feStoons between carried 1881
1897" and an imperial crown. South
of the Thames the decorations were less