Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-04-11
President Mckinley Will Inaugurate
the Event by Telephone.
WILL Be 4 SCENE OF SPLENDOR
An Artistic and Picturesque Arrange
ment of Decorations.
FEATURES AND NOVELTIES

Inc tTeSfuent OF the OnlieC states,
Mason and a knight Templar. will touch
an electric button tonight and enliven a
scene at Convention Hall which will be-
come memorable for the magnitude OF its
beauty and the picturesque effects which
will join to constitute the whole. The
President will also speak few words. ex-
pressing his interest in the enterprise and
his warm approval Of the great object 1t is
intended to further. He will not be pres
ent in person. because the critical condition
Of national affairs will prevent his leaving
his post Of duty at the Executive Mansion,
but he will know that, as he sends his good
wishes to his brothers and their friends at
the Masonic fair and exposition. there will
be returned to him wishes equally as sin
cere that he may safely and wisely direct
the affairs of the Union.
The opening exercises will be replete with
interesting features besides the participa-
ton of the President. President ]. Henry
Small. jr, of the board of control, which
has so successfully managed the intricate
and multitudinous details preliminary to
the success of the enterprise, will call the
great gathering to order and present to Il
the most worshipful grand master of the
Grand Lodge of the District, Samuel c.
Palmer.
By Telephone and Photograph.
Then President Mckinley, by single
touch Of his finger. will send refulgence to
thousands of incandescent globes, and his
greetings and good wishes by telephone,
which. by means of a photograph, will be
transmitted and heard by every one. A
grand chorus of three hundred voices, I'M
der Director d. b. Macleod. will render
America" accompanied by the National
Guard Brigade Band. and then the throngs
Will move through a remarkable fair and
exposition.
All day t. day earnest men and eager wo-
men have been arranging the ten Thousand
through generous donors for the general
tlnd and for the respective Masonic bodies
having control of the numerous booths.
A Beautiful Picture.
The entire theme of the decorations in
Convention Hall is an artistic and harmo-
rieus one. Down the center Of the i'm
mense dclne-like arched ceiling are hung
great American flags. draped in graceful
festoons and garnitured with trailing
southern smi!a;x. On either side the roof
is covered with dazzling white cloth and
extending upward at many intervals are
great branches CT evergreens and blossom
irg vines, rising from luxurious bases o:
growing forestry at the sides. The east
and west sides of the hal are ranged with
reproductions of historical edifices, whose
towers and hattlements and steeples and
nirarets CLEAN with armorial bearings
and float countless flags, brarng the Ma
sonic insignia of the Blue Lodge. the Chap
ter and the Comm andery.
Within them will he an uncomfortable va
r:ety of attractive articles, while handsome
matrons ard pretty girls in appropriate
costumes will wiz custom from the slis-
ceptible. cid and young alike. The old
English village rears its crcwning font
ard massive iron gateway at the southern
ed Of the hall. and will he fair in itself.
with an open-air theater. gnificeirt
-ct, Il H.
that cannot fail to catch the public fancy.
The characters Of an old English village
will all be represented and the costumes
Will be appropriate and historically cor
rect. over the entrance at the north end
Of the hall will be a striking reproduction
of a Swiss chalet. where charming Alpine
lasses will guide the visitors through the
mountainous mysteries.
The Shrfners in Evidence.
On either side of the broad central ave-
nue., extending the length of Convention
Hall, are numerous booths. decorated with
oonsummate taste. brilliantly lighted. ard
containing another multitude of marvels
with which to crafty the tastes of the
coming throngs. Midway of the hail. and
against the walls CT either side are two
strikingly chaste reproductions of the Pan
thenon at Athens. An ancient Greek
would probably bc appalled, at the uses to
which this venerated edifice is put. but
w ftu ne TedllZeu tndI the Mystic SnrlnerS
were responsible for 1t he would probably
bow his head and accept II as a matter of
course. Parthenon No 1. on the east side
is paddle stand of big proportions and,
under charge Of Johnny Elinger a group
Of bright and gay shriners will call the at.
tenttoE of the crowds to the plentitude
they riay possess by investing In a paddle
The Shriners at this booth also will have
u!ation sword. heavily gold-mounted. as a
test Of the public esteem in which Cant.
Charles 8. Sigsbee. the gallant nder
OF the Maine. and Gen. Fftzhugh Lee the
are respectively held. The exercises of
franchise in this connection will be placed
at nickel. and sore of the prettiest girls
in Washington win do campaign work
for votes among the visitors.
Parthenon No 2, on the west side of the
tall, will also be paddle stand and the
famous Arab patrol Of Almas Temple will
be In charge, uniformed in grotesuue Rarb
under the command Of the gallant Tommy
Walker.
Novel and Unique Features.
At almost every booth will be some par
ticularly unique and novel feature GYPSY
queens will tell fortunes. mysterious ladies
will firt animatedly from decapitated
heads There will be bean problems to
guess: Japanese gardens to sip the refresh
ing Oolong at. There will be Partisan
cafes. scenic. theaters, Turkish smoking
parlors and scores Upon scores of other at
fractions and novelties scattered through
Convention Hail and the armory annex
connected Herewith by tastefuIly deco
rated and brilliantly lighted passageway.
1t will be a case Of the Chicago EXPOSE
ton Midway Plaisancc (modified. of
course). and crowds and ALL on a smaller
scale, and when compared to other fairs it
will be pretty much as a plank is to a
knot hole.
The National Guard Brigade Band win
play music during the evening, and upon a
stage Immediately over the entrance to
Convention Hall will be presented ar inter-
walls entertaining specialties by the best
known amateurs in Washington.
The ladies who are to assist at the var
fous booths will be admitted through the
entrance to the armory annex and the
members Of the chorus will be admitted
through the same entrance a half hour
earlier tonight than was announced ON
Saturday. their presence being earnestly
requested at o'clock
The board of control will have fits head
quarters in the armory annex building and
the press committee will issue from the
same building lively and Interesting pa
per each night of the fair. Everything has
combined to assure the success Of the great
enterprise. and no one has any doubt that
a national Masonic temple viii shortly be