Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-04
The True Meaning of the Pageant.

Puck sets bis satlrical little face against so
4 ach pageantry and pother over the ln5talla-
tiCn OF u President, and thinks It an uIfaYor-
are sign. The little Joker who gets 50 mich
II a out OF everything else becomes s1mber in
q Is matter. His view Is not exactly false. but
4 5 Inadequate. He Is not big enough TO see 1t
a. II everybody took the show 10 BE- every
lung that every actor in It wishes 1t ID appear
and took every actor In Ii to be what he thinks
himself 20 be or appears to be on paraie II the
s.rum-ma j0T5 fairly represented all VINO follow
TheID, the fears OF our fairy friend would be
ours But the people are certain TO estimate
such demonstrations at about what they are
worth. The dutet ones who do the tilnkiny
know all the while that few accidents 10 pol
tiles. the disappointment OF few personal an.
billions, may as any time set the controlling
part OF the worshipers OF popular IDOL against
him. Most OF the throng come for fun;
10 have good time; to take holiday, OF
which the Americans have none too many; to
see the most beautiful city in the world to
learn something; TO renew old personal friend
ships; TO have something TO talk about at
home. II they went into 1t seriously, az a
comic paper does, there might be danger. The
extent and brIlliancy OF the pageant depends
not so much on the greed and corruption and
snobbishn6SS Of the corners as on the abundance
OF the haTy5sts, the success OF trade. the pros
perfty OF the whole people. Those VINO have
got the money TO do SO are willing to spend It.
not simply in glOrifying q rellow-cttizen as II
he were ascending a throne, ouc In amusing
themselves. Since the Centennial no such
opportunity has been offered for the whole
country to see and get acquainted With ITSELF
IL shows its good sense By coming to Wash
ington 10 do it. II the 4th OF May could be SUBJ
stitued for the 4th of March, these occasions
American people. SO long as general pros
perity continues they seem likely to become
so In spite OF the season. It Washington were
what it was In Jefferson's time the new Prest-
dent would do right 10 go 10 the Capitol In a
procession OF one on q horses back. 1t would
be the only way be could get there. Since the
city has become the best place there IS for
military movements, the boys cone to enjoy
". And yet, what pity these soldiers could
rot have been here few days ago. wnen the
Avenue was knee-deep with water, so as to
have laid pontoon bridge from the White
House TO the Capitol. The Improvement OF the
stree Is is no more for the good of our own c.ti.
zens than for the use of the nation. Every
uch Inauguration as this makes clearer the
rue relationship between the capital a8d the
fest OF the country. We see as clearly as
f1sc6 does the army Of blmmer5 OF political
b'tShSttiS' VI Cut StdltSuSu. VI self
constituted national saviors, who use such an
occasion To attract attention TO themselves. to
keep In o.iica, 10 Halter. fawn and magnify
taeir former services But If drum major is
mistaken fr anybody else it is the fault OF the
observer. We look beyond the:e aud seq in
these Thongs d saving amount OF uaootrusive
patriotism, generous feeling aud cool cltz9r-
snip. The sober sense OF the people does lot
permit their heads 70 be turned Or their ma
tional character 20 be tnjurlousIy effected, by
these pegesnts.