The herald., 1896-04-27
STAR SPANGED BANNER"

was in Washington few days prior to
the Inauguration Of Lincoln, having been
sent there by Harpers to take sketches
when that event should come off. did
nothing but walk around the city and feel
the public pulse, SO to speak. There was
no necessity of saying anything to any
body. You intuitively recognized that
trouble was brewing.
Many people had sworn that Lincoln
should not be inaugurated. Their Utter
ances had fired the Dorthern heart. and
the people loyal to the old flag were just as
dent should be inaugurated, though blood
should flow in the attempt. 1t was an
awful time. People looked different then
than they do now. Little knots of men
could be seen conversing in whispers on
street corners, and even the whispers
approached.
Everybody seemed to suspect every one
else. Women looked askance al each
other; children obliged to be out would
skurry home as if frightened, probably
having been given warming by their par,
ents. The streets at nighs Tor several
nights prior to the inaugural ceremonies
were practically deserted. There was a
hush over everything. 1t seemed to me
that the shadow of death was lowering
near.
/ had constantly floating before my eyes
could hear dirges constantly, and thought
for a while that would have to leave the
place or go crazy. knew all these somber
thoughts were but imagination, but l also
knew that the something that had infi!i-
enced my imagination was tangible. really
existed.
The 4th of March came and Mr.. Lincoln
was inaugurated quietly and without osten-
tetion. After the services were over and 1t
became known that Mr.. Lincoln had really
been inducted into office, there was saw.
age snarl went up from the disatfected
ones. The snarl was infectious. 1t was
answered by just as savage Rrowls all over
the city. But nothing was said. A single
yell of defiance, a single pistol shot or even
an oath would have precipitated conflict.
Men simply glared at each other and
gnashed their teeth, but were careful not
to grit them so it could be heard.
went to my room in the Willard and sat
down to do some work. l couldn't work.
The stiffness was oppressive. At least a
dozen times I picked up my pencils, only
to throw them down again. got up and
paced the floor nervously. heard men on
either side of me doing the same thing:
Walking didn't relieve the severe menta!
strain. I sat down in a chair and pressed
my head in my hands. Suddenly heard a
window go up and some one step out on
the balcony of the Ebbitt house, directly
opposite. Everybody in the hotel had
n6arQ nlms Wu6t Is u6 kOlIlk W uOs 1
asked myself, and l suppose everyone else
propounded the same Interrogation. We
hadn't to wait long.
He began to sing the Star Spangled Ban
ner in a clear, strong voice. The effect
was magical = electrical. One window
went up, and another. and heads popped
out all over the neighborhood. People
began to stir on the streets. A crowd soon
gathered. The grand old song was taken
up by thousands. The spell was broken,
and when the song was finished tongues
were loosened and cheer after cheer rent
the air.
The man rooming next to me raped on
my door and insisted that should take a
walk with him. As we passed along the
corridors we were joined by others, men
wild with joy, some of them weeping and
throwing their arms around each others
necks. Others were singing and all were
happy.
Washington was itself again. The Star
Spaugled Banner had saved it.-Thomas
Mast in Boston Standard.