Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-04
Rare Treat for Visitors to the
Inauguration.
ON ELABORATE SCALE
STATUES SECURED FROM THE ST.
LOUIS EXPOSITION.
Work of Committee Under Direction of
MI. Frederick D. Owen Meets
Praise Everywhere.

Visitors to Washington during the inau
suration of Theodore Roosevelt as Pres-
dent of the United States will have the
privilege of viewing 4 new and novel fea-
ture Of decoration in connection with inau-
guration ceremonies in the national capital
in the court of history which has been con-
structed on that stretch of Pennsylvania
avenue which lies between 10Th and 18th
streets. in front of the Treasury building,
the White House and the State. War and
Navy building. This court of history is
gardcd as one of tho most elaborate and
magnificent features that has ever been in
PRODUCED into the decorative scheme for in
auglTai ceremonies, and all the more Won
der has been excited in the consideration
OF tie TACT that project so beautiful and
finished in character should have been eX-
ecuted to serve purpose temporary.
The court of history is new. 1t is the
successor To the court of honor. which has
leen constructed for previous inaUguratiOnS.
In former years the stretch of ground along
which the President reviews the parade
has been placed AT tie disposal of the
architects alone, to decorate rs they might
elect. This year. however. the avenue be
tween 18th ard 18th streets represents tic
efforts of not only the architects. but of the
artists. the sculpto.s and the florists as
well-tLe arts of all these combined into
harmonious achievements
In addition to stately columns the court
includes numerous pieces of Statuary rep
reseuliUg p6rsunases prominent in the
early history of the nation; colossal allie
goricdl figures. massive urns filed with the
growth of the southern states, palms.
paImettucs, vines. tall bamboo poles from
the Philippines flying aloft the American
flag, and the whole bound together with
laurel garlandS. scheme Of decoration
that appeals to the sentiment of the Amer-
can people as well as to their artistic
sense.
Every Feature Significant.
There is not feature in the court of his
tory but is significant of the country of
the day But aside from this significance
there is a reminder in the plan of decora-
tion of the triumphaI professions Of ancient
Greece and Rome when statues. palms,
palmcttoes and vines were employed in the
display calculated To appeal 10 the higher
sentiments Of the populace.
Again the court of history differs from
the former courts OF honor in that practical
ly all of the features in the project are to
he preserved permanently in Washington.
The statues. urns. allegorical figures and
such things of permanent character are
to Ice placed in the public parks of Wash
ington. under the charge of Col. Charles S.
BrOmwell officer in charge of government
buildings and grounds, and these features
will remain here reminders, not only OF
the Louisiana purchase exposition at st.
Louis from which they have been brought.
but also of the inauguration of Theodore
Roosevelt President OF the United
States.
The plan for the court of history was
begun several months ago, when Colonel
BromweIl with the approval of President
Roosevelt. asked Governor Francis Of the
ST Louis exposition and Mr.. William Y.
Cox of this city. then secretary of the gov
eminent board, to grant the inaugural COM
mittee and the parks of Washington such
souvenirs and works of art as the EXPOSE
ton could spare. The exposition COM
pany granted the request, and later when
the inaugural committee was organized, and