The evening times., 1897-03-04
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
ALarge and Distinguished Audience
witnessed the Exercises.

witnessed the Exercises.
1t was a great and historic gathering
that witnessed the scenes in the Senate
chamber And it was not alonethe brilliant
assembly on tile floor thak blssde the occa-
sion remarkable Tfn etiiieries OF the Sen
ate, capable of seating comfortably over
thousand people, were filled with notable
persons ON no previous occasion OF like
character has the audience been a more
distinguished one. The arrangements made
by the Senate committee and sergeant-at-
Arms Richard j. Bright were well nigh per-
feet, and in no particular more satisfactory
thaninrespectto the seatingin the galleries.
While all the available space was fully
utilized. there was none OF the crowding
that has made all uncomfortable on some
similar occasions. The galleries began to
fill early in the day, the holders OF the pre-
cious tickets OF admission being up betimes
to behold the august ceremonies which these
pasteboards entitled them to witness.
There has been great scramble for
these cards of admission, and as each
Senator had but four, aud each Representa-
tive but two TO distribute. the result was
that the audience was an uncommonly Sc
lect one, being composed wholly of mem
bers OF the families of Senators and Repre-
sentatiYcs. and the most distinguished of
visiting statesmen. All the galleries were
filled with distinguished persoBages, and
even TIE press gallery rose TO the occa-
sion'' by the presence therein of some OF
the most celebrated newspaper men in the
country, including Murat Halstead, John
Russell Young, and Joseph Howard, jr.,
who were widely known in the profession
before the great conflict between the sec
tions, which began thirty-six years ago
next mont
To these veterans. and to many OF the
older resident correspondents, the scenes
to take place in the han below were Ia
miliar. Some of them have seen many
Vice Presidents obligated in the Senate
chamber. and many Presidents inducted
into office at the east front of the Cap
itol, in the presence of the great American
people present by tens of thousands on
the Capitol plaza aud the broad thorough
fares that converge upon it. The natty,
well -grooned Howard came to Washington
with Lincoln's inauguration train, and
scored a beat as to Lincoln's alleged
disguise on the trip that has made itself,
like its author, memorable.
Halstead reported the national conven-
tons Of 1856, and four years later estab-
lished an enduring reputation Tor ms
brilliant work at the great conventions or
1860, from that at Charleston, where the
Democratic party dissolved for the war,
to the gathering in the big wlgwaIu at
Chicago, in which the immortal rail-spiit-
ter was presented as the Republican can
didate for President. John Russell Young
was a correspondent here before the war,
and was one ofthe men who came backfrom
Bull Run cool-headed enough to return
from that field of tragic travesty and get
a graphic and accurate story off to Phlla-
delphia
Major Carson and Frank Richardson
and many others Were there who Rad won
rerow II in their profession long before some
of the most active of their present asso-
ciates first opened their eyes in the worid.
Every daily paper of consequence in the
United States was represented IN The
gallery, and the relatively small space
allo.ed to the press was wedged with the
proverbial closeness of sardines. But the
best of humor prevailed among all these
gentlemen. wlo were locking at the scenes
around and below them for seventy-five
1t was an inspiring sight that was af-
forded shortly before hign noon. The gai-
lerics were frightened by the presence of
many beautifully attired ladies, and occa-
sonally a gorgeous, git-tasseled officer
of the army or brilliant-costumed member
of the diplomatic corps added color and
piquancy to the scene 81
1t is impossible To even attempt to emu
merate the prominent persons in the gal
lery. and 20 select any from such an as
sembly of conspicuous people is an invid-
ious distinction. Interest centercd in the
galleries Reserved for the families or the
President and Vice President a I'd the Presi-
dent and Vice Presidens-elect.
Mrs. Mckinley was presa Il, in spite of her
recen.indisposition Her kind ndmctherly
face won all hearts to her. Attcntionsw