The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1889-03-16
Interesting Washington Letter.
EQUITY.
MARCH 9th, 1889.
HOTEL LANGHAM.

| q
science, art and invention, cannot
control that little matter Of the
weather
No doubt. was Congress now In
session. bill to change the Inaugi-
raj day from March 4th to All !
May would be carried by accfam1y
ton. Certainly there would not/e
a single dissenting voice from he
hundreds of thousands of dragsled,
rain.soaked, mud-spatter.d throng
who endured the discOmbrts of the
dismal drlzzle of the past few days.
1t began the afternod of March
End and continued without inter-
mission day or night Ill the morning
of the 9Th.
Sixty thousand people came in on
Friday, and probably twice as many
on Saturday and Sunday. Monday
by IL o'clock it wss impossible TO
hire carriage or got aboarda street
car on account of the crowds.
Thousands went hurrying by.
splashing through the pools of mud
and water ladies clad in silk and
velvet and lace costumes, with skirts
soiled by stress of weather to their
knees, their feathers damp, their
boots soaked men in silk hats and
light Ovescoats with little riyulets of
rain running down them ; whole
platoons without an umbrella among
them. One large delegation made
very picturesque appearance march
ing under red, white and blue UNI.
brellas. Another had on snow-white
waterproof oyercoats, but the major
ity of the line took their share of rain
straight.
Pennsylvania Avenue seemed to be
moving sea of umbrellas, and all
the open air stands dripping pane
rama of the same. The seats wee
soaked the miles of bunting ard
flags flung to the breeze hung 40
limp discouraged folds, with the red
and blue blurring the purity of the
white. Seats for viewing the parade
which had been selling for So and S.
apiece were offered on the morning
of the 18th for 30 and % cents. There
were miles of them, some sheltered
and many others not.
Windows were at premium, some
with privilege of a heated room at
tached renting from $3.50 to $500.
Parties would take item, invite their
friends, have lunch spread and
make day of it.
The cheapest window I priced was
$40. and it was small and on the third
floor.
The crowd in front of the Inaugu-
raj was simply sea of upturned
faces, jammed so tightly together
that of a half dozen men who tainted
not one could fall ; they just hung
suspended by the shoulders-as it
were-till the rain in their faces
brought them to.
Although more systematic arrange.
ments for caring for the crowds were
made than ever before, yet many
slept in dining rooms, (1SO here in
halls, in bath rooms. on billiard
tables, on the floor, eyerywhere-and
many-nowhere.
10000 tickets at SIS each were sold
for the ball, and the crowd was so
great that-there was no ball-at
least no one could dance, and what is
a ball without dancing? It's Thanks.
giving turkey without CRANBERRY
sauce-or Hamlet without the Prince.
10000 people attended the prome-
made concert the next day. at so cents
a head.
The Committee were "on the
make" They were selling the smilax
and palm branches used in decorating
and charging % cents apiece for the
flowers of which the Presidents and
Vice. Presidents chairs were com.
posed.
The room in which Harrison held
his levee the night of the ball, was
sumptously upholstered. The walls
were covered with plush from cell.
ing to floor, royal purple with a
dado of old gold.
Mrs. Harrison came near faintinp
several times during the evening.
She can't "stsnd the racket" as we'll
as her younger predecessor did.
In the words of the old song.
"Times has changed said the dogs
meat man." When Jefferson was
crossing the Potomac from AIexan.
dria his predecessor, Adams, was
making straight coat-tail for Massa.
chusetts, and passing through Blads.
ensburg without waiting to say