The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1885-03-13
Imposing Ceremonies at the Ma
tiOnal Capital.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS,
The Inauguration Ball and Scenes During
The Day and Night

Following is detailed account of the
ceremonies connected with the Inauguration
of Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hen
bricks as President and Vice President of the
United States:
President-elect Cleveland proceeded to
Washington from Albany quietly and without
any display. He was accompanied by Private
Secretary Lamont and few friends and rela-
tives. Upon arrival at Washington early in
the morning of March 8 he was driven at
once to his quarters in the Arlington hotel
During the day he received many visitors,
including Vice-President- elect Hendricks, and
held various conferences with prominent
Democrats At Q o'clock, p. NJ, Mr. Cleve-
land and Colonel Lamont entered carriage
and drove to the White House, where for
NAL call was made upon President Arthur.
Mr.. ArthuI's invitation to dine had been
previously declined by Mr.. Cleveland but the
formal call was made very pleasant by the
Presidents courteous reception of his sue.
cessor. AT half past 6 o'clock in the evening
President Arthur made the customary return
call ON the President-elect at the Arlington.
After his return from the White House in the
afternoon Mr.. Cleveland received more Wis
itors. He dined at Z p. NJ, and during the
rest of the evening and until his retirement
received numerous callers.
Next morning the President-ele.t arose
early and prepared himself for the days Or
deal. The President breakfasted early, and
is reported to have preserved the same mpas
sive demeanor which has characterized all
his public life. II there was any one to be dis
turbed by the events of the day. it did not
seem probable that it would be Grover Cleve-
land. Busy Colonel Lamont was engaged in
managing the details of the preparations
AT the White House the retiring President
was not less busy. The personal effects of
General Arthur had been carefully packed
Many OF the cases had already left the man
sion. Those which remained were labeled for
their new destination, New York city.
Much of the city did not go to bed at all.
All of it arose early in the morning The
newsboys at the break of day were yelling the
record of the excitements and fatigues OF the
day before and the programme of the bust
ling festivities of the day that was to come
Bands of music were playing fine selections
from the hotel areas to listening crowds
The vacant spaces along the entire Pennsyl-
vania avenue front had been turned into one
vast lumber yard, and tier upon tier of seats
date the expected multitudes at S3 per head
Thrifty trades people had also obtained
their licenses, and in show windows and
upon balconies above the heads of tine people
everywhere were improvised stagings, and
seats none too securely protected from fall
ing and not protected at all from the weather
to accommodate friends or to fill a yawning
till.
THE WEATHER AND DECORATIONS.
The weather was proof of what is called
''Cleveland's luck" 1t was the most beauti-
full day of the year, as warm as Northern
day in May. The sky was cloudless, and
there was only wind enough to move gently
the miles of flags and bunting with which the
line of march was decked The broad avenue
was swept clean from curb to curb, and the
marching troops moved along the asphalt
pavement with as little discomfort as In the
corridors of the great buildings
Out in the clear air, from many quarters
sounded early the bugle calls, summoning the
troops to their rendezvouz. Thousands of
people strolled along the line of march, to
view the decorations, and thousands more
were early on their way to Capitol Hill, hop
ing to gain glimpse, at least, of the ceremo-
nies by which the new President is inducted
into office. The great east steps of the capi-
tol were covered with the huge staging.
The building at the corner OF Twelfth street
and Pennsylvania avenue, occupied by the
Pension Bureau, was perhaps the most elab-
OfuDfl| III Tue Guy. AL
the hotels were also magnihcently decorated.
The government buildings on the line Of
march were gay with bunting. Large Amer
ican flags encompassed the gray columns of
the treasury, and long lines of pennants Of
every hue ran across the granite front of the
great building. Handsome rosettes and de
signs in parti-colored bunting adorned the
state, war and navy department buildings.
Before o o'clock fully 5000 people had con
gregated on the broad plaza TO the east OF
the capitol, and ON the terrace TO the west.
The approaches to the building both for car
riages and pedestrians, were black with
strangers going to and from the great struc
ture On the streets north of the building
military companies and societies were pre-
pairing to march TO the center of the city.
Hundreds of people who had arrivel ON the
early morning trains, lined the thorough.
fares Members of political organizations,
who had found quarters for the previous
night in the smaller hotels, stood gossiping on
the subjects of the day. Their conspicuous
high hats and overcoats of light or dark ma
terial and the gaudy badges of red, blue oI
purple silks were objects of curiosity to the
uninitiated stranger. An occasional rooster
design ornamented the head coverings.
THE OLD ADMINISTRATION AND THE NEW.
The members of the general Inauguration
committee met at the Arlington before II
O'Clock and placed their services at the dis
posal Of the President-elect President Ar