Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-09
Great Preparations New York is
Making for His Return.
WILL Be 4 NOTABLE CELEBRATION
Grand Arch and Coonnade Now
in Course of Erection.
ART AND PUBLIC SPIRIT

Written for The Evening Star.
When George Dewey, admiral, sails into
New York harbor late this month, he will
be the most talked of man in the world
and the best loved man in America. Only
Dreyfus has occupied so large a share of
public thought during the months since
Dewey left Manila and Dreyfus' promi
hence has been that of notoriety, not fame.
IF the money that is to be spent on
Deweys reception should be weighed UP in
silver" said a statistical fiend, lit would be
pretty nearly as heavy the aggregate
weight of the shot he fired at the Spanish
Ships
Whether this is true or not is Of no pos
sble consequence, but it is certainly fac.
that America has never so nearly ap-
proa ched a national fit of affectonate
hysteria as she will on the day the hero of
the Philippines comes home. 1t will be like
the meeting of sweetheart with her lover
after a long separation. Miss Columbia's
arms are widely spread and she will hug
George Dewey fervently.
Universal Interest.
I have been in New York off and on for
a good many years and it has been my bus
mess to see its big events. There has never
been a celebration in honor of any one man
approaching the Dewey reception in mag
nitude. Already, almost three weeks be-
fore the admiral is scheduled to arrive, his
name is the word heard in every group of
men from the stevedores on the docks to
the millionaires in the Union League Club:
already the novelty makers putting
their Dewey badges on sale on the streets
and getting their Dewey bunting ready to
fly from every place in town which can
offer holding room for a waving, colored
rag. Bare and ugly timbers hide the fronts
of scores of houses and business buildings
before which the great parade will pass:
small spectators have staked their all in
renting space, street car companies are
figuring out ways by which they can keep
their cars away from certain crowded
streets and still transport the crowds cab
men are reckoning on great harvest in
the glorious twentyfour hours of Dewey's
day: hotels are furnishing up their rooms
and restaurants and buying food supplies
long in advance; all New York is getting
ready to receive the admiral.
All Want to See Dewey.
And what New York is doing Is only a
part of what Is being done. Every rail-
road leaving from New York, decided
weeks ago to reduce its passenger rates to
the big city the day of the celebration
and in some to have the reduction
cover a period of several days. The dis
tances over which these rate reductions
reach vary greatly, but they do not limit
the scope of the territory throughout
which preparations are being made by tens
of thousands to land in the metropolis at
the same time the admiral does so as to
help in the cheering. Not less than 10oO-
GEO people will be brought into New York
from the surrounding country according
to the estimate of the general passenger
agent of a leading road.
Hundreds of thousands of people will be
disappointed in their efforts to see the adj
mlral as he passes along the line of march,
The arrangements for stands are not as
complete as it hoped they would be.
Mayor Van Wyck's private secretary Mr..
Downs who has had much to do with the
arrangements for the celebrate says
that rot more than 100000 people will be
able to see the parade if every inch of
space along the line is occupied "At least
twice that number will try to-" he added
Windows from which the show may be
seen, are of course, in great demand.
The Arch and Colonnade.
The great feature of New York's prepa-
colonnade on 9Th avenue, at Madison
Square. This is the outgrowth of patriot
ism pure and simple The idea was put
forward by c. r. Lamb. a well-known dec
orator He told of it to ]. Q. A. Ward, the
famous sculptor
1.-THE city will furnish the money if the
sculptors will do the work." said Mr..
Lamb. But don't suppose the sculptors
will do the work"
1.-THE sculptors will do the work. said
Mr.. Ward, but the city will not furnish
the money. I'll talk to the sculptors about
plan"
Mr. Ward did suggest the plan to the
sculpture society. They took 1t up with a
good will that carried it through in one
night. The city government was scarcely
less prompt In approprtating the money for