The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-26

pay for the inaugural ball. II the money
could have been had the preparations for
the ball could have bean made In forty
eight hours.
hayes came very near having no in
augural parade. In the uncertainty about
the electoral commission bothdemocrats and
republicans hesitated TO make arrange
Inents Tor parade. One day DR.. Frank
Howe, who was secretary Of the board Of
pubic works under Gov. Shepherd, and who
Is now q Well-known journalist, met Gov.
shepherds son on the street aud suggested
70 him the necessity of making prepare
lions Tor the inaugural parade IL one was to
be had.
ORGANIZING UNDER DIFFIcULTIEs.
The gentlemen discussed a proposition
LOOKING to the organization of a citizens
meeting and finally determined to call to-
Rether the members of an. extinct orgrani-
zatlon known as the Young Mems Repub-
lcan Club. of which DR.. Howe had been
one Of the officers. Postal cards were sent
20 all the old members and the first meeting
was held 10 Wizards hall. Only nine
young republicans attended this meeting
and at the meeting subsequently called
there were only fifteen. But the movement
was given authority by glowing accounts
OF the meetings published in the local papers
and sent out through the press dispatches,
and when some handsome quarters on
Pennsylvania avenue, which had once been
occupied by a well-known gambler, were
obtained for the use of the club the MEM
bership swelled to 200.
At about this time the organizers Of the
movement learned that the state associa-
tions, which are composed of government
employees In the departments here, had col
looted fund Of $500 for the purpose Of
having torchlight parade on the night of
the Inauguration. The two organizations
got together and consulted only week be-
fore the Inauguration day. A citizens
meeting was called, an executive committee
was appointed and all the preparations for
the event were hastily made.
Notices had been sent out through the
country addressed to political clubs which
proposed to visit the capital for the inaugu-
ration and several of these appeared to take
part in the procession, among them the
Hartranft Guards of Philadelphia. These,
with the regular troops ordered out by
President Graut, made up a rather scanty
procession. On each side of the Presidents
carriage rode a line of armed veterans. For
1t had been whispered about that an at
tempt might bemade on Mr.. Hayes life,
the outgrowth OF the bitter feeling engen-
dered by the conflict over the presidency.
The veterans services as protectors, how
ever, were not needed. In the evening there
was torch-light procession as had been
planned originally, bus no ball. Before the
young mems republican club got together
the democrats of the district had under con-
sideratian a plan to convert the North
Liberty market house into ball room at
cost Of $4,000 This market house occupies
the square fronting on X street and Fifth
street, northwest. These plans were put in
DR.. Howe's hands, and at the last minute he
had under consideration also the possibility
of using the National theater and the hotel
connecting with IL for the ball. But the
money was lacking, and SO the ball project
was abandoned.
LATER INAUGURATIoNs.
The ball which was feature Of President
Garfsld's inauguration was held ia the
building now occupied by the national mus
scum. 1t is a very beautiful structure,
whose broad corridors open out from a GEN.
trail court, tiled and glsssroofed, in the GEN.
ter of which the plaster cast OF Crawford's
statue of Liberty now stands. The archi-
lecture OF the building 10 very graceful; its
ceilings are high and its spacious apart
ments are connected by broad arehways.
The building is easily approached from four
sides. This ball had none of the unpleasant
features of its immediate predecessors and
was In every sense a success.
The inaugural balls of President Cleve-
land and President Harrison had no dis
agreeable features connected with them ex-
ceps possibly the fact the latter was held in
cold driving rain storm, The great
pillars Of the pension building were COM
pletely hidden by bunting. The galleries
were draped with flags The bands were
stationed in a bower built over the center
of the hall. The supper, which was served
by Pbiladslphtan, was marvel in plan
and execution. No doubt the guests of the
occasion who did not have their coats torn
of their backs IN; the struggle to catch q
glimpse of the President when he made the
circuit OF the hall. found the affair as
thoroughly enjoyable as anything could be.