Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 18, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1898 — AMERICAN WHEELMEN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

AMERICAN WHEELMEN.

Annual Meet nt Indianapolis—Visitor* Own the City. Something like 2,300 members signed the registration rolls during the first day of the ’9B meet of the League of American Wheelmen at Indianapolis, Ind. Visiting members found the city tricked out in gala attire to receive theni, and a hearty welcome was expended to each new arrtvaL It took Mayor Taggart all day to tell the leaguers he had no secrets from them. When night came Gov. Mount gathered them in the capitol building, saying how glad be was and that he counted this annual meet the best that ever happened. The state house was in a blaze of glint, glory and electric illumination. A large and accomplished brass bagd of twenty-five, pieces furnished the music. Hundreds of incandescent lighta were put up and'the capacious dome illuminated for the first time. The decorations in the capitol were mostly confined to the main corridor. running from north to south. From the railings on the second story balconies flags were skillfully gathered into half rosettes at each end of the courts. Along the sides draped over the bunches of lights were long streamers of royal pur-

pie hanging in graceful waves half way to the lower floor. Reaching down from the railings of the third floor were streamers of red, white and blue suspended at regular intervals. The dome, always impressive in its massiveness, took on the appearance of a garden. In the corridors leading to it from the north and south were shrubs from the tropics, large enough to be called trees. The niches in the arches of the dome were banked with potted plants. In most of the streets and shops of the city were special decorations. The merchants draped their hardware, bread, boots, shoes and drugs in the royal purple and yellow of the L. A. W. Cozy corners were arranged against fruit stands, while-league booths halted in front of millinery displays. It was about all the visitors could stand. Every member was given a “key to the city” and a beautiful souvenir pamphlet. The key was of oxidized metal, with a pin attachment. It was worded: “Nineteenth Annual Meet. Key to the City, Indianapolis, 1898.” It was a neat arrangement and entitled the wearer to all privileges of the meet except the afternoon races.. The meet souvenir proper was a work of art The pamphlet contained sixteen pages of half-tone engravings of cycling points of interest in and about Indianapolis. The cover was tastefully stamped in the L. A. W. colors. The racing program excited great interest. which was in nowise lessened by the presence and participation of such professionals as Bald, Gardiner, Taylor and Cooper.

INDIANAPOLIS L. A. W. CLUB HOUSE.