Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-02-26

promises to be the most elaborate piece OIL
street decoration ever seen in this coun-
try. 1t was designed by a committee OF
architects of which Glenn Brown of this
city was chairman. By day it will be
mass of waving color, while by night II
will blaze with electricity. The White
House grounds are included in the
scheme and the semi-circular drive from
the portico to Pennsylvania avenue is to
be treated in an artistic manner with
thirty-twO slender white pillars on either
side. The avenue in front of the eXecu-
tive mansion is to be filled with eight
structures consisting of four large pillars
with ornamental caps called pylons, and
thirty-two smaller pillars erected at equal
distance. Each of the pillars supports
upon its crest great bowl of iron, re-
sembling the flaming basins that lighted
the games of ancient Rome. They Will
serve a similar purpose on the night or
March 4, and will provide a unique and
magnificent addition to the street decOra-
tons for the evening hours. Under the
cap which surmounts the four pillars OF
each pylon will be four incandescent
lights, each of 100-candle power. The
caps will be pierced and glass of different
colOrs set in the aperture, and through
these a blaze of multi-color splendor will
radiate.
The most interesting feature, however,
will be the effect from searchlights of
10,000-candle power, concealed in the
caps of the eight pylons, whose brilliant
flame will shoot into the sky through
openings above the place where the lights
and the men who operate them will be
placed. From these eight classic col
umns streams of starry brilliancy will
sweep the heavens. striking on the pass
ing clouds and lending unparalleled gran
deur and beauty to the scene.
The artistic effect will be augmented by
curling clouds of white smoke which will
rise from the metal basins on the SUBMITS
of the pylons, breaking the black circle
of shadow, around which play the white
beams from the big reflector below. This
smoke will be made by the use of chem
icals upon excelsior, and there will be no
fame. These great waving, trembling,
ever-changing pillars of smoke will add
indescribable picturesqueness by clever
manipulation of sciences most modern
aids to decorations and illumination.
much more slightly and comfortable than
any ever seen here before, because they
are erected by the committee of citizens
in charge of the Inauguration ceremonies,
and any profits arising from the sale of
seats will be turned into the general fund.
The cost of the Inauguration ceremonies
is usually met by the sale of tickets to
the ball. The money needed is subscrib-
ed i'll advance by patriotic citizens, to
whom it is repaid afterward, and any
surplus remaining is distributed among
the charitable institutions of the city.
-Four years ago there was quite a large
surplus. This year it will probably be
even larger because of the profits from
the sale of seats on the stands.
The most important question now pend
ing is whether the veterans of the Grand
Army of the Republic shall act as the
escort of honor to President Mckinley
in the procession, or whether the swell
troop of cavalry from Cleveland which
performed that service four years ago
should be allowed the same honor again.
The Grand Army people claim that Nc
I<inley belongs to their organization, and
that the veterans of the war ought to
have the most conspicuous position in the
line. The congressional committee of ar
rangements is inclined to encourage them,
but Gen. Frank V. Green of New York,
the grand marshal. who controls the mat
ter, says that it is already settled, and
that the Cleveland grays have been in
vited and accepted, and are coming.
The next important question is the Sc
lection of the persons who shall ride in
the carriage with the President. 1t has
been customary for the retiring President
and his successor to ride together. AS
they 20 toward the capitol the retiring
President sits at the right-the place of
honor. AS they return from the capitol
after the inauguration he sits on the left
But as President Mckinley succeeds him
self it will not do to let him ride alone.
There are four persons eligible to occu-
Ply seats in his carriage: Mr.. Roose-
welt, John Joy Edison, chairman of
the local committee of arrangements;
Mark Hanna, chairman of the Senate
committee, and Mr.. Cannon, chairman of
the House committee. The EicePresi-
dent does not ride in the procession. He
has TO be in the Senate chamber and take
the oath of Office there before the Presi-
dent-elect arrives and preside at the cere-
monies of the Inauguration. Mr.. Edison
is modest man. of retiring disposition,
and willingly yields the honor to Mark
Hanna and Uncle Joe Cannon. Every
body will admit that there is a singular
appropriateness in having MIR. Hanna ac-
company the President in his triumphal
journey. and it would be just as well il
they took some solemn man like Uncle
Joe along TO hold them down