The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-03-14
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Special CORRESPONDENCE.
WASHINGTON, Mar. 9th 1885.

I CSCpl tSN iiiii liOlii tllC IipltOl " iiiS
official home was the longest eyer seen
/ here on a similar occasion and
abounded in striking and imposing
features. Every state in the Union
contributed to the success of the days
demonstration, and the political sig
| niicance of the event was lost sight Of
in the grandeur of the ceremony with
which it was accomplished. 1t was a
grand display, a grand day, and a
grand outpouring Of people. Process
sions are apt 10 become menotenous
to the residents Of the capitol city,
famous for its pageantry, but the in
augural ceremonies of the 4th instant
afford a scene which no spectator will
eyer forget. Standing on the west
portico Of the capitol the sight pre-
scented on Pennsylvania avenue as the
escorting divisions moved with the
! presidential party was most magni6-
cent. The regular troops, the artil
I lery, the marine corps, the, splendid
Pennsylvania regiments, the glitter
ing bayonets, the gay uniforms, ad-
mixtures Of grey, blue, red, white and
green, covering the broad, clean
avenue from the capitol to the treas
ury, and moving with harmony and
military precision to the music of 125
bands, was spectacle not oftea
veuchsafed to one in 4 lifetime Adj
ded to this was the towering dome of
the capitol, the panorama of a beauti-
full city, with its varied architecture
and broad avenues sloping to the
Potomac, while the sun beamed like
May on all. A certain western con-
gresham was So enthused by the
splendor Of the scene that he forgot
al about the rapidly expiring con-
gress and would have missed the
CLOSING scenes had not friend rush
ell out and informed that the Grant
retiring bill was up. He said he was
glad however, to have been disentranc-
ed 1t was his last vote. He was
not reelected and he thought it might
be long time before he would have
another chance TO vote for SO good a
measure.
The ceremonies at the capitol were
the same that they haye been for
years the order upon such occasions.
The ceremony of inaugurating the
vice-president, in the senate chamber,
was seen by a few favored hundreds of
the masses Of people who came to
Washington to witness tbs Inaugural
ton. But it could not have been
otherwise fer lack of room there.
1t is estimated that Mr.. Cleveland
was in the presence ef 10000 people
while he delivered his address and
took the oath Of Office, standing on a
platform in front Of the east portico
Of the capitol. lie wore a full suit Of
black, Prince Albert coat, standing
collar and black tie. He used no
manuscript and spoke in a strong
voice, with as much composure appar-
entity as if the event was one Of daily
occurrence. The chief justice then
administered the oath, using a small
morocco bible that had been given to
Mr.. Cleveland in his boyhood days by
his mother. The new president then
received congratulations and hand
shakings from many of the distinguish
ed peoPje on the inaugural platform,
and applause from the crowd, to all
Of which he responded by bowling aad
smiling. The long procession started
then at the signal of a cannon,
preceded by President Cleveland,
who afterwards reviewed the entire
line from a stand in front Of the exc
cutiye mansion. As the president
drove from the capitol to the white
house the enthusiasm of the crowds
knew no bounds. There was Il deaf
ening round ofapplause at every stage
Of the route. Besides the mass Of
humanity on the streets and stands,
rows Of heads bordered the tops of
buildings, filed the windows, and men
climbed trees, lamp posts and teIe-
graph poles to get view of the presi-
dent
An incident of the parade was the
reception Of Gen. FItzhugh Lee and
his division, embracing the Virginia
soldiery. Gen Lee was dressed in a
handsome grey uniform and rode a
magnificent black stallion. He re-
ceiyed repeated cheers all along the
line
The pyretechnic display and the
ball made brilliant finale to the fes-
tivities of the day The latter was an
immense crush. President Cleveland,
assisted by policemen who endeavored
to clear passagewav for him, made
the tour of the grand ball twice, but
he remarked to a friend at his side,
Il have never seen anything like
this" lie expressed earnest satisfac-
ton at the beauty Of the room,
at the arrangement and at the distin
guished company which had gathered
but as he canll not nlnNn uithn,lt -