Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1907-08-14

trees. Many or them nave uOuDte
rows of trees on either side. The
city is famous for its handsome and
costly public and private buildings,
and is everywhere adorned with beau
tiful and imposing monuments,
statues and memorials or the nations
illustrious dead The imposing capi-
tol building, the White House, the
congressional library, one of the most
beautiful structures in the world, the
new House OF Representatives office
building, the War, State and Navy
building. the Treasury Department,
the Agricultural buildings. Smithson-
ian Institution and score of other
important public buildings were pas
sed in a drive which took us general
ly about the city. We saw the home
given to Admiral Dewey by the
American people after the Spanish
American war, the residences OF
Senators Allison and Dolliver of Iowa,
and many other notable citizens of the
nation, the foreign embassies, some OF
the famous churches, theatres. parks,
etc., Washington monument, the old
market, the mall, and in fact general
outline of the city, covering as much
OF it as we were able to in the short
time spent there.
In the afternoon we went TO Balti-
more. Here we spent only an hour
! or so. but were surprised to note in a
hurried trip about the city. the great
Improvement made since the disastrous
fire of few years ago. Shortly be-
fore the fire we visited Baltimore and
found it an ordinary eastern city
with AN excellent harbor, known
mainly as manufacturing and dis
tributing point. The transformation
that has taken place is wonderful.
From the ruins of the fire have risen a
score of magnificent sky-scrapers. ex-
ceptionally beautiful from an archi-
tectnral standpoint. The city has
many beautiful streets and parks, and
everywhere there is an air OF industry
and enterprise which was noticeable
bv its absence on our former visit to
the city. There is surprise in store
for the visitor who has not seen Bal
timore since the fire.
From Baltimore we went to Phila-
delphia. passing through Wilmington,
Delaware, which is also thriving
city.
/ Philadelphia being the objective
point of our trip, we were very glad
| to arrive there on Monday evening,
g,ing direct to the Colonial Hotel,
where we had previously engaged ac-
commodations. We were there to rep
resent Decorah Lodge, No. 443, b. r.
| o. Elks, at the annual session of the
Grand Lodge of the order. and spent
five days in the city Already an i'm
mense crowd has arrived from all
parts of the United States, so that
every hotel aud rooming house in the
city was packed. The streets, public
buildings and business houses were
elaborately decorated, probably more
so than on any previous occasion.
Philadelphia was about to entertain
the largest number of visitors in her
history, and was prepared to do it
royalty. The entire city seemed to
feel the spirit OF the occasion, and
every resident considered himself a
committee of one to assist in seeing
that the visitors had the time of their
lives. The beautiful City of Brother
ly Love received her guests with open
arms, and gave them a reception and
entertainment that has eclipsed all
former similar attempts and set a pace
for the future that will be met with
difficulty.
Broad street. one of the most beau
tiful thoroughfares of the country,
was bower of beauty. For several
blocks on either side of the city hall
building was the magnificent Elks
Court of Honor, erected and illumi'
mated by the city at cost OF $50, 600
and on all the public buildings anc
business houses and most of the resi-
, dences of the city were handsome de
, corations, the most elaborate display
, of the kind we have ever seen. Broat
street was set apart for the exclusive
use of the guests of the city, M
vehicles being allowed upon it in th'
main part of the city. and it was a
all times, night or day. packed witt
J perfect mass of people. all bent mp
J on having a good time, and they ha'
| it.
, Amidst all the gaity and jollity o
, the immense crowds that thronge'
, Philadelphia during the entire week
. nothing was more impressive than TIN
observance of the "eleven o'cloc
4 toast" At one minute before eleve
. O'Clock each evening all the lights o
I Broad street were turned out. Will
/ with uncovered heads the great thron