Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-03-17
THURSDAY, NIGH. II, 1881.
LETTER FROM WASHING TON.

The Inauguration Of President Gar
field will long be remembered by all
who witnessed it. Thursday after
noon it showed and had every indica-
ton that the storm would prevent any
demonstration Of the peoples gratitude
for a peaceful and unchallenged change
in the Executive Of the Nation. Dur
ing the night it rained and at day
light in the morning our beautiful
streets were covered with about three
inches of slush which looked very
discouraging for the anticipated dis
play but fortunately it cleared off cool
and the Commissioners Of the Dis
trict were equal to the occasion as
they at once set men at work clean
ing the wet snow from the streets
upon which the grand procession was
TO march and by the time designated
for the procession to start they had
she streets in very good condition, and
by the time President Garfield and
escort were ready to return from the
Capitol Pennsylvania Avenue was
quite dusty in places. 1t was the
grandeSt display ever witness at the
inauguration Of a President of the
United States. There were over
twenty thousand persons in line and
it was nearly three hours in passing
the Treasury building. There were
over ten thousand State Malta from
Pennsylvania and they made a most
favorable impression upou the Mill
tary organizations from the South who
were greatly disappointed at the con
trast between the efficiency of the
drill between the soldiers from the
North compared with ose from the
South. 1t was frequently remarked
that the West Philadelphia Republi-
can Club, was the finest body of men
that was ever seen together. The
view from the south side of the Treas
ury, when Pennsylvania Avenue was,
for over a mile, one mass of glittering
bayonets extending from the Treasury
to the Capitol. 1t was the grandest
display ever witnessed in the city with
the exception of the grand review of
the army at the ending Of the rebel
lion.
The Inauguration Ball was the
finest ever held in this country and
there is no probability of its ever
being equaled as there will never be a
building covering three acres of ground
tnat caH ne thrown into one great ball
room as was the case now in using
the new National Museum on the
Smithsonian grounds. There were
over five thousand present and room
enough for as many more and such
a fine display of rich dresses was
never witnessed in this city. in some
instances the dresses were reported to
have cost. over fifteen hundred dollars.
[ cut the following from the Sunday
Chronicle being portion of the de
scription Of the dresses worn that
evening:
One of the loyliest dresses that has
ever been seen in Washington was.
worn by Mrs. Governor Pound, Of
Wisconsin. 1t is heavy white satin
with court train Of brocaded satin.
The petticoat is magnifcently embroid-
cred in colored flowers -bououets of
wild roses 50 natural that one can
fairly smell them, } exquisitely shaded
panSies, golden rod, cat tails, SPRAYS
Of silver wheat, aud lovely buds and
leaves: an enormous sunfower. whose
heart of seeds is well counterfeited in
brown beads, its rays a perfect refec-
tion of the real ones, adorns the front.
with peoples of rich red hue and
sprays of lilly of the valley. The
corsage is cut low and square, filled
in with rare old point lace, conceal
ING yet revealing the perfect form of
the beautiful wearer. The sleeves,
reaching just above the elbow, were
finished with the stiff cuff which
matched the Bernhardt collar, both
being embroidered in dainty, bright
hucd flowers. The front Of the pet
ticoat is vandyked, and in each point
is tiny bouquet of wild flowers: each
point is finished with firing of beads
in colors to match the flowers Sashes
Of satin, finished with clamps and
tassels of beads. are draped across the
back, and 4 priceless scarf OF point
lace falls across the front and is
jabotcd down one side. Only one
rare jewel is worn at the throat, and
her waving dark hair which falls in
natural ringlets, was carelcSsly confn-
ed with a jeweled COMB at the back
Ex-senator Howe, Ex-Secretary
Eyarts and Ex-senator Thurman have
been appointed Commissioners to the
International Monetary Conference at
Paris. y. \. X.
- sess O.
Published March s, 1SS1l
CHAPTER A.