Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-05-07
MOST TREMENDOUS AND MOST
BRILLIANT AUDIENCE OF CITY'S
HISTORY PACKS AUDITORIUM

ordnance than they had been basking in
before, and a torrent of appliance swelled
into a roar as the realization burst upon
the assemblage that the program at last
was to begin. The footlights under the
conductors platform blinked into life. and
glowed warmly The baton was raised,
and fell; and thousands of ears strained
to catch through the hum and buzz the
first pianissimo chords of the wierd In
dian harmony, ''Sakuntala,'' by the or
chestra-
From that moment the charm spread.
and spread. gradually. insensibly sooth-
ing the buzz, shilling it, hushing it abso-
lutely, till the enthrallment was complete
and the vast audience was hardly daring
to breathe lest it lose a precious golden
note.
Hardly had the thunderous applause
died down after "Sakuntala," when the
orchestra lifted its instruments once more
and swung into the majestic rhythm of
The Star Spangled Banner" The audi
ence stood, and when IL sat again every
seat in the auditorium had its occupant,
every box was filled, and every chair
provided for the standing room only"
crowds In the side aisIes was in service.
The Auditorium's Opening
1t was the occasion of the christening
of the new auditorium-armory, Atlanta's
pride, termed most glittering jewel in
her civic crown" No other form of chris
tening could better have fit the circum-
stances. In a burst of glorious harmony,
the doors were thrown wide and the
world was invited in.
Beauteous southern womanhood swathed
in glory of raiment, gorgeously brilliant,
was at her best, Tuesday night in the
auditorium. Everywhere there was feast
for the eye that loves harmony, fitting
well with that provided for the ear one
fitting as the inspiration for the other.
The arena promenade was fringed with
feminine beauty, attired in all the soft
colors of the armament. The arena it.
self was Kaleidoscope with it, and the
tiers of seats rising away to the walls
on either hand, above and below, were
swept with Il. There we're no shadows.
The carefully-studied illumination OF the
big space threw every inch Of II into
an impartial brilliance even more pleasing
than diffused daylight can be. Every
where. here near at hand, yonder Tar
down. overhead, underneath, the teem-
ing audience stood forth definitely, each
individual of the thousands photographed
in the eye.
Wonderful Decorations
Decorations. had transformed the auul-
torium. Its vastness was softened by the
glory which spread unfurled. Flags OF
the nation swung, overhead across each
girder in the vault, alternating Win
bunting arcs, and fading away into pen
nants near the walls. The decoration
scheme was very much like that en-
pIoyed by Bostain for the Taft banquet
which. until the music festival, was con-
cededly the most artistically presented
public function in the city's history
Bunting, red and white, festooned the
arena rail, and the boxes. and the bal
cOny rail The big wide wall rising high
behind the stage was hid i'm color, the
semblance of a Roman garden rising
banked in its middle. The rear wal
likewise was hid in converging strips OF
red and white. with a mammoth ensign
swung from top to bottom Of its mid
die.
No less a part of the general scheme OF
harmony was the arrangement of the
chorus, conceived by some artist-eye
Plain white and black were presented