Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-22
THE DECORATIONS
Business Houses on the Avenue
Alive With Color.
FLAGS AND BUNTING EVERYWHERE
Treasury and War Department
Buildings Handsomely Oraped.
LAMENTATIONS AT NIGHT

Thu star-studded sapphire field and the
alternating stripes of crimson and snowy
purity of the national ersign float lazily in
the spring breezes that softly blow down
the streets and avenues of Washington.
The nations capital has put on its gala
holiday dress, and throughout the down.
town section the blended colors of red,
white and blue, in flags, bunting, shields
and vari-modeled emblems flare and flame,
enlivening and frightening the dull, cloud
shaded atmosphere of the day. Along the
beautiful sweep of Pennsylvania avenue,
from the Capitol to the treasury, the fiut-
tering colOrS reach as far as the vision
carries. The broad thoroughfare is draped
and decorated either side with a lavish
profusion, giving it indeed the appearance
of the nations highway.
Bright Color Effects.
Decorators have been busy in Washing
ton for the past week. Their work is nearly
complete, and is apparent on every side. The
avenue is not alone in its profusion of bright
color effects.
F street, from 10Th to 9th streets, is one
mass of flags and patriotic draperes, while
9TH street is veritable midway of flashing
flying insignia of the nation. Other streets
leading to and from these central thorough
l5ifeS present the same gay appearance, and
there is everywhere a show of interest in
making " Washington, for the peace jubilee
week. an attractive and beautiful fiag-be-
decked city. The decorations are on a scale
suggestive of inauguration day. The largest
draping concerns of the United States have
had agents and representatives in the city,
and their taste and skill shows in the
graceful folds and hangings of the say col
ofS honored in the emblem of the country.
From shy-reachfng staffs the flags are
displayed, while hanging from balconies
and draped alorg pOrticoes smaller editions
of the ensign and bunting are tucked and
pinned in mannar calculated to give the
most effective results. Long streamers Of the
flags of different nations, giving additional
tone to the American red, white and blue
lead to tn peak of the staff on many build
ings.
a notable feature of the peace jubilee
decorations of Washington is the reaDDear-
ance of the Spanish flag, three or four bust
ness m IN being daring and magnanmous
enough to float the yellow and red of the
defeated enemy alongside the spangled ban
ner OF the victors. Large English flags
have a prominent part in number of the
more elaborate front decoration whiIe in
a few the flags of other nations as we'll
may be noticed.
Two Government Buildings.
Two of the government departments have
been made specially attractive through the
medium of American flags. AT the War
Department the balconies are draped in
the immenSe ensigns owned by the army.
The flags there have been hung with ex-
cellent taste The Treasury Department
is one mass of flags, all of the great pillars
of the historic building being dressed in
the chnging folds of large flag, while the
coping or ledge of the roof is strung with
the same generous abundance of national
emblems. These two buildings flank the
court of honor, which is nearing compile
ton. and their draping will add to the
general effect of the patriotic scene in this
vicinity.
Historic paintings and portraits of the
latest heroes of the nation, including
Dewey, Schley, Sampson. Hobson, Roose-
welt and the many others whose names
have become hOnored during the conflict
with Spain. are TO he seen, fiag-tiraped. in
many of the schemes of decoration. The
Maine is pictured in one very effective dis
play of color, while in another is the bat
tie between the Merrimac and Monitor, the
relation of this picture to the present cele-
bratiOn being rather obscure IT is true.
Lincoln, Grant mad President Mckinley are
popular in the decorations, the latter rank
ing next to Dewey in the general display
of painting which We're hurriedIy prepared
for the occasion.
IlluminatiOns at Night.
While the national colors will flash bril-
liantly in the light of the day, the night
will be by no means black and without eff
feet. Patriotic devices in electric lights of
varied colors have been arranged by a
number of the hotels and business houses.
A few buildings will have their outlines
shown in incandescedent effects during the
gala nights of the jubilee while the deco
rated fronts of a large proportion of the
buildings in the central portion of the city
will be provided with lights to in
crease the effect of the patriotic hangings
Many beautiful window decorations are
to be seen throughout the business quarter
Silken flags of various sizes and arranged
in graceful manner have been largely used
A very pretty arrangement is the flutter-
ing flag famed by the artificial breezes Of
a hidden electric fan. The florists have not
been behind in the matter of decoration
An eagle perched in the center of red
white and blue, floral wreath of heroic pro-
portions, is the very attractive window
show Of one F street dealer In flowers.
The display of flags for the jubilee is as
pretty and profLse as has ever been seen
in the capital city. The merchants have
been most liberal in this direction, and the
result is beautiful.
Vehicles of various descriptions have also
been draped in bunting and flagstaff by
their owners They add much to the gen.
eral scene of color as they flash in and
out of the everyday traffic of the buster