The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-28
FOREIGN CARS
ON DISPLAY
TONIGHT
Salon Which
Opens at Garden Will Be
a Dazzling Affair.

NEW YORK, Dec. 28.-When the doors
of Madison Square Garden shall open at
s. o'clock tonight the motor-loving
public will see the most beautiful show
Of the year, If not of all time. 1t will
SO far surpass any exhibitions that have
ever been held in the Garden as to be
beyond comparison with them. The I'M
porters' Automobile Salon of 1908 will
bring to mind the brllliance of the recent
Paris salon, the fame of which has spread
around the world.
The visitor, whether motorist or just
casual spectator, who becomes a first
nighter'' at the importers salon will be
amply rewarded. Having passed through
the spacious main entrance of the Gar
den. beyond the great maroon portieres,
he finds himself looking through an ex-
tended ~tunnel-like archway. ornate with
Louis Quinze decorations, which include
in the general scheme Pals famous con-
ception of the Spirit of Speed"
He walks on a little further, just be-
yond where the arch opens into the audi
torium of the Garden. His eyes naturally
roam hither and thither, confused for a
moment by the brilliant but harmonious
scene before him. A long c%olonnade,
reaching completely across the Madison
avenue end of the auditorium, is perhaps
the first elaborate piece of decoration
which his eye falls upon. On either end
of the ~colonnade stands an obelisk, jewel
crowned and brilliantly illuminated by
electric lamps. Passing through the col
onnade, looking straight down the middle
aisle before him, the exhibits lying to the
right and left, he sees the central hgurt
In the decoration scheme. 1t IL a monu
ment to its sculptor's art-a group or 1ouf
l~ife-size figures, one at each corner Of Il
ten-foot pedestal, surmounting which is Il
plastic representation Of the Famous
spirit of speed in heroic size.
Still farther Town the centre aisle at the
Fourth avenue end of the auditorium is a
fountain gushing and sparkling beneath
the myriads of electric lights shining upon
II. The basin is thirty feet across; in the
centre is a nymph, from whose uplifted
hand the STREAM, pours into the pool be-
low where cupids and frogs and other tg-
ures are artistically grouped.
Behind this fountain, reaching across the
entire eastern end of the auditorium, Is a
gigantic painting representing a woodland
scene. in the vista of which is a pergola.
Viewing this picture at a distance, say
from the farthe-most end of the garden,
the Illusion is produced that the pergola
in the woods is a continuation of the gen
eral decorative scheme of the whole audi
torium. From Such a vantage point tHS
spectator sees the arena of the garden
transformed INTO a Partisan boulevard
scene.
Each of the exhibits is a gem of the dec
orators art. The signs bearing the names
Of the cars shown are internally lighted
and artistic drapery divides one exhibit
from another.
S. r. Ball. who is responsible for the
decoration of the garden, says: we feel
that the effort and expense will be amply
rewarded. The splendid support Which
have received from the decorators and
artists under my direction will result IN
making this Importers Automobile Salon
the standard for all succeeding shows TO
follow. feel that from now on we can
give European salons points on decoration.
Features of this salon which deserve
c~ommendation are conveniences for the
ladies', who have in previous shows
been neglected. There are two retiring
rooms. beautifully furnished in the crafts
mans style. In addition to this, the con-
cert hall will be transformed into a tea
garden n lunchroom. The general dec
orative scheme of this will include plants
of all kinds. palms, gravel walks-in short,
it will be a complete summer garden.