The Virginia enterprise., 1897-03-19
MR.. ADAMS DISGUST.
Inauguration Where Incoming President
Played Second Fiddle.

Inauguration Where Incoming President
Played Second Fiddle.
The March number of the Century is
an inauguration number and it con-
| relating to the life that centers around
the white house. Joseph B. Bishop con-
tributes an article on inauguration
Scenes and Incidents" After speaking of
the popular idolatry of Washington, Mr..
Bishop says:
The chief sufferer from this condition
of affairs was John Adams when the time
successor. He is the only President we
have had. with the possible exception of
Mr.. Van Buren,, who can be said to have
played secondary part at his own inau-
guration. The people had no eyes for
| him: they saw only the stately figure of
Washington passing forever from the
scene. The ceremonies We're held in In
House of Representatives. Washington
drove to the hall in his coach and four, and
was Justify cheered both outside and in
side the building. He passed quickly to
his seat, as if eager to stop the applause.
Adams entered few minutes later,
dressed in light drab suit, and passed
slowly down the aisle, bowling in response
to the respectful applause which greeted
him. He took the oath, and then deliy-
cred his inaugural address. He described
the scene subsequently as Il solemn one
indeed, made more affecting by the pres
ence of Washington. whose countenance
was as serene and unclouled as the day.
There was Il flood of tears, which he
sought in various ways to explain, though
no explanation was necessary. There
was, he said, more weeping than there
had ever been at the representation of a
tragedy; hut whether it was from grief
or JOY. whether from the loss ofStheir be-
loved President or from the accession of
IN unloved one. or some other cause he
could not say. He suspected that the nov-
city of the sun setting full-orbed. and an
other rising, though less splendid. may
have had something to do with it. For
several days after the exercises he was
still bewailing the tendency to weep. Ev-
erybOdy was annoying him by talking of
tears and streaming eyes, but nobody
told him why: and he was forced to be.
lievc that it was all for the loss of their
beloved. Two or three had ventured to
whisper in his ear that his address had
made a forcible impression, but no other
evidence of interest in him had reached
him. One thing he knew, and that was
that he was being of too much sensi-
hility to act any part we'll i'll such an ex-
hibition.
If the tears at the inaugural exercises
made Mr.. Adams unhappy, what followed
must have added greatly, to his sufferings.
When at the close. Washington moved to-
ward the door, there was a precipitate
rush from the gallery and corridors for
the street. and he found Il great throng
awaiting him as he emeroed from the
door. They cheered him, and he waved
his hat to them, his countenance
radiant with benignity: his gray hair
streaming in the wind. He walked to his
house. followed by the crowd, and on
reaching it turned about for Il final greet
ing His countenancc assumed a grave
and almost melancholy expression, his
eyes were bathed in tears. and only by
gestures could he indicate his thanks and
convey his farewell blessing