see what was being done there. Chairman King was accompanied to Hartford by John T. Dewey and Oscar F. Ely of his committee and Chairman Heffernan of the Committee on Illuminations, and the result was the happy selection of a Court of Honor as the central feature of decoration, instead of an arch. From this time on the two committees, on decorations and illuminations, worked in unison and harmony, thus contributing to the perfect results that followed.

The City Hall front, next to the Court of Honor, was a bower of flags and bunting, flags were caught up overhead in the porch, under the great balcony, and the mass of color ran along all the lines of the building to the Gothic turrets at the top. The word "Welcome" and the city seal were the only diversions in the decorative scheme. The handsome showing of this seal, in the City Hall decorations, attracted much attention, as few of the visitors and many of the citizens had ever seen it in any form. This seal presents considerable detail of design, and is not altogether understood. It was designed by a Northampton boy, Thomas M. Shepherd, while a young man, in 1884. The design consists of a circle of mulberry leaves, significant of the silk industry, with the word "Northampton" at the top, two female figures and a landscape of local scenery including the "Old Church," Smith College tower, silk mills and the mountains, with the motto, "Caritas, Justitia, Educatio." One of the female figures represents the Goddess of Knowledge, surrounded with the symbols of learning, descending from her well-known eminence, to thank Charity for her many liberal bequests. Charity replies that she is inspired by a higher law, of Generosity, Justice and Good Will. The agricultural interests are shown by a view of the meadows and farming implements.

Smith College buildings were decorated in an unique and original way, the conventional colors and arrangement being wholly discarded, this work being properly delegated to Miss Mary R. Williams of the college art department. Her conception of taste in this matter was generally approved by those who recognize the fitness of things. The Chemistry building was decorated with bands of white and red cloth, and the Hillyer Art building and the President's house were festooned in the empire style, with white chocs cloth, caught up with rosettes of magenta colored cloth and wreaths of laurel. This same combination was carried out on the front of the Administration building, the festooning there, of course, being more extensive in length,

and here, besides the national flag, waved the flags of all the classes, while the national flag was also draped over the front entrance.

Forbes Library, the High School building, Academy of Music, and Clarke Library were all festooned with the national colors, and embellished with the different designs intended for illumination.

The committee's plan embraced the decoration of the South street bridge and the Main street underpass, all the fire engine houses and school-houses of the city, including Florence, Leeds and Bay State; the reviewing stand, which was erected on Main street, nearly in front of French's store, and the anniversary tent. The Burnham-Capen school buildings and Home Culture Clubs house were tastefully decorated by the management.

The county officials were not behindhand in recognizing the importance of the occasion, for they directed the decoration of the courthouse and assented to the illumination of the court-house fountain, elsewhere described.

The exterior of Odd Fellows hall, in Dewey's block, was covered with the emblems of the order, the three links, shepherd's crook, bundle of sticks, emblematic of the power of union and co-operation; a heart in the hand, a crown, sword, and representation of Rebekah at the well.

The armory of Company I was of course well cared for, and a picture of the battle of San Juan Hill, in which the old company had a part, was placed over the front entrance.

Close by is the old Whitney homestead and site of the home of Jonathan Edwards, and this was decorated by direction of the heirs of the Edwards family, who sent funds to the Executive Committee for that purpose. Historic old King street, as a whole, was also well cared for. The French church parsonage, formerly the Erastus Hopkins place, and the old Doctor Fisk place, now owned by Joseph L. Fowler, were festooned with bunting.

Every house on the projected line of march, on Bridge street, was decorated; all on Henshaw avenue, including the specially fine displays of Capt. Richard W. Irwin and Charles E. Childs. Every house on Elm street displayed more or less bunting, and the decorations on the residence of J. Howe Demond were of unusual elaboration.

Of more than ordinary interest in the way of decoration was what was done in this line for two of the older and more historic houses of the town that owned and occupied by Thomas M. Shepherd and built by his famous ancestors, as also the old Chauncey E. Parsons house, fronting the Bridge street park.

The exteriors of the churches were not decorated, the nearest approach to decoration being at the First church, where two American. flags were crossed and intertwined over the front entrance.

The best decorated hotel in the city was The Hampton, followed closely by the Bay State House and City Hotel. The Mansion House was not at this time in commission as a hotel, but the owner of the block, John L. Draper, did his share in the honors of the occasion. The Union Station, with its long arcade, was sparingly but judiciously decorated, considering the danger from locomotive sparks.