The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-12-13

countries In full court uniform, the
chief Justice and associate justices of
the supreme court In their judicial
robes. Lieutenant General Miles and
many distinguished officers Of the army
and navy who had received the thanks
Of Congress, the governors OF more than
half the states in the Union aud the
commissioners OF the District Of Colum-
bia, while the galleries were resplen-
dant with. the wealth and culture Of the
national capital. As u spectacle moth
Ing could have been more Inspiring or
impressive. The bright sun streaming
through the ground glass ceiling on
which were the arms Of the several
states. flooded the hall with light and
heightened the effect OF the gowns Of
the ladies' In the galleries. the glitterlng
uniforms on the floor and the elaborate
statement Of decoration which sub
merged the hnll In sea Of color. Never
before In the history OF the house has
the staid old legislative hall with It's
severe gold and white galleries and It's
plain marble rostrum been decorated to
anything like the extent 1t was to-day.
Hall swathed With Flags.
A party of tackies from the govern
ment yacht Dolphin had literally swat TIL
ed the hall In flags. The fronts of the
galleries were hidden by them, the brass
railings which marked off the lobbies
were festooned with them and the
speakers marble rostrum was covered
with them. Not more than half were
American flags and this fact was at
first rather startling until the full beau
,y Of, the. color scheme, ,dawned upon the
spectators. From the galleries every
other flag was that of foreign coun-
try The royal flag of England was
draped from the reserved gallery on the
east. next the executive gallery, and
the Imperial black, white and red OF
Germany on the right. The crested
flag Of Austro- Hungary. the trl.color OF
France. the royal ensign OF Russia. the
green. white and red OF Mexico and
even the red and yellow OF Spain were
there. But below circling the hall and
walling in the distinguished assemblagc
were the glorious buff and blue under
which the continental army of Wash
ington had achieved the independence
OF the American republic. while 'front.'
Ing the audience back Of the speakers
desk the beautiful! silk flag Of the re-
public and from II stretching away on
either side over the paintings OF La
fayatte and Washington, blazed the
stars and stripes.
Old Continental Flags.
The flags OF the continental army.
many OF which were old and tattered,
had been brought from the war depart
ment for the occasion.
The cumbrous swinging chairs had
been removed from the hall and smaller
chnirs substituted TO econumlze space.
Circling the area In front Of the speak,
er's rostrum were large leather chalro
for the President, his cabinet and the
~ hAC lnc
members Of the house were seated on
the left. leaving the whole right Of the
hall for the visitors. The procession
into the hall was stately one The
door-kecpcr announced each dlvIs;Ion MS
1t appealed at the main door. First
came Senator Frye, president pro tenn
pore, and the members or the senate.
Senator Frye ascendcd the rostrum and
took his place beside Speaker Hender-
son, and the senators seated themselves
in the first three rows on the right. The
members OF the senate were followed by
Chief Justice Fuller and the associate
Justices OF the supreme court, In their
judicial robes. They. were seated oppo-
site the place reserved for the President
and his cabinet. Next came the am
bassadors and ministers to the United
States and other members OF the diplo-
matte corps, headed by Lord Pauncc-
fote.
Roosevelt Smiled and Bowed.
They were seated Immediately behind
the members Of the senate. The COVER
nors OF states and territories, headed by
Governor sconcld. OF Wisconsin, sat In
the rear of the diplomatic CORDS. There
was much eager curiosity 10 see Cover
nor Roosevelt. OF New York, and he ac-
knowledged the attention nnitestcd by
smiling and bowling to the right and
left. Following the governors came
Lieutenant General Miles In full uni
form, the commissioners OF the Dis
trict OF Columbia and the members Of
the centennial committee Mt large. The
President and members of tho cabinet
were the last to enter the hail. They
were escorted TO the chairs reserved for
them by President Mcfarland, O: the
District commissioners. Meantime the
speakers Of tho occasion, Senators
Hoar Daniel and McComas and ltep.
resentatlvcs Payne and Richardson, ,hall
taken places facing the ossembIagr nj
tho desk Immediately below the pres!d-
Ing officers When MI had been sent
cd Speaker Henderson called the dis.
,inguishcd gathering TO order and brief
ly explained tho purpose Of TIM cole