The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-05

portunity for the Single Standard wits to
say things about free silver.
The gallery walls of the first and sec
ond stories were sprayed with southern
smilax and from the balconies jutted
large fragrant masses Of bloom and trail
ing vines. Through their foliage cleaned
ryriads of iRcandescent lights scarcely
larger than the fireGies that fit through
summers dusk. The flowers used in
these splendid bursts of floral color in
Guided azelias, genestas, carnations. roses,
pink, white, and crimson; such dubious
spring blossoms as tulips, hyacinths and
jonquils and graceful showers of bougan-
villa from the Philippines. This tiny
mauyc blossom, for all it looks fragile
enough to stand for a floral personiiica-
ton of helplessness. has made history for
itself In its native islands where it tan
giles itself into such an impregnable
thicket that soldiers on the march are
forced to cut their way through with
knives. Americas new possessions were
also represented by queer, beautiful bas-
kets of Honolulu palms made by the ma
tives Of Hawaii.
The Presidents balcony at the west
end was made artisticalIy conspicuous by
the only touch of opposite color TO be
seen in the great court. This was formed
by white lining, that, combined with the
gold exterior, someway suggested jew
el box. The face of the balcony was gar
landed with magnificent American Beau
tx roses caught with bows and ripples
of satin ribbon of corresponding shade
Above hung a silk embroidered banner
bearing the coat-of-arms of the United
States surmounted by a cluster of Amer
lean flags and the Presidents own, a
splendidly blazoned banner ten by twen-
ty feet.
A band stand Of two stories was erected
nj the east end. both stories being lifted
with sounding boards of corrugated iron
eilded TO look like so much Furnished gold.
The necessity OF these boards was made
unpleasantly evident four years ago, when
it was impossible to hear the music at the
opposite end Of the court, and the commit
tee in charge of last nights function was
determined to profit by all mishaps OF the
past On the four uprights were Sonfa-
Ions Of red white, and blue, surmounted
by electric lights in opalescent globes.
Over the centre OF the stand a sheaf Of
American post flags, each 10 by 90 feet,
made q splendid display, ana in front was
grouped n floral setting of musical instru-
ments worked out in bronze GaltX leaves,
thousands of which were brought from the
mountains Of Carolina, especially for the
OCCASION.
On the north and south walls were some
what similar clusters of flags. each of
which was pinned back by blazing shield
of electric lights in the national colors.
Each shield was guarded by stuffed
eagle that even in death maintained its
supremacy as a war god, so realistically
fierce were its beak and talons and so
commanding its bold glass eyes.
The fountain in the centre of the court
formed a strikingly beautiful feature of
the decorations. The water had been
drawn and the basin formed pyramid of
tropical foliage and blossoms that lowered
thirty feet high. Massed In with stately
bay trees and gracefully branching kentia
and areca palms were aquatic plants, both
green and blooming with thousands of
electric sparks glowing through the leaves.
The stone rim OF the fountain was COM
petely banked over by rustic woodwork
and thick growth Of dollhouse and wood
land flowers. moss and feathery vines.
All side rooms the first floor were
decorated in colors similar to the Grand
Court
The walls and ceilings of all approaches
to the ballroom We're hung with white
and military red, the contrasting colors
serving to indicate the entrances and
stairways. over the entire surface were
garlands and sprays of southern smilaN
and vines.
In the diningroom addition, IS by 100