Evening star., 1897-02-27
Thousands Of Electric Lights Turned
On in the Ball Room.
REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL RESULTS
Description of the Features That
viii Charm the Guests.
GENERAL INAUGURAL NEWS

the tlIne Intervening 10 tuS flH VI MARCH,
Relays of workmen have for two weeks
past been engaged night and day in the
gigantic task of draping walls and pillars,
building the balconies for the band and the
orchestra, and putting in place the huge
canopies overhead. Over each of the three
divisions OF the court made by the famous
big pillars, large domes studded with hum
dreds of electric lights, have been sus-
pended. From these domes radiate long
stretches of muslin out to the cornice on
each side of the room. In this way the en-
tire roof Of the pension building is shut out
of sight. and the height Of the vast room
reduced fully one-third.
Mr.. John r. Galloway, who has the con-
tract for putting in place the electric light
ing, has nearly completed his work, and
last night for the first time Mr.. Charles S.
Pardoe, the electrical engineer in charge,
turned on the subtle current, and the vast
room was Illuminated. The effect was
marvelously beautiful. There are 500
ground glass incandescent lights used in
the room and so arc lights. The 14S iron
pillars supporting the balconies of the
court have been jacketed with yellow and
white challie. and on each pillar are six
teen lights-"sixteen to one," as everybody
about the building has more or less said.
The dlapings throughout the room are en-
tirely of yellow and white. another circum-
stance which brings out numerous face
tious remarks on the bimetailic significance
of the decorations.
An Electric American Flag.
At the west end of the court, up above
the second balcony, hangs a large national
flag. consisting of red, white and blue in
candescent lights, which by a mechanical
contrivance gives the effect of the waving
of the genuine bunting. On the south side
hn ho I,ol,
set piece, with the names Mckinley and
Hobart on streamers, and done in electric
lights surmounted by a shield Of red
white and blue and the American eagle
AT the east end of the court is perhaps
the most pleasing feature of the whole
conception. A large balcony has been con-
structed, reaching fifty feet out into the
court, to accommodate the orchestra. This
has been beautifully draped with yellow
and white, and large, deep arch has been
constructed entirely of yellow and studded
with electric lights.
None Of the flowers. palms or potted
plants nor any of the greenery that is
wound about the pillars have yet been put
in place. When this has been done and
the lights are turned on the scene will be
one of transcendent beauty, far surprising
in artistic effect anything heretofore at
tanned 1t has always been contended that
1t was mistake to use the national colors
as background for flowers or the green
OF the ground pine in ball room decora-
tions, and Mr.. Small who has carried
through the present scheme of decoration,
congratulates hiTself that this time he
has the beautiful background afforded by
the yellow and white draperies.
The Song of Canaries.
In addition to all that appeals to the eye
there will be decorations that address the
ear Mr.. Edward S. schmid will hang
about the room hundreds of canary birds
in gold cages. This feature is a well-tried
one in decoration. The birds are not at all
abashed by the glitter of lights and flare
of instruments and set to and sing as II
for dear lifes sake.
The following order was issued by the
commissioner of pensions today:
"On account OF the preparation of the
pension building for the ceremonies to be
held therein next week 1t is now necessary
to exclude the public from entrance thereto
from 3 o'clock today until March g. 1897.
No one excepting employees will be admitted
after that hour except those who have ur-
gent business with the commissioner per-
sonally.'
Scores of Visitors.
The visitors at inaugural headquarters
today were as numerous as they will be, in
all probability. at the White House next
week. and many strangers to the city, rep
resenting organizations that will partici-
pate in the parade were among them
ted in and out Chairman Bells room.
catching hurried conferences over final ar
rangements of the details under their
supervision.
Among the callers were Messrs. Myron
NJ. Parker who was accompanied by Gen.
Gilmore of Vermont; Gen. George B. Will
liams, Mr.. Henry A. Willard, Mr.. Lewis ].
Davis. Judge John G.. Long. Mr.. B. H.
Warner. Mr.. NJ. 1. Weller, Mr.. A. T. Brit
ton Mr. Clarence F. Norment, Mr.. John b.
r
National Committeeman Youngblood of
Alabama was prominent caller, and re-
newed many old acquaintances.
At the meeting of the public order COM
mittee last night all the members were
sworn in as special policemen by Chief
Clerk Sylvester Of the police department.
and given badges and commissions. vote
Of thanks was rendered Chairman John B.
Wight for his courtesy and consideration,
and he was presented with dress-parade
policeman's club. bearing on silver plate
an inscription reading John B. Wight,
chairman committee on public order, March
4, 1897. From his co-workers." Mr.. Wight
accepted the token in few appreciative re-
marks. Orders were issued assigning the
members to duty and describing the work
they were expected to do
Reception Committee Badges
The badges which designate members of
the reception committee will be distributed
Monday to the members whose names fol-
low Cnat Oh Zen. = elk AknuS OH the Omc1al
list The badges for the army and navy Of
fcers, senators and members Of Congress,
justices Of the various courts and members
of the national republican committee have
already been distributed.
Police Precautions.
The officials at police headquarters are
busily engaged in preparations for the in
auguration. The crowds and crooks will be
handled with neatness and dispatch. The
force Of outside detectives will report for
duty Tuesday night. They will be largely
Pinkerton men.
Extra Sweeping.
The superintendent of street sweeping
has made the following regulations for
sweeping the streets during inaugural
week:
I'm addition to the regular sweeping OF
the streets, all streets from 9th street east
to 22d street west. and from street south
to X street north will be cleaned by hand
daily. The line of parade will be swept bv
machine on Wednesday night, March &, and
again on Thursday morning, between the
hanr< of and z nj