Evening star., 1898-10-27
PROPOSED CENTEN NAL
Some Suggestions Which the Committee
Might Consider.
The Celebration should Precede the
Inauguration Ceremonies
in 1901.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:

form of festivity would be in order in cele-
brating the centennial Of the capitalization
in more senses than one-of the city of
Washington. a committee has been or
ganized to devise a plan of action. an able
committee: It's work. its decision, however.
VIII he but the results of the interchange
Of the individual ideas of only twenty or
thirty very busy men.
This is to respectfully suggest that some
public-spirited paper-The Star. for instance
-res0lve itself into the mouthpiece of
the committee of the whole and invite
the me mbers of that great committee
Washirgtonians. New Workers, Arizonians
Ni1ginians. Philippines. Hawaiians ct al.
To use its columns in suggesting ways and
means of having fun during that national
celebration.
our people are a much-traveled lot they
see much that is interesting and are origi-
nal thinkers too. OF course, there will be
ec Cd bad and Indifferent suggestions. and
lot of crank notions submitted. but among
them all there can surely he CLEANED some
that are worthy of consideration and real
helps to the gentlemen of the actual COM
mittee.
Just TO start the ball rolling I will be-
gin offering d resolution. Put it down as
one of the crank notions. but here it is:
Make 1t in 1901.
For heavens sake, give up the idea of
an industrial exposition, There the
centennial. the worlds fair now the Omaha
and then the Paris. with numberless county
fairs, fat hogs prize bullocks and improved
ice cream freezers squeezed in between
times
Let us pattern after old Venice, with her
carnivaIs OF even New Orleans and her
MaTd Gras. and shcW the world that we
know some other way of having fun than
that of showing each Other our goods: that
we are not exclusively Il nation of SHOP
keepers.
Let US have speech or something in
l@s-as usual we have not time to ade-
quately prepare much mOre-and postpone
the main festivities until 1901. the one hun
dredth anniversary of the first Inaugural
ton in the new capital and Capitol. Let
US combine the two ceremonies, the centen-
NAL and the real induction into office of our
new-l mean our present President.
Let us get Congress to change the date
from the 18th of March to some time in
May. or during generally decent weather.
1uaTgurations always send more people to
their reward than did our late war.
Let US profit of the experience gained
during and since that war. and begin be-
forehand to look after the commissary and
quartermaster departments. Get the rail-
roads to agree unon low rates from all
points, and long stay-nvers. Get the hotel
men to swear they will. at least, let Their
guests return home with their shoes and
will flock here by hundreds of thousands if
they can be assured of that much consid-
Grafton something they have not received
at such tmes-in other cities. Encourage
the building of temporary but safe apart
ment houses. two and three stories high
On the many vacant lands about where a
small room may be had for a small sum.
Get the car Lines extended and ample
rolling stock and amperes on hand.
Grand inauguration.
Remember that the Inauguration alone is
v-ell worth the whole price of admission
ana that Washington will be visited by
tho ousands for its own sake-it needs
mighty little touching up to make it Il
show city at any time Congress will be in
session, too, and that will be more fun
than many have ever seen or may hone tn
ever Sc, at the Zoo or anywhere else
Make ii so that can provide for the
creature comforts of the middle classes;
they Will leave more money here than the
mill!onaires will, after all: | saw one of the
Gallery because it was not free dav,
Build enc building only. that's all we need,
ana that on the Monument Grounds or
somewhere on the mall or anyway where
one IS not compelled to use other transpor-
tation than his legs to reach; let it be q
permanent, beautiful building.
Let each state contribute SO much and
with that sum build it a headuuarters a
hundred feet or 50 in diameter; build these
fCrty-five bays in Il circle around a diam
etcr of nearly LEO feet roof over this vast
lrCiosure ara let eaCh state finish its build
ing inside as sumptuously as it wishes then
Ie; the nation finish the central coliseum.
y wonderfully handsome ensemble is pos
sihle, a grand national monument. The
state bindings to be used permanently for
offices and headquarters of their congress.
SlCnai delegations, a place where every
visitor here may feel he has a personal
ownership in and is welcome, particularly
ii ne wants his congressman to get him an
office. The great central hall to be used
for conventions. inaugurations, drills. etc
The country needs such n hall
During the centennial the state buildings
would be their headquarters, registering
and information bureaus. post offices where
local hospitalities may be extended, meet
ing places; and, too, temporary eXten siOnS
may be radiated from them, vast tstate)
eating booths, where a fellow may feed ac-
Cording to his local tastes and preiudices
l would have the centennial festivities
prior to the inauguration. I'd have a grand
spectacular drama in that great hall,
affair of several days duration, sort of q
Chinese play (and it's lots of fum, an il
Illustrated recapitulatiCn of our history 1t
would he very new to some of US. What
fine scenes the burning of the Capitol by
the British would be, the battle of Bunker
Hill ono 'Gn-'GI rpleasantnesses, though.
there might ensue Il real row, and just
think Of the applause there'd be when
Schley or Sampson smashes Cerveras ships,
Concerts. Lectures, &c.
Then have grand concerts, lectures. :le-
bates or sports between the daily acts, and
finally, the Inauguration ball. Imagine
Jo00 people dancing under one roof!
Add temporary wings to the Corccran
Gallery and have the finest loan exhibi-
tion of pictures and statuary there ever
was in all the wide world. We can do L.
Tn"ra ought to be grand fireworks. an
other and realistic burning of the Capitol:
keep harpinS on that tune: it's bound t.
take with us. Have q st0rming and do
fen~" with fir@worEs) of the monument.
a grand naval battle on the river, a great
inaugural procession that will be remem-
bere3 for generators. Burn plenty Of pow
der: it's cheap ana makes lots of nOis,..
Let there be a boat race. chariot races.
trottiag races. bicycle races. Olympian
games, and make the purses such that well
have real sporty events. Let there be 4
grand review of all our troOns-and may
we be so haDni!y situated that their pres
enc" will not be needed elsewhere,
Surprising dress M our policemen.
guards and centennial officials in the gar5
If hundred years ago. and ourselves. too,
for that natter-no difficult task: simply
cut off the tops of our golf stockings. take
the crease out of our Fedoras and borrow
a few Of our wives frills. Let our big guns
drive in ''yC ancient turne-0uteS' and in
-I,.F, Loo old