Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1907-07-18
All Arrangements for the Big
Gathering Practically
Completed.
A Conservative Estimate Places the
Number of Prospective Visitors
at 100000.
fBy Special Wire to the AReUs.)

Philadelphia, Pa, July 13.-Although
the Grand Lodge of E1ks does not meet
here until Monday, a large advance
guard of visitors has already put in an
appearance. Reports received from
all parts of the country indicate that
the number of strangers to be in Phil
adelphia during the coming week will
be the largest entertained here since
the Centennial Exposition in 1876. A
conservative m places the num-
Der of prospective visitors at $50, 600.
ALI arrangements for the big gather
ing were practically completed today.
For months past the local committees
have been hard at work and as a result
of their efforts the visitors will find
that nothing has been left undone to
contribute to their pleasure.
The business section of the city is al
ready blossoming out in a sea of flags
and bunting, the official purple of the
order predominating. The centre of
the decorative scheme is the court of
honor, extending on Broad street from
Spruce to Vine. Fifty thousand mean
descent lights have been employed in
this artistic creation. In addition to
this, hundreds of electric decorations
n arches OF various descriptions
have been placed in conspicuous posi-
tions throughout the central portion of
the city.
The main army of the visitors is ex-
pected to reach the city tomorrow. All
froinc will bo not INV nonno harS of tho
reception committee, who will escort
the visitors to their hotels. Ladies &C
c~ompanying special delegations will be
taken to their hotels in automobiles
and tallyhos,
Features Of entertainment will oc-
cupy the greater part of Monday. The
programme will include a trip on the
Delaware river, visiting Cramps and
other shipyards, League Island navy
yard, the forts and other places of in
terest. A stop will be made at Wash
ington park, where luncheon will be
served. =
The formal opening of the grand
lodge will take place Monday evening
at the Grand Opera House, where the
guests will be welcomed by the gov
ernor, mayor and other officials. At
the same hour bands will discourse
patriotic airs in independence sqvare.
The grand lodge will begin its bust
ness sessions Tuesday morning at the
Garrick Theatre. The chief entertain
ment feature of the day will be a shore
dinner at Washington park on the Del
aware river.
Wednesday morning a trip will be
made through Paramount Park. AT IL
O'Clock a massed band parade of 5000
musicians will take place, each lodge
having a band of 80 or more pieces en-
tered in this feature, and in the general
parade receiving 500, besides having a
chance to win the $500 special prize
for the largest and best appearing band.
In the afternoon there will be an ex-
cursion to Willow Grove and in the
evening band concerts in Independence
and City Hall squares.
The big parade will take place Thurs
day morning and it is expected to be
the largest and most magnificent spec
tacle ofits kind aver seen in Philadel-
phia. Thousands of dollars in prizes
will be awarded tot hose participating.
The parade will last practically all day,
and in the evening there will be spe-
cial band concerts and Examinations.
There are going to be some very elab-
crate costumes in the parade and some
beautiful and bizarre floats. After
it is over thousands of dollars worth
OF prizes are to be distributed to the
participants.
The Wyoming Lodge will have its
famous cowboy band in line, and the
Pueblo Elks are to bring one hundred
little Colorado burros, whose riders
will be dressed as cowboys. The float
which will be entered by New Orleans,
be filed with Panama canal diggers
who will distribute literature exploit
ing the exposition which New Orleans
to hold in 1915.
The official trip to Valley Forge is
scheduled for Friday, and on Saturday
the official excursion to Atlantic City
will take place.
These will be the main features of
the weeks entertainment programme,
but there will be any number of other
attractions, including a flight of air.
ships and a naval display on the Della
ware. Scarcely less interesting than
the entertainment in Philadelphia will
be that provided for the EIks whe
they visit Atlantic City at the end of
the week.
While he's entertainment features will