The evening times., 1897-03-04


a lifetime from a plain citizen TO the
most potential pcrsonage in the most pow
erfui country on earth.
Near her sat the aged mother, heavily
yelled and dressed in black, appearing more
agile than her sons wife, and even more
keenly interested.
Not far away and dressed In the sober
black, which has become her habit was
Mrs. III ysses s. Grant, who had herself been
one. of the central figures of three in
augurations. Well TO the front and near
tie diplomatic gallery appeared the hand
some face OF Russell Harrison. bearing with
equal nodesty the honors OF being the son
of an ex-President and the brother of a
new and wee sister, just forty years TO
day younger than himself.
Inthe Senate chamber below the closing
business of the Fifty-fourth Congress was
laziIy proceeding. There was none OF
the feverish haste that has been noticed
in preceding years on like occasions. This
was due to the stubborness with which
President Cleveland has refused TO touch
pen to bills that did not reach him in time
for full consideration. He might sign one
or two uninlportant measures after his
arrival in the Presiasat's room, but the
President had affixed his name TO the
last important measure that would receive
his signature, and sent in the last of the
smashing yetoes for which his reign win
long be RENE mbered.
Although business was proceeding, there
were many short recesses taken, and the
time was utilized in preparing the cham
ber for the reception Of the distinguished
company that was to witness the cere-
e.r1fif lnd tn
the floor began to arrive and take the .
seats provided for and assigned to them
by the usheTs for the occasion. It was
not until halfan hour later when the groups
in which the pT;lic was most Interested
began to enter the hall.
The members of the Diplomatic Corps was
ont in fun force. They had assembled in
the Marble Room and were escorted TO
seats In the chamber. They were not
announced, being regarded as guests and
not as participants in the ceremonies
Greatinterest wasshown wninthisdistinguished
company Of ENJOYS of the nations OF the
earth. Most interest attach ed TO the
ornately uniformed dean of the corps,
Sir Julian Pauncefose, ambassador or
the Queen of Great Britain, Ireland and
Empress OF India, near the person OF
the retiring and the incoming CHIEF
Magfst rates. The venerable Sir Julian
made a striking figure in his heavy gold
braided court costume.
Senior Depuy de LONE was there IN the
military looking dress prescribed by the
etiquette OF the escurial-a handsome, IN
telligent keen looking man, who view the
ceremonies with mingled satisfaction at
his triumph over the United States Turing
the passing administration, and curiosity
as to the fortune that would attend him
with the coming one.
Ii was a little congress OF nations that
gatheretlin two groups in front OF the Presi-
dent and ON the Democratic side. The en-
yoys of the mikado andthe sultan gave the
gathering an Oriental flavor, while the Ger
man and French ambassadors forgot the
ancient feud of their nations and enjoyed
a neighborly and friendly confab IN low
whispers as the arrangements progressed
Imperial Russia and republican witzerland,
China. hoary with years: and Ha wall, just
out of the swaddling clothes OF nations;
frigid. Scandinavia and sunny Italy, Aus
tria and Argentina, Belgium and Boliyia,1
Chile and Korea jostied elbows in the per-
sons of their representatives
It was a gorgeous lesson inlnternationel
geography From the diplomatic gallery
looked down the dethroned Kanaka queen,
heiress of all the kamehamehas, striking
evidence OF the devious ways OF iIferna-
tion al diplomacy.
More Republican governors OF common
wealths were on the floor than have ever
assembled in one place since the Altoona
conference of war times. The CHIEF ex-
ecutives of the four greatest states or the
Union were conspicuously in evidence.
Cows Black, Hastings, Bushnell and Tan
ner were all there.
A roIy-poIy looking man with VAN
dyke beard was pointed out as the ceie-
brated potato Pingree of Michigan. Cows
Iyowndes OF Maryland, schofield of Wis
cousin, G rout of Vermont, Cheney OF New
Hampshire, and Griggs of New Jersey
were seen, and six or eight other chier
executives of states were lost in the
dense mass of prominent men.
The general commanding the army and
senior admiral OF the navy were present,
dressed in fun uniform, wearing enough
gold to make their presence huy cele-
brative OF the ''sound-money victory sew
eral retired army and navy officers Were
also on the floor. Among them was the
gallant one-armed "Cbristian soldier" Gen.
Oliver O. Howard.
Seated among the distinguished guests
were the venerable librarian OF Congress,
Ainswortn k. spofford, and the still older
architect OF the Capitol, Edward Cark,
both bowed with their long years OF
service OF the government; several ex-
secretaries and sergeantsat-arEs OF the
Senate. notably, Conkling's Fides Achates,
George G Gorham; the judges of the court
of appeals, the District supreme court,
and the Court of Claims and the ComInls-
sioners OF the District Of Columbia. lt
was Capt Blacks first public appear
ance i'm his new capacity.
Alonzo Stewart, of Iowa, who has sue
ceeded the lamented Isaac Bassett as the
chief functionary of state occasions IN the
Senate announced 1.-THE Hon orable the
Chief Justice and the Associate Justices
Oft the Supreme Court and Justice Fuller
and his colleagues filed in and took the
seats reserved for them. Ahead of the
iustices came the marshal and clerk OF
the court.
Five minutes alter the House of Repre-
sentatives was announced aud large part
Of the members entered. It was some min
utes later before the remainder OF the
members appeared. They had been
DELAYED in reaching the chamber by the
concludinglegislatiou in the House. Ahead
of this last contingent came the Speaker,
carving his great hulk with ease and
looking as fresh as though he had not been
up nearly all night. He took prominent
seat and watched the subsequent pro-
ccedings with an interest that was appar-
entity as keen as if he were called upon to
80 fas ~ in