The morning times., 1897-03-05
SCENES ON THE STREETS.
No Superabundance of Enthusi
Evidenced by the Crowds.


The Inauguration visitor arose early yes
terday and lookedeagerly eastward There
flooding the dome OF the Capitol and
| coloring the windows with yellow light.
smiled the sun. A cool breeze rirrIed and
ruffled the flags, first brisk enough to
laZlly and fitfuly unfurl and show them
patch OF vivid color against the unsulIied
blue of the spring skies.
Nature never smiled upon a President
more sweetly. THE March sun felt like
May" and diffused a saIutary, cheering
effect upon the visitors promenading the
Avenue. The fakirs followed the crowds,
crying their wares, importuning the pass
ers-by to purchase the ''only original Nc
kinley badge" the official program or
some little valueless trinket or ornament
One fellow had some Democratic roosters
rampant, unsold from the last inaugura-
ton. He had painted the sign Dead"
upon them, turned them upside down and
was barking in sing seng strain, Grover,
Grover it's all over"
The rural visitor was quite a feature
In the crowds upon the streets He could
usually be found around the little push
carts, eating the festive peanut or indulg-
ing i'll the luxury of a real fresh banana
He usually came in pairs or groups and
walk ed in leisurely wonderment about
the streets, cheap cigar between his lips
and an ''ain't L just too wicked for any
thing" expression upon his face
The stands and Sidewalks began to fill
shortly before 10 O'Clock and half an hour
later the north side of the Avenue was
fairly crowded. There was no great
crush at any point on the thoroughfare,
with the possible exception Of the Seventh
streetcorner. The stands had greatvacant
gaps n the tiers of seats. The windows
and balconies were comfortably filled but
not to capacity-testing extent. There
was undoubtedly great crowd, but not
as many as were expected.
The throng massed closer against the
ropes as the head Of the column of the
Presidents escort appeared upon the
Avenue. The decorated goat accompany
ing the bluejackets from the flagship
New York caused a little ripple OF laugh
ter 10 pass along the line. Outside Of this
no applause greeted the long line OF troops
until the BLACK Horse Cavalry" Presi-
dent Mckinley's personal escort, appea red,
and then it was hard TO ;ell whether the
slight dem onstratiOn was intended for
the President or the troops.
President Mckinley was received cor
daily but not enthusiastically. lie was
feebled cheered by the crowd IN the
Lafayette Square stand, received some
thing sho ort Of an ovation fl en- the Treas
uTy officials, and was appIauded and
cheered when he passed the principal re-
viewing stands. These people had paid
theT oney and came from a distance
to see the President, and they cheeTed
when they did see him, but the crowds
on the sidewalks, those who could not
afford to pay for a seat and stood for
several hours in one place waiting for
the parade. showed no enthusiasm. They
y OuId feebly join in with the stands as
the President passed and then relapse
into a silent, passive, sightseeing crowd
The kodak fiend was haply the most
amusing feature about the streets. The
methods he used to outwit the police and
get inside Of the lines, only to be caught
and cast out, seemed to please those on
the sidewalks better than any part OF the
parade. They would suggest schemes to
him, put an officer on his track, and then
laugh heartily TO see him and his machine
chased down by a big policeman.
After the procession passed the crowd
broke through the ropes and filled the
streets for a few moments. The side
walks were cleared sufficiently for the |
ordinary traffic in a short time.
There were no cries shouted at the Presi- |
dent, as is usual upon such an occasion. |
No one called out ''Howdy, lHn?" or |
Glad to see you, Mac" The nan who !
makes humorous comments wal not in |
evidence, and the whole was about the |
quietest crowd that ever saw President |
elect drive to the Capitol to take his oath |
of office.