The Washington herald., 1909-03-05
WAS IN THE AIR;
RIOT OF COLOR EVERYWHERE

which are suspended garlands OF laurel.
which furnish the decorative end in the
day time and strings Of brilliant electric
lights for nightfaIl.
COIOrS Chosen by Barrett.
One Of the noticeable decorations here
is the grandstand in front OF the Bureau
Of American Republics. set apart for the
representatives Of the Pan-AmeTican re-
publics. This stand is draped in the colors
selected by Mr.. Barrett as the colors
for the Pan-American flag. and the sec
tions assigned TO each republic are
marked with panels bearing its name.
The beauties of Lafayette Park we're,
Of course, hidden. Hugh grandstands lined
the edges OF the park. but. fortunately,
did not shut out the view of two Of
the finest statues IL the city-those OF
Rochambeau ard Gen. Lafayette.
Above. amid the suspended garlands,
hung banners OF white bearing the mono
grams Of the incoming Executives-Taft
and Sherman. The state. War. and Navy
Building was decorated simply. with a
few American flags d-1pcd at various
these seemed rather a Disagreement, de-
tracing from the massive beauty of the
architecture
The Treasury Building. at the other side
OF the court Of honor. was almost en-
tircly hidden and disigured by the enor-
nous grand stand which occupied the
whole Of the north front Opposite the
Treasury the artistic decoration Of the
Riggs Bank was most noticeable, while
Haunting itself in the breeze across 9
street hung a huge banner bearing the
pictures Of Taft and sherman IN heroic
sizo-a relic Of campaign days
Facade Unfinished.
It was a great pity. Of course, that the
new facade Of the Treasury building could
not have been finished in time for the in
augUration, but In spite OF the yawning
gap made by the absence OF cne pillar
and a segment Of the roof at the north
end Of the facade the building still seemed
TO bear itself with dignity.
Turning into the Avenue from Fifteenth
street. one got the fun effect OF the mar
veIous decorative schcme-the blaze OF
color on both sides OF the street the
arches of electric lights overhead the
myriads OF stands. the bmting-covered
booths along the sidewalk The first
block of the Avenue. down to the Nunici-
pal Building. bore the aspect Of row
Of booths Al a county fair. II VAS al
most barbaric in its wealth Of decoration
But this was admirably balanced by the
good taste of the decorations Of the
New Willard Hotel. whose tail pillars
.T-s1 aaaH D
laurel and az night Illuminated
To many people. however. The most
beautiful sight along the Avenue Vas the
new Municipal Building. which the Com
missioners. with admirable taste and
foresight. had forboIue 90 decorate n
all Iu all the beauty and purity of its
architecture it stood there. white. noble
looking and with dignifed simplicity. At
night time. in spite OF the heroic efforts
20 attract attention elsewhere by a multi
plicity of vsricoIored lights and hv cleo
tric devices or all kinds the brilliantly
lighted windows Of the Municipal Build
Ing. SET iD their marble frames were
most strikinsly conspicuous and heauti-
fgI
All Are Decorated.
There was no building along the Ave
nUc. however humble. that had not made
some eNua1rdiuary attempt az decora-
ton. But amid them ali some fen stood
out for their beauty OF decoration.
Among these was the Washington Post
Building
The Munsey Building also created CON
siderable comment by its clever scheme
Of decoration. i had uo external deco
rationS except a few flags. but at night
time the upper stories were lighted from
the inside with red lights. the middle
stories with white lights and the lower
stories with blue Across the street the
building OF Tire Southern Railway was
conspicuous for ijs many windows. IT
the bottom Of each of which flags were
draped.
The Raleigh Hotel was noticeable for
the simplicity and GOOD taste of its deco
ratious also. and one Of the features here
was a large illuminated flag on the roof
The post-office seemed 20 De overhrir-
deucd with decoration II bore so much
bunting of various c0Iors and in such
strange designs that IT seemed 90 eIimi-
nate all tile dignity or It's architecture.
while the temporary sightseeing stand
over lis entrance added 90 the uudIg Ignided
eff ct
The fine building of the Evening Star
Was taStefUIy decorated with flags and
brilliant lights
One business house that was noticeable
for the ornate oeauty of It's gala attire
was d J. Kaufman's. II bore on its IA