The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-03-18
WASHINGTON NOTES.

weather on the days of the last two in
augurations, but with pleasure the
beautiful day on which President Cleve-
land first took the oath Of Office. 1t
must be confessed that the record of
March in Washington is not a good
one, for as far back as Lincoln's time
The day was wet and disagreeable. Gen.
Grant was inaugurated for the first
time on gloomy day, when the rain
fell heavily, although it did not inter-
tere with the parade.
On March 4, 1873, when Gen. Grant
took oath Of Office the second time, the
thermometer stood near zero. and it
was the coolest inaugural day in the
history of the country. In the morning
1t was only four degrees above zero,
and in midday it had risen only to 16.
Hundreds of those who participated in
the y,s~s1A were nearly frozen, and
many Asssr.,A resulted. The inaugural
ball ~ Thar day was held in tempo
rary ecihties, which was not heated,
and the ladies and gentlemen attending
wore their wraps and hats. Those who
attended will remember how the sup
per was frozen solid, and how coffee
was served in blocks of ice, and also
how the assemblage had to leave the
ball long before midnight on account
! Of the cold.
/ President Hayes was inaugurated on
a rainy day, although it cleared up be-
fore the President took the oath of Of
flee. The crowds that assembled to
witness the induction into Office OF
James a. Garfield were obliged to wade
through snow and slush, although the
day was mild, circumstance, however,
which only helped to make the walk
ing more dsagreeable. The day for
the first Inauguration of President
Cleveland stands out as a model one in
the long record, for it was clear and
warm and beautiful, in direct contrast
! with the terrible weather which greet
ed Benjamin Harrison when he was in
augurated. The rain on that day fell
in torrents and every one was drenched
who braved the storm. At the last in
augural on March 4, 1898, the day was
almost as bad, although it was snow
instead of rain which greeted the in
augural ceremonies. The ground was
covered with several inches of snow
and slush, and the fiercest kind of a
snowstorm ragged until the very mo-
ment when the President appeared on
the east portico of the Capitol to take
the oath of office.
! With this record it can be understood
! how dependent on the weather are the
glories and beauty of the inaugural day
ceremonies.
One of the most interesting and
| quaint figures at the inaugural cere-
mony was Mr.. McKinley's aged mother,
now completing her S7th year.
Mrs Mckinley wore in the even
ing costume of black satin and
white point lace cap. She was very
pleasing and picturesque figure.
The bodice of her costume was made
after the style of Louis XVI, being
round cut and filled in with white
chiffon, drawn diagonally across the
| front. A black satin ruching filled
, In with point lace finishes the neck and
borders the soft, white chiffon front.
Black folds of the satin extend from
waist to end of the basque in front,
while the back of the basque is made
slightly full
The gown which the Presidents wife
wore was OF a rich duchess dead white
| satin Of tho most costly texture, with
real laces, which are most apropos.
In addition TO the lace garnitures, her
gown Is further enhanced with pearl
embroidery, the yoke and sleeves be-
Ing entirely Of point lace.
| AS Mrs. Mckinley never wears decol-
ete costumes, the bodice Of the silver
brocade dress has Medici collar of
pleated mousseline de sole, fully twelve
inches wide and edged with narrow
point lace about half an inch in width.
This ruching stands up very high, and
in the back reaches almost to the top
of the hair, curving with considerable
flare, and extends to above the ears
| narrowing down in the front part Of the
! neck. A stock collar holds 1t in place.
A magnificent pattern Of duchess point
| lace extends from neck to bottom of
| basque in front and ends below the
waist line in artistic tabs about six
inches in length.
A unique girdle, studded with tiny
pearls, forming butterfly effect in
| front, extends around the waist and
| half way up the back. The lace is fin
lshed with a narrow garniture Of pearl
| embroidery down each side of the
| front. The long sleeves, slightly puffed,
have falls of pleating of the mousseline
de sole 1.-TWO rows). and are finished
with narrow lace edge. Each pleating
| Of the mousselne de sole is twelve
| inches in width, and falls gracefully
over the shoulders. giving a smart ef-
feet The skirt is made very full about
the feet, with stylish flare. and is fin.
ished at the bottom with a narrow
pleating of the mousseline de sole.
! edged with the lace. The entire gown
| Is lined with pink taffeta,
Mrs. EcI<inley's opera cloak is Of
brocadcd satin, showing white flower
design on q groundwork of pale, deli
cate heliotrope, end is lined with heavy
white velour with satin figure. 1t is
| made with long cape reaching nearly