El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1897-02-22

But the Price of an Ordinary Sitting I'm
der Cover VIII BE From One to Two
DolIars--Windows Appear to Be Worth
Fabulous Prices.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16.-[Special. Al
ready we begin to see physical evidences of
the near approach of Inauguration day.
Hundreds of carpenters are at work erect
ing the reviewing stands at various points
along Pennsylvania avenue-the stands
upon which many thousands of people will
sit to watch the great parade as it marches
from the capitol to the White House, escort
ing the president elect. These stands are
built by contractors who have paid for the
privilege and whose charges are regulated
by the inaugural committee. The usual
price for Il good seat is 81 in covered
stand. But much depends upon the wealth
er. If it is very good, seats will sell at only
average prices, for then many of the spec
tators will be content to stand upon the
sidewalks. If the weather is very bad, cold
and snowy, like the March Of 1898, seats
will be drug in the market, as people will
not pay money to sit out in II freezing TEN
peraturc. The best sort of weather for tho
spectators in stands is warm rain, which
will drive the multitude TO cover, but not
force it to abandon the field altogether
The Presidential Stand.
The stand in front of the White House.
which is to be occupied by President Nc
Kinley and his suit and other hi 9Th officials
will be the most artistic of all the con-
structions. 1t will really be u very pretty
affair. The spot on which the president
stands to view the procession is to be
warmed by the introduction of hot bricks
if the inaugural committee carries out its
JlonC Tbprp iS nnIOstinn this scheme
however, on the part of physicians, who
say such artificial warming in the open air
will only add to the danger which the
president must incur through exposure.
This presidential stand will not be put up
till the day before the inauguration. 1t is
now being constructed in a back lot, where
every piece is marked, so that when the
materials are taken to the ground they can
all be put together in short time. This
is done in order to avoid numbering up the
grounds of the executive mansion too long
in advance.
Fancy prices are already being offered for
windows which afford a good view of the
parade. For the windows by which your
correspondence sits to write his letters the
sum of S4O0 has been offered. They look
out upon Fifteenth street right opposite
the treasury, and afford perhaps the best
view of the procession to be had in all
Washington. The building is known as
the Riggs bank block, at the corner of
Fifteenth street and New York and Penn
sylvania avenues, and it was in this his
toric building that the Washington branch
OF the famous United States bank was
located.
Not For Sale.
From the windows of this building the
inaugural parade can be seen as it makes
two turns, first at the south end of the
treasury into Fifteenth street, and again
from that street into Pennsylvania avenue.
The review in front of the White House is
also within plain sight, and this is the only
building in the city which offers all these
advantages. The windows are not for sale.
1t is the fashion for wealthy people to
give inaugural parties. They rent slightly
rooms along the line of march, invite their
friends, give an order to the caterer for a
splendid luncheon, and go in to make a
good day of it. Senator Brice and other
wealthy men had their agents out weeks
ago looking for quarters in which to give
inaugural luncheon parties, and they were
willing to pay almost any price for the
best rooms. Half the windows along the
line of march are for sale some of them at
exorbitant and few at reasonable prices.
The terms are usually moderated as the
great day draws nearer, SO that late corners
often make better bargains than those who
try to take time by the forelock.
A Real Gentleman.
Justice White of the supreme court is
known among newspaper men as one of
the kindliest men in the world. Not long
ago correspondent found it necessary to
call upon the justice at midn ght for Il
copy of an opinion delivered by him in the
court that day. Justice White was in bed
and asleep, and it was with great difficulty
his servant was induced to awaken him.
IF l did not know him to be the best
man in the world, would not dare do it, "
she explained. The correspondent waited
anxiously in the hall for the verdict
Would the justice come down stairs? And
if he came would it be for the purpose of
looking up the desired document or of
throwing the disturber of the peace out?
After time the big justice came down
the stairs in his pyj amas and slippers, rub
birg his sleepy eyes He was not enthusi-
astic about this midnight call, but he was
very polite. As soon as the visitor had ex-
planned his errand, the justice led the way
to his library. There he got down on his
knees and rummaged through some dusty
old papers in the bottom of a bookcase for
the desired document In quarter of an
hour he found it-and he was very glad he
had been able to do so, though not half SO
well pleased as the newspaper man was, to
whom this bit of paper meant u scoop
the next morning for the journal which he
represented.
Excuse me moment" said Justice
White. In five minutes he returned bear
ing with him steaming glass of tOddy
and couple of Havanas Drink hearty,
my boy" he said, and light a cigar.
Nasty night out-snowing and blowing.
Good night!''
Now that is lat call real gentle
man, said the correspondent to himself
rs he rushed away through the sleet.
Senator Wilson of Washington is good
story teller and IL man of wit and humor.
He loves fun, and in any company will
contribute his full share of entertainment
if they viii give him half chance. The
Washington senator has piece of poetry
which has become quite Il favorite among
the congressional people who occasionally
meet at Chambcrlin's foran evenings fun.
1t is called ''Thc Song of the Candidate
and Senator Wilson has been asked to re-
cite it until he is weary of the whole thing.
The first verse runs as follows:
Howdy? Howdy do? Hows your wife and