Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-08-24

The immense work Of preparation
for Merchants Day is completed, and
to-day and tomorrow will be given up
to unalloyed enjoyment.
This morning at eight o'clock and
odd minutes the "1492" company, COM
prising between fifty and sixty people,
will arrive in the city over the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad from New
York City, and this afternoon there
will be a dress rehearsal at the Wheel
ing Park Casino, with the Opera House
orchestra. Tonight the Casino will
be thrown open to the general public,
at the popular price Of seyenty-five
cents. with no extra charge for re-
served seats, and, considering the new
cast and new scenery, and the fact
that this is just one-half the price
charged the last time the extravaganza
was given here, the Casino should be
crowded to the doors. Seats were put
on sale yesterday morning, and the
result was very satisfactory. To-day
will be the last chance to obtain seats,
as tomorrow evening the entire house
is reserved for the subscribers to the
Merchants Day fund and their invited
guests. There has been some mlsun-
derstanding about the scope Of the in
vitation to local retailers Wednesday
evening. Every retail merchant, as
far as it is practicable to get at them,
will be a guest Of the committee, but
the invitation will go no further.
Members Of their families or employees
will not be invited, and the house will
be absolutely closed TO all but the re-
tailers of the city themselves. This
means that tonight is the accepted
time for the ladies and the public gem
orally to see this great entertainment.
Tomorrow it will be too late
Yesterday morning the town was
billed for 1892" Autographs were dis
tributed, and 10000 handbills were
scattered throughout Wheeling and the
surrounding towns. No show was
ever so we'll advertised as this. The
sole object has been to make this fea-
ture of Merchants Day a great big
success. Yesterday the theater pro-
gramme was gotten out. -Four thou
sand copies were printed, and it con-
tains the cards of a number Of up-to-
date local business people. The Of
fetal programme for the use Of guests,
the badges for guests and local COM
mittees, and all other matters are
ready for distribution and proper par
ties can obtain them at the Main
street headquarters to-day, where Sec
retary Wilkinson will be installed
Every holder of an invitation will
he given a badge and an official pro-
graTnme and at the Casino tomorrow
evening will get the mammoth theatre
programme. Local retailers will also
be equipped with all that is necessary.
The badges entitle those wearing them
to a noon luncheon tomorrow at the
headquqarters of the committee to free
rides on the street cars, to free trans
pOrtation on the railroad train, TO free
transportation to Wheeling Park, to
free admission to the Park, to a seat
at the dinner, and to free admission
to the Casino in the evening. Badge
wearers are the people tomorrow.
Yesterday afternoon the Executive
Committee was advised by wire that
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad has
granted one fare for the round trip
from Keyser to this city, tomorrow,
and last night a similar telegram said
that like rates had been secured on
the trans-Ohio division of the B. & o.
from GAINESVILLE to this city. The Ohio
River railroad has generously given a
cent-a-mile rate from Parkersburg to
this city, and a number of roads in the
interior of the State have also done
we'll.
Elsewhere appears the proclamation
of His Honor Mayor Butts, asking all
persons to decorate tomorrow The
request should be well observed, and
everybody should aid in making the
guests of the business men welcome.
There is also an advertisement which
will interest boarding house people and
prOprietors of small hotels. The COM
mittee will be glad to know of all
available uquarters for tomorrow.
All that is now needed is good wealth
er. and it is to be hoped that the au-
thorities will be propitious.