Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-11-14
each other in the magnificence Of their
decora tions and splendor of illumina-

|
seemed a huge bonfire against the
background Of the dark Skies Every
window in its labyrinths of marble
from the massive base Of its crowning
statue of Freedom. cleaned and fash
ed with light-more than ten thousand
jets poured their rays through Its
windows, besides the innumerable
lights that circled the mighty dome
Thin and without
Margaret stopped, and Phil felt her
soft hand grip his arm with sudden
emotion.
isn't 1t sublime!" she whispered.
| 'G.orious!" he echoed.
But he was thinking Of the pressure
Of her hand on his arm and the subtle
tones Of her voice. Somehow he felt
that the light came from her eyes. He
forgot the Capitol and the surging
crowds before the sweeter creative
wonder silently growing in his soul.
And yet" she faltered, when l
| think of what all this means for our
people at home-their sorrow and pow
| er:y and ruin-you know 1t makes me
faint"
Phirs hand timidly sought the soft
arm resting on his arm and touched 1t
reverently.
Believe me Miss Margaret, it will
be all for the best in the end. The
south will yet rise to nobler life than
she has ever lived in the past This
is her victory as well as ours"
81 wish 1 could think So" she an
swered.
They passed the city hall and saw
across its 'front.' in giant letters Of
fire thirty feet deep. the words:
UNION, SHERMAN AND GRANT"
On Pennsylvania avenue, the hotels
ho1 nd
awning cornice and swaying tree-top
with lanterns. The grand avenue was
bridged by tri-colored balloons floating
and shimmering ghost-like far up In
| the dark sky. Above these, in the
blacker zone towards the stars, the
heavens were flashing sheets Of chame-
leon flames from bursting rockets.
Margaret had never dreamed such
such a spectacle. She walked in awed
silence, row and then suppressing a
sob for the memory of those she had
loved and lost. A moment Of bitter
| ness would cloud her heart, and then
| with the sense of PhiPs nearness, his
generous nature, the beauty and good
| Tess of his sister, and all they owed
to her for Ben's life, the cloud would
pass.
At every building, and in front Of
every great hotel, bands were playing.
The wild war strains, floating sky
ward, seemed part Of the changing
| scheme of light. The odor Of burnt
powder and smouldering rockets. filled
| the warm spring air.
The deep bay of the great fort guns
now began to echo from every hilltop
commanding the city, while thousand
smaller guns barked and growled from
every square and park and crossing.
Jay Cooke & Co.'S banking house had
stretched across its front, In enormous
blazing letters the words:
THE BUSY B'S-BALLS, BALLOTS
AND BONDS.
Every telegraph and newspaper Of
flee was a roaring whirlpool Of excite
ment, for the same scenes were being
enac; ed in every centre of the north.
The whole city was now fairy
dream, it's dirt and sin, shame and
crime, all wrapped in glorious light.
But above all other impressions was
the contagion Of the thunder shouts
Of hosts Of men surging through the
streets-the human roar with Its ami
NAL and spirited magnetism, wild, re-
sistless. unlike any other force In the
universe!
Margaret's hand again and again
unconsciously frightened its hold on
Phirs arm, and he felt that the whole
celebration had been gotten up for his
benefit.
They passed through little park on
their way to Ford's Theatre on 10th
Street, and the eye of the southern
girl was quick to note the budding
flowers and full-blown lilacs.
See what an early spring!" she
cried. II know the flowers at home are
gorgeous now."
hon 70 them
some day. when all the clouds have
lifted" he said.
She smiled and replied with simple
earnestnesS:
"A warm welcome will await your
coming"
And Phil resolved to lose no time in
| testing 1t.
They turned into 10th Street, and In
the middle of the block stood the plain
three story brick structure Of Ford's
| Theatre an enormous crowd surging
about it's five doorways and spreading
out on the sidewalk and half across
| the driveway.
rs that the theatre?" asked Mar
garet.
'"Yes."
why it looks like a church without
steeple."
Exactly what 1t really is. Miss Mar
|
| turned 1t into a playhouse, by remod-
elling its gallery into a dress-circle
and balcony and adding another gal
| lery above. My grandmother Stone
man is a devoted Baptist, and was an
attendant at this church. My father
never goes to church but he used to
go here occasionally to please her.
Elsie and I frequently came"
Phil pushed his way rapidly through
| the crowd with a peculiar sense Of
pleasure in making way for Margar-
ct and in defending her from the jost-
ling throng.
They found Elsie at the door, stamp
| ing her foot with impatience.
well, / must say, Phil, this Is
prompt for a soldier who had positive
orders" she cried. 'Tve been here an
hour"
Nonsense, Sis, I'm ahead of time,"
he protested.
| Elsie held up her watch.
ITS a quarter past eight. Every
seat is filled. and they've stopped SELL
ing Standing room. 1 hope you have
good seats"
"The best in the house. tonight, the
first row in the balcony dress circle.
opposite the presidents box. We can
see everything on the stage, in the
box, and every nook and corner of
the house"
Then. I'll forgive you for keeping
me waiting"
They ascended the stairs, pushed
through the throng standing. and at
last reached the seats.
What a crowd! The building was a
mass of throbbing humanity, and, over
all, the hum of the thrilling wonder of
peace and victory!
The women in magnificent costumes,
officers in uniforms flashing with
gold, the show Of wealth and power,
the perfume of flowers and the music
of violin and flutes gave Margaret the
impression of a dream. so sharp was
the contrast with her own life and
people i'm the south
The interior of the house was bill
low of red, white, and blue. The pres
ident's box was wrapped in two enor-
nous silk flags with gold-fringed
edges gracefully draped and hanging In
festoons.
Withers. the leader Of the orchestra,
was in high feather. He raised his
baton with quick. inspired movement.
1t was for him a personal triumph. too.
He had composed the music Of song
for the occasion. 1t was dedicated to
| nd ha m l.