The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-12

As the arrival in this city of Admiral
Dewey becomes a matter of weeks rather
than of months the people of Washington
are beginning to take an ever-increasing
interest in the event. They are now COM
menCing to inquire about the details of
the celebration, where they have hereto
fore been content with a knowledge of its
main outlines.
Two things about the welcome, which
have long been In doubt, may now be set
down, 10 all intents and purposes, as as
sured. These are the date and length of
the celebration, and with reference To
them it may be said that the festivities
will commence Monday, October 2, and
continue two days. According to the plan
a committee of escort will leave for New
York City on the Sunday previous 10 the
celebration, starting hack with Admiral
Dewey the next morning. The party will
arrive just at dusk, after a few brief
stops on the way, and, upon reaching
Washington, there will be an Illumination
of the city and a night parade. The pro-
cession will be witnessed by Admiral
Dewey from the reviewing stand at the
Treasury Department. Late the next
afternoon the sword voted by Congress
will be presented at the east front of the
Capitol.
Presentation of the Sword.
Undoubtedly the central feature OF the
celebration will be the presentation of the
sword, which comes as a gift from the en-
tire American people. 1t Is this which
raises the welcome here above the plane
of a local greeting, and makes it an event
in which the entire nation has an equal
part and an equal interest. The national
character of the occurrence is still further
emphasized by the fact that here, and
here alone, the government officials will
be present. 1t is believed that the pre-
sentation of the sword will be witnessed
by a crowd greater in numbers than has
ever before assembled on the plaza east
of the Capitol, even at the most largely
attended Presidential Inauguration.
Hon. John d. Long, Secretary Of the
Navy, has been invited TO present the
sword to Admiral Dewey, and has ex-
pressed his willingness to carry out this
pleasant task. President Mckinley will!
sit beside the hero of Manila on the stand.
while the Cabinet officers and other dis
tinguished persons will occupy places
about him.
Just now a great deal Of interest is
shown in the sword which Admiral Dewey
propriated by Congress, last summer, IN
token Of the appreciation Of the entire
nation Of the splendid victory which had
been ache ed IN Manila Boy, May /. II
was desigL'q by Paulding Farnham, and
~ '9ad" y Tiffany & Co. Il New YORK
/, Co. .cmpleted bout tue fst "a.
January, and was sent about the n fdI,
OF that month 10 the Secretary Of the
Navy, in whose custody IL has been ever
since
Nations Capital the Proper Place.
st first there was considerable Ilscus-
sion as 10 how and when IT should be pre-
sentec, but me formation Of plans for a
national reception in this city this fall
made that clear and IL was seen that this
occasion was undoubtedly the one a.
which TO make the gift Of the sword.
Although the sword was exhibited by
Tiffany & Co. in New. York City Just aft
er il had been finished. and was seen by
number OF persons here Immediately after
its arrival at the Navy Department. it
was subsequently placed in one q the
vaults OF that building, and mas not been
open TO inspection by the public since.
The reason for this. in the opinion Of Sec
rotary Long. was that Admiral Dewey
should have the pleasure Of showing %
personally 70 his friends before b. was
otherwise exhibited, and IL VIII not De
seen by any one again until Il j. given 20
the Admiral a the east front Of the Cap
itOl on the afternoon Of October Q.
The sword ig undoubtedly one o. the
most beautiful gifts that has ever been
presented TO one Of its heroes b. CRATE
I'll nation. With the exception u the steel
blade ana the body or the scaDoaTd. -
ye4 non Is made entirely OF ZZ-CS rat gold.