Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02

In proposing the first toast of the day,
William u. Hamilton, chairman of the
committee on states, spoke as follows:
| NIB. PREsIDENr:-As chairman of the
con mittee on states, 1 have the honor to
| present 70 you Ii the name of the general
committee of the centennial celebration
of the inauguration of George Washing
| ton, as first president of the United
States, souvenir of this auspicious oc-
casion. We have gathered among US the
most honored representative citizens
from the various pursuits of life, which
have made this nation what it is at the
present monent-religion, law, science,
art and CONNIE rce-aIl striving to do
HONOR TO THE NAME OF WASHINGTON.
So beloved is he by all Americans that
we call him father-so deified and sancti-
fed in our hearts that but one other
birth place is sacred to US
Mr.. President-That your administra-
| ton may be so wisely ordered thet you
may be known as one equally honored by
ell Americans, is the wish of this United
nation. Gentlemen, you will please fill
your glasses and drink 80 the memory of
George Washington, the father of his
country.
The souenier consisted of six beauti-
fully engraved cards, tied with yellow and
blue ribbons. On the first was
an embossed picture of Washing
ton; on the second an engraving
showing his landing in New York in 1889,
on the third a picture of St. Paul's
chapel i'll 1889, portraits of Bishop Pro-
vost, Chancellor Livingston and various
members of she legislature. The fourth
page had an engraving of the federal hall
and statistics OF the period. The fifth
page had portraits of President Harri-
son, Governors Clinton and Hill, Mayors
Duane and Grant. The sixth page bears
an engraving of the Equitable building
and Washington's house in Cherry street,
as well as the menu OF luncheon.
THE RECEPTION ENDED.
Pres. Harrison was introduced to the
guests at the banquet table by Hamilton
Fish. The president merely bowed in
recognition of Fish's remarks, aud this
ended the formal reception, the guests
almost immediately taking their depart
ure.
The reception and lunch at the Equit.
able building was scheduled to end at
$3.50 p. m. Another minute after that
time, by the air of "Hail to the Chief"
by Cappa's band, President Harrison
emerged from the massive granite por-
tails and again enter the carriage for the
journey to the city hail. Vice President
Morton and Elbridge t. Gerry, followed
in the next vehicle. The order of the
procession and guard of honor was Sub
stantially the same as that which made
the march from the foot of Wall street
AS the various organizations arrived at
the city hall, they drew up in line before it.
From the foot of the marble stairs lead
ing up to the municipal building and
stretching away into the rotunda was a
double line of white clad public school
and
NORMAL COLLEGE GIRLS,
each with a basket of flowers from which
they strewed the path of the distinguished
men. There were fully 200 scholars,
among them being two colored girls.
AS they arrived at the top of the stairs
President Harrison was rendered an ad-
dress of welcome, delivered by Miss Annie
A. Abrahams, at the conclusion of which
he was given boquet of La France roses.
President Harrison, arm in arm with
Mayor Grant Governor Hill, Vice Presi-
dent Morton and the committee then en-
tered the city hall.
The distinguished party were escorted
to the governors room, where the presi-
dent began receiving visitors: He stood
on slightly raised platform which was
backed with brass railing and in the rear
which was the presidents chair. Beside
this was Washington's writing desk.
President Harrison took his position
ON THE RIGHT HAND SIDE
with Vice president Morton, Gov. Hill
and Mayor Grant beside him to the left,
i'll the order named. The throng of PEG
pie were at once admitted and came in
steadily moving body for nearly an hour.
The throng was largely made up of stran-
gers in this city, fact which was appar-
ent IN many instances. The sexes were
about equally represented, and the num-
Der of children whose proud parents
pointed out to them the successor to
George Washington was difficult to count
CHICAGO WANTS A SENTIMENT.
One of the visitors was district tele-
graph boy, who bore message for the
president. He managed to read it with
out interfering with the reception. It
was as follows:
"CHIoAGo, April 29.-Seventy-five thou
sand people of Illinois i'll mass meeting,
will expect some sentiment from the
president of the United States, tomorrow
Please telegraph US today.
CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE"
At five minutes before O'Clock, the
president returned to the carriage, and
with the vice president and Governor
Hill, were driven to Mr.. Morton's resi-
dence where he and Mrs. Harrison, will
be guests during their stay.