The herald., 1893-02-26
regarded as specimen OF literature or

regarded as specimen OF literature or
of public sentiment.
Grant, Cleveland, Garfield and Har-
rison were accompanied on the occasion
Of their inaugurations by unusual milf
tary display. In Garfeld's case, it ie
said by those who have seen many inau-
gurations, that this display was thamost
brilliant OF ell. The military display of
March 4, 1873, on the occasion OF Grants
second inaugural, would have been very
brilliant but for the fact that it was
day OF bitter cold, suggesting in some OF
its features the famous blizzard which
paralyzed business on the Atlantic coast
in the spring of 1883, some of the SOL
diers nearly perishing with the cold.
There have been foHr presidents whose
! iuangurations have been private and as
o time of sorrow. When word was sent
to John Tyler that President Harrison
was dead, he was at his home in Rich
mond. He Immediately took the oath
of Office and went to Washington, entered
the White House and assumed not only
the functions but the character of presi-
dent. There had been a dispute for
many years about the nature Of the re-
lations which the vice-president would
bear to the presidential Office in case he
was called upon by virtue OF the consti-
tuition to exercise it's functions. Some
of the ablest lawyers had claimed that
all the vice-president could do would be
to exercise these functions, while still
retaining his capacity as vice-president.
The opportunity did not come to test
this matter until the death OF President
Harrison. President Tyler held the view
that he not only exercised the functions
of the office, but he became in fact presi-
dent, and by that act the vice-presiden-
tial Office was vacated. The precedent
thus established has never been ques-
toned.
Mr.. Fillmore received the oath of Office
within few hours after the death of
General Taylor, taking it in the rooms
of his hotel. After some weeks he went
to the White House to live.
Among those gathered around the dy-
ing bed of President Lincoln was An
drew Johnson, who had escaped az
tempted assassination because he was
not at his room at the hotel on the even
ing of that fatal 14th of April, 1865. Up
on his return to the hotel, hearing of the
assassination of Lincoln, he went inn
mediately to the little house on Tenth
street, opposite to Ford's theater, to
which the dying president had been car
ried, and there, with the members of
Mr.. Lincoln's cabinet, Chief Justice
Chase and Mr.. Lincoln'H family, he re-
manned until the president expired. An
hour or two latter Mr.. Johnson, in bis
room with one or two friends as wit
nesses, received the oath from Chief
Justice Chase, and as soon as Mr.. Lin
coins family Quilted the White House
entered it as unceremoniously as though
he had gone there to pay call.
Perhaps the most pathetic of all these
sad inaugurals was that of General Ar
thur. He had remained at his house at
1923 Lexington avenue, New York City,
for come weeks, having been privately
assured that General Garfeld's wound
was mortal, although the country had
been led to believe that the president
would recover. During all this time
General Arthur was never out OF call.
On the evening of September 10th be
went out with some friends to get some
oysters at restaurant which was popu-
lar with men of wealth. He seemed sad,
depressed, and was not, as was usually
the case with him, the life Of the party
of which he was a member. He re-
turned home about midnight, and had
been there but few moments when
u LeIeSldu Ctiu0 hIOA u1Is DioihO oA-
nouncing Garfeld's death. Arthur had
made up his mind what to do in case
he received report of the presidents
death. He believed it his duty to take
~ oath without delay, and messenger
was sent to the house of Judge John r.
Brady, who WAS lifelong friend OF Gen
eral Arthur. In few moments Judge
Brady came to General Arthur's parlor,
and then, in the presence of only one
other peraon excepting Arthur's son
Alan, the oath was administered. AS
soon as Arthur received it he turned to
hia son and embraced him, and both
men were convulsed with sobs. Gen
eral Arthur afterward took the oath pub
licly in the capitol at Washington. Chief
Justice Waite administering it.. 1t has
been the impression that it was neces-
sary that the presidential oath be ad-
ministered by the chief justice, but that