The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-09-01
A SPLENDID OPENING
Brilliant Scenes in the Glass Block
Yesterday Afternoon and
Evening. =.
Thousands Took Advantage Of the
Invitation to Visit the
Great Store.

No social function Of a brilliant season
could have been arranged with any more
attention to detail and to the pleasure
Of the guests than was the opening of
the Glass Block store yesterday, and all
day and all evening the perfect appoint
ments and the beauty Of the decorations
called forth a chorus Of EXPLANATIONS Of
admiration. y.laa a.sI ..- :.-.-
The large red, flags and canopy OF
southern smilax which adorned the main
entrance were most effective against the
pure white Of the great store, and when
the building was illuminated with the
thousands of electric lights, as only the
Glass Block has ever been illuminated,
the effect from the outside gave good
promise Of what was to be seen within.
The main aisles We're hung with the
southern smilax and the glossy tendrlls
waved to and fro as the thousands passed
beneath From below pink and white
carnations raised their spicy blossoms I'M
til they were caught in the green tan
GLE Above the counters were thousands
Of palms and rare exotics forming a
background against which the rich sheen
OF satin and silk, the gay rainbow OF rib
bons, or the dainty muslins and linens,
shone resplendant. ~ -...,
The large court in the center was Won
derfully beautiful. The different ratings
had been hung in softest drapertes OF pink
and white, which were caught here and
there with clusters Of pink and white car
nations. Way above one caught the
CLEAN Of floral umbrella, a huge af-
fair in pink and white, from which fell
ropes OF roses, alternating in the two
colors Some of the rose strands ter
minated in great flower shades to hide
ythe electric light which glowed within;
others were caught In the feecy draperies,
and still others hung free and swayed
to and fro. Electric lights were every
where, glowing among the delicate pink
Of flowers and bunting until the court
seemed suffused with a rosy glow.
!. Portrait Of Founder. H.
In a conspicuous place over the bal
cony hung a portrait of the founder OF
the great store William Donaldson, and
It was hung with smilax and hydrangeas.
Each department came in for Its share
of praise, and > many Communications
greeted the new ones which have beer
| instituted. The art gallery contains many
pictures of unusual merit, and those in
| terested in art found them at once. The
| book department, with it's many volumes
in their attractive bindings Of bright col
ors, found an equal number Of admirers
who took possession Of the coy little
room in which the rarest works are
shown.
| A deeper tone In the color scheme wa
found in the new shoe departmen wher
white draperies were caught with scar
let ribbons and the floor was carpeted ii
the same gay hue. The balcony floor
with its comfortable green furnishings
and the women's waiting-room, were al
hung with the same profuson Of bios
SONS and smilax.
| Tea-Room Treat.
! In the tea room an additional treat ha
been provided in the evening, when Mis-
Frances Vincent and Addison Nader
lsanE several numbers. DAMS orchestr
lplayed a popular program during the eve
lining, and In the afternoon Rossiter's Firs
Regiment band furnished music
The tea room is the most attractiy
place Imaginable, with It's beautiful ful
nishings and prettily arranged table
American Beauty roses and other brillia1
flowers were there In great masses, NAL
ing the air heavy with fragrance. In tt
center the fountain sent it's sprays Of lin
fpid water patteringly over the basin
: hammered silver and In among the sprs
t cleaned the many -colored lights.
thousands Visit Store.
Thousands visited the beautiful sto
! during the day and evening and the a
: rangements for looking after such
enormous number were perfect. Eve
I clerk was waiting to furnish any needf
Information, and there was also a lar
{ corps of additional assistants in the aisl
8 to direct and aid, while the managers
the different departments were ever
where. And as the throng moved he
a and there, now stopping to admire sor
8 rare article brought from the ends Of t
: world or to exclaim over the effect
q some special combination of flowers a.
- vines, the interest that they felt in o
= of the greatest Of Minneapolis institution
a the great Glass Block store, was plair
Z shown.