Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-05-03
THE OPENING DAY.
The Naval Review---the Lawyers' Re
cepiion---the Grand hall.


One hundred years ago when George
Washington left his home at Mount Yer
non to 20 TO New York for his Inaugural
ton, he was six days in making his way by
coach and on horseback to Elizabethtown,
New Jersey. The difference between the
times then and now is illustrated by the
fact that on Monday morning of this week,
when on his way to the celebration, Presi-
dent Harrison made practically the same
journey in about six hours, leaving Wash
ington soon after midnight, and reaching
Elizabeth at half-pa seven. He was cor
daily welcomed there by Gov. Green and
taken TO his house, where a reception was
held followed by a notable local demonstra-
ton, both military and civic, with 5000
men in line
Soon after 10 o'clock the President was
rowed in barge, manned by twelve United
States seamen, 10 the United States steam
er Dispatch en- route for the naval display
and New York CITY A smaller vessel, the
Sirius, carried Mrs. Harrison, Mrs Morton,
and their party. On her way the Dispatch
was met by the steamer Erastus Wiman
from New York, bearing the governors of
the different states and their centennial
commissioners, those from Vermont among
them. The line of ships, it is estimated,
was nearly 20 miles long. The naval divi-
sion, in charge of Admiral Porter, formed
in single column, POO yards apart The
revenue and yacht division was in double
column 100 yards apart and POO yards be
tween columns. Each vessel in its turn
fired a salute of 81 guns as the Dispatch
passed and the usual naval evolutions were
performed.
After reviewing the naval parade the
1 ii
taken to the Equitable building, where he
was given reception by the Lawyers club
A large number of invitations had been is
sued for this reception, the governors and
commissioners of all the states being in
cluded, but the crush on the streets and at
the reception was so great, and the arrange
ments were so inadequate, that many Of
the guests were unable to enter or even to
reach the building, the Massachusetts, and
Vermont delegations being included in this
unfortunate list
After the reception, which lasted an
hour, the President and his party were es-
corted to the breakfast room, where an ell
egant lunch was served This over, the
party was taken to the City hall, where POO
girls from the grammar schools and ID from
the normal school were waiting on the
steps to welcome the President. The POO
grammar school pupils met him at the
foot of the steps and strewed flowers in
his path The l3 from the normal school
awaited him at the entrance to the City
hall, and there one of them read an ad
dress of welcome, to which the President
replied. During the reception President
Harrison stood on dais at one end of the
room. while Gov. Hill stood at his right and
Mayor Grant at his left.
Mr.. Harrison was the guest of Vice Pres
ident Morton while in the city, and after
the City hall reception was over he was
driven to Mr.. Morton's residence by the
| committee of states.
In the evening came the much talked of
ball at the Metropolitan opera house, where
such a scene Of magnifcence was present
ed as this plain and work a day Republic
has never before seen. President Harri
son entered at + o'clock, escorted by Gov
| Hill and Mayor Grant. After the partici-
pants in the centennial quadrille had been
introduced, the band played national airs
and the quadrille began, but the account
says lit was not quadrille proper at all
but the participants stood in parallel rows
and merely walked through the changes
save only II few of the ladies.