The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1913-03-07

llSuI ny HuIluIeuS Vi lIlCdIlQSS-
cent lamps spanning the street
in graceful arches.
On the roofs of the senate
and house Office buildings, a
number of powerful electric
searchlights played upon the
dome of the capitol, making the
Statue of Liberty that crowns
it stand out as if a living figure.
Peace monument, originally in
tended for a fountain, was per-
forming that function for the
first time since the last inau-
gural. Upon it's waters were
thrown, by several boXlights,
different colored rays weirdly
beautiful.
The Court of Honor, in front
of the White House, was a CEN
tral point of illumination to-
night, as it had been of activity
during the day, the replica of
Jefferson's home at Monticello
being the chief feature of the
display. Facing the replica a
huge spotlight threv it's rays
on the Jefferson mansion,
bringing its portico, columns
and colonial outline into bril-
liant relief against the back
ground of cedar trees, their
branches studded with count
less miniature electric bulbs
giving the effect of thousands
of tirefies winging their way
through the native pines which
surround Monticello.
From the time the illumina-
tions began thousands poured
through Pennsylvania avenue
to witness the brilliant spec
tacle. But when the aerial
pyrotechnic display started two
hours later the great mass of
humanity turned its attention
to the monument grounds. The
display opened with a flash
which gave place to a bomb sig
nal. Immediately a host of
small balloons and airships
fioated gracefully across the
sky, made brilliant by the as
cent of many rockets and other
Illuminating pieces.
Following the opening flash
and bomb came the salute of
101 guns fired from steel NOR
tars. Then came a brilliant il
Elimination of the White House
grounds and the monument
grounds through the ascent of
bombs that, upon explosion re-
leased fires that burned the ma
tional colors. The effect of this
upon the surrounding white
buildings and the Washington
monument was spectacular.
At intervals, pieces were
shown that reflected against
the sky the red, white and blue
of the national flag either in the
form of a shield or the flag it
self. The crowning effect of
the display was the "transfor-
device" which began
with mammoth bouquet of
roses that changed into an inn
mense American flag and then
transformed into the portraits
)f President Wilson and Vice
President Marshall. This was
)y far the most elaborate piece
If the entire evening and the
argeSt aerial set piece ever at
empted, it was said. The de
nee covered more than 1000
Quare feet of space.
Just before this piece was re-
eaSed gigantic bombs ascended .
md when they reached a great .
lelght exploded and formed in
letters the words
Wilson" and Marshall" " The
lSt piece was entitled Good
Night" and "Feu de Jot." which
rought the display to a close.
At midnight the streets slow
Iapsed into darkness. The
earchlights winked one after
ne other and the white dome of
ne capitol merged into the
arknesS from which it had
TODD out with such conspicu-
us brilliancy only a moment
efore. The slender shaft of
he Washington monument dis
ppeared suddenly. The Peace
lonument ceased its spIashing
nd its fountain Of light went
ut. Pennsylvania avenue
lerged into its usual dimly-
GIFTED self. The illumination
nd the fireworks were at an