Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-04
TO-DATS IMPRESSIVE CEREMONIES.
A MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE.
THE NEW CHIEF MAGISTRATE
SWORN IN.
SCENE ATTHEC CAPITOL
A SPLENDID STREET DISPLAY.
MUSIC AND MARCHING
MEN.

An Inauguration day could hardly have
opened under more suspicious circumstances
than the present. The day dswned, n not ex-
actly clear and bright, still with not more than
a suspicion OF haze to dim the luster OF the sun.
The air, however, was bracing, and the elixir OF
the atmosphere entered the blood and gave AMI
nation to the movements, which was In keep
ing with the gala character OF the day. There
was a stir and hustle about the city from an
early hour i'm the morning and In fact the rest
less throngs that surged along the streets nearly
thewhole of the preceding day and evening hard.
ly quieted down during the whole night There
was the tread Of soldiery, the march Of civic
organizations and the blare and beat OF the nu-
inerous bands of music. The profuse decora-
I ions which lined the avenue nuttered In the
morning breeze, and even the flags and stream
ers seemed to be affected by the general conta-
gion which filled the air. Holiday was written
on the faces of the people and was seen In the
streets and in the ceaseess moving throngs.
The immense crowd of visitors arose from their
resting places al an earlv hour and
were out on the Avenue anxious to
be on hand to witness every thing
IN connection with the great demonstration
TO which they had looked forward for SO long q
time. The early morning hours only witnessed
ne moving up and down the streets OF the visi.
tors who had no where else to 60. The work
OF preparation had been completed. The citis
lens had finished the decoration of their stores
and residences, and the numerous temporary
l stands erected all along the line of march were
all In place and appropriately decorated. Every.
| hing was In readiness and awaited the assem-.
toling OF the vast mutitudes of spectators and
Il he moving OF the great pageant of the day.
i The city at this time presented q scene OF gay
ANIMATION and lie, that is but rarely
/ seen. and those who witnessed the early
sights and sounds of the great national fete
day will not be apt to forget the impressions
made. Above the feverish tide of life that
rolled up and down the broad avenue, and
| tbove the picturesque confusion of the iutter-
ing days and steamers, rose the white dome OF
he Capitol building serene and calm In its ma
l estic beauty, and serving TO emphasize the I'M
rest OF the scene stretching out al Its feet The
| eye found rest upon this calm height, or looked
| up at the stately monument where Q twin re-
pose sat enthroned
As the hours of the morning wore on there
was the sound of drum and fife In every
tirection; then the tread Of marshaled men, as
| he various organizations passed along 10 take
the Places assigned them In the great pageant
If the day. The windows and seats along the
Avenue began to receive their occupants for the
| Day, and the Inauguration day may
be said to have fairly begun. The
scenes along the streets, as is always
he case In the presence of great crowd, were
of varied character. There were the spectar
tors, idle, good natured and bent upon enjoy.
ing every moment Of the day. They jostled
| against each other, laughed good humoredly
| and wandered along meeting new collisions,
| but never forgetting to laugh. Then mingled
| with the throng were the men who were trying
| 20 turn an honest penny. There were sellers Of
pictures and medals and biographies and flags,
| besides the peddlers of fruits and drinks and
| other refreshments These enterprising men
| we're almost an army in themselves, and
| as they moved onward they added to the
| general good humor by the oddities Of their
| cries and their witty observations.
The stands, which were thickly stationed
| along the line of march, were filled with groups
If well-dressed people, the majority OF whom
we're evidently friends who were thus spending
| the day together. These social aspects Of the
| lies were furnished with lunch, which they
aither ate as they sat on the stands In picnic
ashton, or retired into the houses and sat
down to Widespread tables. Those who
hadn't places stands utilized the
side walks well possible and the
Entrances of the side streets into the
Avenue were filled up with carriages md wag-
ons containing people who had taken this
means of seeing the procession. The hours
which interviewed before the passing OF the pro-
cession did not hang heavily on the hands OF
the waiting spectators There was hardly 0
moment when some body OF troops or organiza-
lion was not passing along the Avenue, and
then the ceaseless, moving, ever-changing
| crowds afforded sufficient diversion and study
| 10 occupy the time with profit and pleasure.