The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-03-09
A RLASE OLD.TMER
Throws a Few side I,lEhta on the PrsSl
aentlAI Inauguration.

Now YORK ADVERTISERS Dlu you at
tsnd the inauguration, grandfOthOr?"
asked the reporter
.oh yps," replied Grandfather Lick
shInCle, with Gshado OF wc0rIness in his
tome. II am getting bit blOsC on these
things. and / did think could get out
M going this time; but the President
Slect was so inSistCnt In his letter OF In
citation 10 me that he really left mo
M alternative but to CO. Then ClcvC-
land had also written me 70 be sure
and bc present, and so concluded TO
ict New York take care OF itself for u
dRy or two. was really very glad
went. MS It stlll keeps my record un-
broken.
An, excuse me: though, you knew
that have attended the Inauguration
oi every President since Washington.
Fact. am the only living man who was
present when Washington took the oath
Of office In front OF the treasury building
IN Wall street. George told me after
ward the he observed me In the crowd
and my presence gave him that moral
support which man 10 much needs
in tho presence of strangers, ] rcmem-
Der he beckoned to me TO come up on the
steps OF the treasury, lie wished to
consult with me just before taking the
oath. but my personal popularity was
such that did not care 10 divide the
plaulitS Of tho people and so thought
FULLY refrained, But gave him the nod
10 90 ahead and so he took the plunge"
Your "reminiscences OF inRugurOuons
would be interestingly"
"T'm--ySs, / suppose so. But could
not very wen divulEG them without Oh
trudinG my own personality. and have
never yet been able 10 entirely over
come certain shrinking from the pub
lie Gcze.
Impress youg
Ut was fair. Yes. may say It was
good. There was no hitch, barring, OF
course, the hltching up OF the horses.
had given General Porter few points
about handling the parade, and he real
~ did quite we'll. have intended FOR
some time to arrange for the nominn-
lion OF General Porter for President to
succeed Mckinley. but on second
sober thought | have concluded not TO
do II, for the very good reason that
there would be nobody TO tASe care OF
the parade. Almost any state can FUR
nlsh President. but when Il comes 10
finding a man to handle parade, that
Is a horse Of another color. Lam sorry
for General Porter. for nothing would
please me- better than 10 advance him;
but you sec for yourself that this rem.
ders his nomination absolutely out OF
the question.
IF YOU were present you no doubt
saw Major Mckinley bow % me az he
and Mr.. Cleveland rode down the ave-
nue. on the way to the capitol con-
tinued grandfather. well, It was the
Wall street incident over again II only
goes to show. II you will allow me TO
moralIEc bit, that II man Is careful
to keep truth and vGracily on his side
the wise and great will cling to him
even in the hour Of their triumph,
II see that Mr.. Cleveland + being
hArShly criticised for disengagtnG him
self from the ceremonies before they
were half over and cutting sticks for
the lighthouse tender Maple, We'll, now
nv fat friend had his good and sutii-
Client reasons and It affords me pleasure
10 state them to the carping public. II
was Ike this As Mr.. Cleveland was
tearing down street, Az II he was going
to a fire. he caught sight OF me-. and
pausIng long enough to wiring my hand
Sood-by, he said
This may seem Ike n preCipItouS
flight. but see no other way out OF H.
Nothing discovered asked In te-
Verish anxiety.
NO: nobody suspects nothing, but
I've got TO cut 1t II get away from
"'Heaven lend you wInGs!' ejacu-
lated as / shot him forward 10 where
the Maple lay with steam up. And that
IL all there Is to Mr., clcveiand's hasty
departure during the inaugural cere-
monies. II this be treason, make the
most OF Il"
THE hall was great success" suE-
Eested the reporter by way OF carrying
along the conversation.
Well" re piled grandfather. II tried
10 make 1t 20, Considering the time |
had at my disposal think did fairly
well with II. Fact Is, l hardly had time
20 recover from the mental strain after
the Bradley Martin affair, The two big
events coming so close together was a
bit too much for me. But all the same
the inaugural ball under my direction
skun along without any disturbance TO
mar the harmony OF the occasion. These
things are quite easy II you only keep
liquor away from the fddlers. IL really
was my Intention after ] got the thing
going 10 push tho senators, ambassa-
doris. ministers and charge d'afnlres to
The front and keep behind the light
house myself. but you know how these
things are: no one seemed TO UNDER
stand the handling Of a swell function.
such as that was, and l was obliged 10
buckle right down and look after every
detail myself That's the reason ! had
TO lead the lancers. I called on John
Sherman and Chief Justice Fuller TO
lend hand, but neither OF them had the
Intellectual grasp to meet the require
ments OF the complex situation. The
consequence was. your grandfather was
buster than bound boy Mt husklng
Even Mark Hanna, who | understood
had come to Washington to run the
whole shooting match. including the ad-
mInistratton. was positively no assist
ance al ali. But did you ever, since
the FIRST relief ship arrived In India,
zee anybody eat swectbTead psttles and
Ice cream az Mark did 1T the supper
table? ! tell you that Is where some
ofthe great men shine. But II Is not my
intention to clIde anyone. and only
mention the sweetbrcad incident by way
Of showing you the tremendous difficult
tics which the guiding spirit OF a,grcat
affair like that runs up against
perhaps you noticed Sir Julian
Paunceforte tip me diplomatic wink
ind with great dignity lead the way to
an nnte-room. concluded grandfather.
mo? Well, he did all the same, and
It was graceful thing to do, It showed
the deep fratcrnal feeling that exists
between the two great English speak.
ing nations. Between you and fnc and
the gate post. was as dry as IL tenn
perAnce lecture and could not have
stood 1t much longer II was bcaut-
ful and touching incident and all makes
for a lasting and glorious pence"
Silver Going Down.