The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-09-30
The EXTERIOR DECoRATINOs
Decorator ellis Has Turned Over a
Building That Stands Out With
Grandeur That is Rich.
Practically All of the Designs are
| Entirely New and are Heighten-
ed With Strong Colors.
He Was Assisted by an Able Corps of
Decorators Who Have Done
Their Work in Fine Shape.

palace each successive year they look
with interest for a handsomely decor
ated building and they will not be
in the least disappointed in what
Floyd ellis has designed and an
able corps of decorators have accom-
plished in finishing. Every corr pal
ace that Mitchell has held has been
decorated by A. Robe of Lawrence,
Kan, but this year the corn palace
committee decided to give home tai
ent a chance and gave the contract
for the decorations to Mr.. ellis. He
submitted a blue print of his designs
for the entire building to the COM
mittee which was acceptable to the
members and he started in on the
task a week later than ever before.
Friday evening the staging was all
down and there remained but very
little to do Saturday. In the afternoon
the building was completed on the
outside and with only a few finish
ing touches on the inside. The build
ing's decorations speak %eloquently
of the talent displayed by Mr.. ellis.
Any fear that might have been in
the minds Of those who watched the
work go on was dispelled long be-
fore the work was completed, and
when it was rounded out Saturday
evening the young decorator was on
graduated on the great success he
had attained in presenting so hand
some and striking decorations. The
o1o -, 4 -, 1:l.$ - xI--
top of the building and works down
to the center in deep %colors, leaving
the base strong in the darker shades.
The large eNpanse of the south side
of the building makes a very strik-
ing picture in some of the large work.
as in the instance of the two Greclan
borders which extends through the
west and south sides. The top band
yellow and red, While the second is
done in red and white.
i The towers have been treated with
different effect that has effected a
marked change While liz. top of
each has been covered with the heads
of various grains and grasses they
are relieved of any meme by be-
ing cut in with the corn designs. The
corner towers on the southeast and
! northwest corners are done in Egyp-
tian design, the central figure of
which are immense Navajo rugs
made of bloody butcher red corn
woven in BASKET form. surrounded
with a neal border. The octagon tow
cts on the south side are decorated
with a design of the Japanese sun in
red and white corn. In a large panel
below that is placed an English shield
and crown set in a field of calico
corn blended into white, while a lit
tie farther below that are construct
ed Babylonian harps with trumpets,
done in white and red corr. and
which rest in a field of bloody butcher
corn as a back ground. The sam
thing is reproduced on the west side
beneath the octagon towers. and
above the shields there are two i'm
mense Egyptian lilies of bloody butch
er corn resting in a field of white
corn blending into the calico corn.
The tops of the four octagon towers
are covered with flax heads cut in
With Turkish designs in white and
yellow corn.
The two side entrances on the
south side are surmounted at the
very top with two Chinese emb!e $
of the creation, and is really the old
est design in existence today. They
are done in white and red corr end
make a striking piece of wo~iy. This
design is seen in the trade mark of
the Northern Pacific railroad. The
space just above the entrances are
of large panel effect with box designs
In red. white and bloody butcher.
At the main entrance of the build
Ing the decorator has done very ar
tistic work. At the top balcony is a
Roman arbor with the grapes sus-
pended, the arbor being made of
yellow corn. Just below on the first
balcony is a western scene with a
schooner approaching the scene of
the setting sun. The entire figure is
outlined in oat straws on a red back
ground, and is very attractive, repre-
senting as it does the way the first
settlers came to this country. On the
fiat surface just above is some very
handsome and striking blending of
corn ending in scroll work, which
can hardly be surpassed for artistic
effect.
Just over the main entrance the
words Mitchell Corn Palace is
worked out in corn letters with an
appropriate background which makes
the letters stand out we'll. Then
there is a pretty shield in red, white
and blue corn. with the initials OF
~. S. NJ. B."a pretty and effective
tribute to the United States Marine
band. On each side of the entrance
is q half diamond design in red corn
and in the center of each is placed
a Earp.
The same effect is reached at the
entrance of the west side. Above the
west side entrance a scene is depic-
ted in oat straws of an Egyptian
desert, where a camel and rider
are approaching.
The pilasters, of which there are.