New Orleans Republican., 1877-03-08

A Washington Dispatch of March to the
Cincinnati Gazette sage:
Governor Hayes was sworn in last night
as President of the United States, at half
past seven o'clock, in the private reception
room ot Mrs. General Grant, known as the
RED Parlor." For many ref SONS it ives
deemed advisable by the counselors of the
Presidentelect that the oath OF ofics
should be administered y. terday. The
the preceding should be temporarily kept
secret, and even this evening there are few
persons in Washington who are absolutely
certain that the event occurred.
Governor Hayes and Mrs. Hayes and
Senator and Mrs. Sherman arrived at the
White House yesterday evening to attend
the State dinner q seven minutes before
seven O'Clock.
At 7:20 the oath was administered in the
"Red Parl0r" by Hon. Morrison r Waite,
Chief Justice Of the United States. The
only persons present were President Grant
and Hamilton Fish, Secretary of State. as
witnesses, Governor Hayes and Chief JUS
tice Waite. The ceremony was conducted
SO quietly and secretly that but very few
of the persons present at the State dinner
knew the fact, and it has been by most of
them stOutly denied. Senator Sherman,
who was supposed to be the oracle upon the
subject, was approached by many persons
early this evening, who asked permission to
be present at the supposed ceremony to-day.
To all inquiries he gave the uniform reply
that there would be no oath administered
to-day, and that the usual ceremonies of in
auguration would take place tomorrow.
This answer was true, and few supposed
that preliminary oath had already been
administered.
The oath was administered in the centre
of the room, near a table. The ceremony
- kIa rrVN1ff I'D L,nw mn
Bible being used. At the conclusion of the
ceremony the President-elect and the Chief
Justice both signed the engrossed oath,
which, it is understood, was oOntided
TO the custody of the Secretary of
State. The ceremony occupied but few
moments, and when it was ended the Presi-
Dental party mingled with the other
guests, who had scarcely noticed their alb
sence.
The "Rsd ParIOr'' will become historical
/ in American annals. It Is room on the
west side Of the ground floor of the White
House, thirty by twenty feet, used as Mrs.
/ Grants private reception room, and as the
/ family parIOr. Visitors to the White House
are not generally admitted to this room. II
| Is situated Immediately between the state
/ dining room and the notedlB Blue room, v ith
/ both of which it connects. The room has
/ recently been newly finished in the style
/ known as the E0glish version of Queen
Anne. There are many ornaments about the
room which suggested interesting historical
"reminiscences. On the mantlepiece there is
large, gilt clock, with an illustra'
ton Of the residence of Franklin at the
| suburban retreat Of Pes3ey, near Paris
.side it are two rare meadow vases. A
notable feature of the room is large cleo
trotype copy of the famous Milton shield
modelled by AIarel, the original of which
is in reponze work in iron, gold and silver
It was purchased by Mrs GrPnt at the Ceu
tennial There is a curious large gilt Aus
trian fire screen, with a worsted centre
piece. There are two small Japanese cabi
Rets. the gift of the Japanese minister,
At the time of administering the oatl
the room was profusely decorated witt
flowers, and the table in the centre, hold
ing the Goethe and Schiller gallery, was 81
covered by flowers that it was searcel!
possible to find room to sign the oath.