The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-09
MAGIC CIRCLE LIGHTED.
of People Looked Upon It's
Unsurpassed Beauty.

of People Looked Upon It's
Unsurpassed Beauty.
When the wizard controlling Magic Cir
Gle waved his wand last night at 1876
O'Clock and sent the mystic electric cur
rent in an instant gliding from base to
summit of the monument and racing
around the circuit of his domain, even TO
the very gates thereof-a food of multi
oclored lights burst forth into the faces
of thousands of wondering spectators.
Wonder quickly gave way TO deepest adj
miration as the full scheme of the ex-
quisitely illuminated designs began to be
comprehended.
The DIRECTORS to the plan of lighting up
the monument would have felt their ears
burn If they could have heard the thou
sands of compliments which were showered
upon the promoters of the carnival and the
designer of the illumination of Magic Cir
Gle. w. II. Whitney, assistant engineer of
the monument. was standing on the east
side of the Circle Enclosure last night about
o'clock. taking in the full beauty of the
lights and decorations. AS the remem-
brance of the complaint came into his
mind, Mr.. Whitney broke out into Wig
orous protest against the one who regis
tered the complaint. Anybody who would
complain of such a beautiful affair this
is to be pitied," he said. II read the fell
lows kick in the paper and noticed that
he said something about the sides of the
monument shaft being defaced and rem
dered open to decay and disintegration
by holes being drilled in the stone. / am
here to say that not single hole has been
drilled in the shaft of this monument or
In the stone cascades by anybody connected
with this carnival. The few holes near the
base were drilled long ago. Why, We have
been SO careful that when ladder is to
be set up against the monument ii is
wrapped at the top with burlap TO prevent
injury. Nobody need worry about the
monument being injured in order to provide
decorations for the carnival
MONUMENT ILLUMINATION.
The general design of the monument flu
mination and establishment is extremely
simple. considering the gorgeous and daz-
zling effect produced. The astragals and
inscriptions are enclosed by bands of white
lights, each forming a bright rectangle.
The four corners of the shaft, beginning
at the plaza and extending clear to the
base of the balcony beneath Miss Indiana's
feet, are outlined with perpendicular lines
ribbons of varicolored lights. These
alternate, by a mechanical contrivance,
from white to mixture of red and white,
producing weird and beautiful effect. On
the north side of the monument shaft an
Illuminated star with red center throws
out rays of bright light from positlon
inside of and at the lower edge OF a
small illuminated rectangle which is within
a larger rectangle. A short distance above
the larger rectangle is shield constructed
of red. white and blue incandescents. At
each corner of the monument, where the
base connects with the shaft. is placed
rapidly revolving star of colored lights, the
motion giving a charming Kaleidoscope eff
feet. On the south side, facing the main
entrance to Magic Circle. the monument
is adorned with a facsimile OF the national
flag in appropriate colors. A delightful
twinkling effect is given to the lights COM
posing the flag. Above the national en-
blem is another shield in colored lights.
On the balcony at the top of the shaft
are two powerful searchlights, the mirrors
of which are twenty inches in diameter.
These were kept in constant motion last
night and many timid dweller far away
from the circle doubtless thought some
fiery-eyed demon was about TO descend
from the skies upon the city.
THE CASCADES.
The cascades over which millions of gall
Ions of water pour every day have also
come beneath the identifying touch of the
electric decorator. Around the tops of the
fountains and running along their sides
are bands of white lights. while. the three
cascades or terraces over which the sheets
or water tumble and roar are equipped
with rows of red. white and blue lights
1t has been found that the water affects
the bulbs which are colored blue-fading
much of the color OUTPUT the red seems
impervious to aqueous action. The catch
basins into which all the water finally
flows after its mad decent of the cascades,
are filled with electric pond-lilies, having
hearts OF flame. These hearts are made up
OF two white and two red lights. which are
alternately cut off and turned on, giving
the effect of flowers swaying in the water.
The splendid arch at Meridian and Wash
ington streets, forming the Arc de Triumph
Main Gateway to the Magic Circle, was
not completed last night, but enough of
the decorative work had been finished to
justify the opinion that IL will be n verta-
BILE work of art. The arch has been painted
skillfully TO represent natural stone, while
here and there touches of old gold ard a
little filagree work supply the impression
OF Nature aided by the delicate hand of the
artist. The statues and other ornamental
figures will be put in place early this
morning, so that when the carnival formal
II opens not single detail will be found
lacking to make the whole design as rich
and beautiful as anything of the kind ever
attempted in Indianapolis or the State at
large before. After the visitor has passed
within the great arched gateway and be-
gins the delightful walk up to the Magic
Circle. he Is fianked on either side by a
row OF columns. wrapped with the colors
OF the carnival each containing spiral
OF electric lights and at the top surmounted
by natural palms
CROWDS OF VISITORS.
The great crowds I'm and about the circle
all last evening were the subject OF pleased
comment on the part of the carnival man.
ayers and others interested an the success
of the event IF this place is so crowded
tonight, when not a single feature OF the
carnival has been opened remarked one
man, what will 1t be tomorrow and other
days when II Is in full blast" Monument
Place was indeed thronged with people
so much so that II was difficult for one who
was In a hurry to make much Roadway