New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-20
THE CONVENTION HALL.
DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING IN WHICH
CONVENTION MET.

Philadelphia, June 19-The National Export
Exposition Building. in which the Convention
met. Is located in West Philadelphia, across the
schuylkill River. II is imposing structure.
with a classic front COrinthian columns and a
handsome architrave crowned with a quadriga
drawn by four horses-an allegoricai group rep
resenting Commerce driving her steeds through
the world. paling Of stats with their flags
swapping merrily in the fresh breeze. encircles
the roof. The interior Of the immense hall. with
a seating capacity Of sixteen thousand was a
profoundly impressive sight The spanning
arches overhead suggested at first glance the
hull Of a great ship. beneath which the sloping
floors reaching up in all directions from the pit
to the walls made the Enclosure for the dele
gates resemble the trough Of a gigantic sea
There were no balconies the sides. but long
straight gallery stretched across the extreme
rear Of the hall perfect terrace Of color. OF
festooned bunting flags and shields.
The decorations were profuse and elaborate.
The double row Of pillars which upheld the roof
were entwined with cedar and gracefully con-
nected with bunting caught up at every pillar
with the State shields The south end OF the
hall was almost obIterated with flags and bunt-
ing. through the maze of which large crayon
portrait of the President looked out from
immense American ensign 1t was the most
striking feature OF the decorations. The scheme
to the likeness Of the party's chieftain-
On the raised platform tmme diately below
this portrait were the seats for the National
Committee and other dignitaries and distin-
guished guests OF the Convention. The front OF
the platform massed with palms and greens.
and at either end were two immense vases filed
with spreading punches OF American Beauty
roses. On the chairman's desk was a small
bunch Of flowers. Down five uncarpeted steps
in a rail inclosed platform which ran back
until it 1anked the main platform were the
seats for five hundred newspaper men, and
down five more steps was the pit for the dele
gates their seats running back. rank rank.
the State standards marking the location OF the
delegations. Back of the delegates seats were
those for the alternates, the whole pit beiIg
sunk five feet below the main floor. and sur
mounted by a green railing Stretching away
from the edges Of the pit were the thousands OF
chairs for the public In the north gallery was
the band Of one hundred musicians.
In the decorations studded between the outer
rank of pillars were pictures OF the Presidents
of the United States and many OF the heroes OF
the Republican party, Lincoln. Grant and Gar
field among them. The portrait Of Jackson. De-
mocracy's patron saint, occupied a prominent
place In the pit Alabama was at the front on
the east. and Texas the west. Idaho. IN
diana. New-Jersey and New-Hampshirs were
located between them The three big deIega-
tons. New-York Ohio and Pennsylvania, sat IN
that order Immediately behind New-Hampshire.
Illinois and Missouri were prominent IN the
right centre. Nevada. Mississippi Rhode Island
and South Carolina were in the extreme rear.
Across the immense sea Of seats from the plat
form the baton OF the bandmaster looked no
larger than slate pencil