St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1897-05-22
GRANTS INAUGURATION.
Bore Himself with Pleasant Courtesy
His Wife's Manner.

h0RG
His Wife's Manner.
After the puerile johnson regime,
without honor or dignity-a Chris
topher Sly" presidential interlude-
there strobe triumphantly yet quietly
into the supreme Office complete man.
Ulysses Grant. That happy Inaugural
ton l witnessed, from the opening
prayer to the concluding ball. The first
business of the day took place in the
senate chamber, where there was su-
perb show of generals in uniform. for.
eign ministers and famous state func-
ticnaries. From a seat in the reporters
gallery l looked directly down on the
president and vice president-elect. ]
suppose Mr.. johnson was present. but
/ don't remember seeing him. l had
counted on beholding something un-
usual in the face or bearing of our
great general. some betrayal of human
exhultation or pride. But the face,
though lightened somewhat of the
bronze of score of southern campaigns
and the tense hardness of the desperate
fighter, still retained its sphynx-like
immobility. its still resolve, as though
yet set against all realization of SUI
preme peril-all giving way before the
awful necessity of slaughter and suf-
fering. Mr.. Colfax was, for once. grave
his habitual effusive smile being
sternly suppressed. though a furtive
CLINT of the eye now and then betrayed
an inward bien-etre.
After the adjournment to the plat
form on the steps of the east front OF
the capitol my companion and passed
out into the waiting crowd and got po-
sitions near enough to hear the inau-
gural, straightforward, manly docu-
ment, very simply delivered.
As for the inaugural ball, who of the
many hundreds present can ever have
forgotten that scene of miserable NOR
| tai gayety? 1t was held in the treas
ury building and was wretchedly mis-
managed. as most Inauguration balls
are, leaving an awful memory of mad
hustling and bustling, arctic chill.
small famine and a great fear of "mur-
der and sudden DEATH" Our party be-
ing personally conducted" by a clever
official Jared wonderfully well, though
we had nothing to eat and felt COM
| pelled to go home early in order to Sc
cure wraps and make sure OF our car
riage. Scores of revelers, beguiled by
the witching dance music, were obliged
to abandon all hope Of finding their
cloaks, hoods, overcoats and hats and
to make their way homeward on foot,
through muddy, slushy streets, In the
misty morning hours.
Poor Mr.. Greeley, I remember, lost
both his old white hat and his light
gray overcoat. 1t was hard to believe
that any man could be irreverent
enough to appropriate that venersble
headgear and rash enough to affrsut
the honest day by sporting that 'goodiw
Babylonish garment"
Gen. Grant bore himself with pleasant
courtesy, if not exactly with ballroom
gallantry, and Mrs. Grant took her
tone from him, like the loyal wife she
always was. Nothing could add to or
take from the pride, devotion and faith
Of this modern Penelope, whose wise
Ulysses had steered clear Of the enchant.
ed islands Of the sirens Circle. Calypso
and such like ladies. Mr.. Colfax made
no further effort to rival his chief in
gravity and reticence, but let 60 and
graciously chattcd with and beamed
on all about him. even his wife, gen.
tie, modest woman. out of whose soft
dark eyes there shone q sweet, grave
co1tent.-N. Y. Independent.