Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1869-03-23
The inauguration BAH,

tion OF General Grant. luto the narrow cor
rdors and small rooms of the Treasury was
packed to suffcation crowd OF men and wo-
men, pushing, struggling, faintiug, and al
most fighting. Over two thouaand tickets
had been sold, and each ticket averaged three
people. There were men in swallow tail coats,
white chokers, aud tight breeches, and wo-
men in all sorts of costumes, of which the
bare neck and arms, with trails predominated.
We climbed four flights of stairs, to the
ladies' dressing rooms and gentleman's cloak
rooms. We gave-unsuspecting mortals as
we were-our coats and hats to the recon-
a number on it, in exchange. A dark suspi-
cion crept over my prophetic soul that l bad
parted with my tile and coat forever. Sand
wiched between two lovely females, I began
the descent. stream of humanity was
rushing up the winding stair-a stream of
humanity was pouring down and, by the
watch, it took me one hour to reach the last
step at the bottom. Here we fell into tide
setting heavily westward, good deal agitated
by stream of stout policemen, cotton gloved,
coIored walters. aud some feeble-minded
young men, with hair parted in the middle,
that made pretty strong current setting to
the east. For half an hour l and my convoy
whirled in an eddy, caused by projection at
the corner. Escaping from this, we fell into
midstream, and made steady but slow progress.
I suppose that by morning we might have
reached the end Of the corridor, had we not
encountered a cross sea, made up OF the di-
plomatc corps and some military pumps, that
carried US into reception room, where the
President and family stood firm. Against
these we we're dashed with great violence,
made more fearful by stout man, who bawled
out, "Don't shake hands, don't shake hands,"
as the President and Vice President kept
violating this order, | could not understand
the meaning of it, unless the man was the
court physician, and feared we, or General
Grant, would catch the itch.
This was varied by weak females in tight
dresses fainting at intervals Of five minutes.
And the character of the officials may be
gathered from a conversation | heard between
the husband of a lady, i'll from the heat and
fatigue, and functionary. He had carried
her out and fortunately found vacant space
in hall, where there was little fresh air,
and while he held her up some servants pass
ed with chairs
He made an earnestappeal for one of these,
but the stupid fellows refused. At last he
seized one. and was about seating his wife,
when an official came at him, demanding the
chair The poor man explained, but the fell
low replied that he had his orders-the chairs
were needed for another purpose. The hus-
band badc his wife sit down, and then said:
Now, if you take that chair, you must
take it from under my wife, and [ hardly
think that will be a healthy proceeding"
You can gain your purpose in that way"
exclaimed the fellow, white with rage "but If
your wife issick you had better take her home"
You are an insolcnt hound, roared the
husband" and if you will give me your nd-
dress I'll smash your dirty mouth tomorrow,
when there are no women to protect you
1 was told that the scene in the supper
room bcg:arcd description. The doors were
opened to the entire crowd, and in two min>
utes the rooms were packed to suffocation.-
To cat was impossible. But to stir up the
temper and destroy dresses was the rule.
The long trails, of rich material, suffered
at every step. While trying to get to the
supper-room [ felt, for some time, under my
feet what seemed to be Il soft carpet. L found,
in few minutes, that it was the trail of
lady some distance in advance. What guys
women can make of themselves when they
try. I saw some youthful female donkeys,
with their heads plastered over with white
powder and pomatum, as it their dear little
selves had terminated in an apple dumpling.
sought the dressing rooms for our wraps, L
found that we were piuned to the place for
two days Fortunately, after invading the
ladies' dressing room, very improperly, / found
their cloaks, and then ascended for mine. l
found u crew actually fighting in the hall
above At the hole in the door of the cloak
room, an idiotic face made mouths at US in
the most cxasperating manner. Long lines
were formed by the police. and scarcely formed
before broken up. L happened to get near
MY friend, the professor.
'It is my opinion" he cried, "that we will
be here all night. | do not see that struggling
outside expedites the work on the inside. l
cannot 20 home without my out garments. L
believe I can insert my body in that aperture
with your assistance
60 it, professor" said I, and the professor
made dive seized him by the legs Two
stout men assisted, and after brief struggle
in which the professor lost one of his coat tails
and broke his spectacles, we shot him through.
But alas and alack the professor is dreadful
ly near sighted, and losing his glasses he lost
his eyes. l left him moping about in the
most disordered manner
Descending the stairs, [ encountered Mr..
Horace Greeley. He was sitting on step,
and looked as dismal as Marius amid the ruins
of the Carthage hotel.
"What is the matter, Mr., Greeley?"
inquired.
Il have lost my hat in that cursed room Of
idiots"
mot your old white hat"
"Ycs, my old white hat. and with it my
overcoat. 1t is lamentable that the rebels did
not take this d-n town and burn it to ashes
They showed their spite by not doing so. 1t is
an Internal sink hole of iniquity, depending fol-
its miserable existence on the Government
l left the venerable philosopher lamenting'
What an extraordinary fact it was, that he
| lost his old white hat. l had an idea, in com
mon with the pensive public, that it could
| not be lost I believed he could not sell 1t ii
/ H. ,-oro 80 Nv Do couId not Give IL or throw