The herald., 1897-03-05
INAUGURATION WEATHER
Wkich Popular Super stition Accepts a, Pre-
pietic o. Success

pIetic o, SUCCESS
It was Andrew Jackson, a man of
stern and rugged mold, who first con-
csived and executed the IDEA of beirg
inaugurated in the open air on the bleak
east portieo of the capitol. in the eye
of the people whose idol he was. In the
execution of fixed purpose he cared
little for storm or sunshine, and in this
he set an example that few of the sue
cessors to his high office have cared to
disregard. To the citizens of the Wash
ington and to the thousands of people
VINO every four years find their way
to the capitol this decision means much;
an indoor Inauguration to them is fat
and depressing. True, there are soldiers
and the bands of music, and the va
riously attired civilian clubs, and the
street decorations, but an inaugural pro-
cession without its grand preface-the
vast gathering on the eastern crest of
the Capitoline hill and the actual pres
ence of the newly inducted president,
and the delivery in open air of the prom
ise which he holds out of the future ad-
ministration-is like the play of Ham
let" with Hamlet left out. Yet this omis :
sion has followed in some instances,
when presidents less robust than Jack
son, or more inclined to listen to prE-
dent advice, have declined to "adergo
the terrible ordeal of bare-headed ex-
posure for nearly an hour in the midst
of winter storms.
Hence Washingtonians, for their own
sake, as we'll as for that of their myriad
guests, look in apprehension to the wea-
ther conditions of this day. and strive
to forecast, if the may, what is to follow
on the 4th of March.
There is grave reason, too, for this
anxiety. In this latitude the season is
one of great vicissitudes. Lying midway
between the sunny south and wintry
New England, here is the battle ground
of the changing seasons. A week of
snow and sleet and one succeeding of
balmy spring and then rapid changes
day by day from one extreme to the
other is the rule. The approach of the
spring equinox bears stronger tidings
each day of the coming spring. but lin
gering winter makes desperate and I'm
expected rallies, and supposing these tic
fail, yet spring is often wet and rainy
though warm. And for this reason the
people in Washington who so literally
decorate their houses along the line OF
march of the big procession-have learned
prudence, and endeavor. 80 far as it lies
within the limits of artistic taste, to give
their adornments a degree of stability
that will insure a good appearance in
any event; while hoping for the best
they prepare for the worst.
1t may not be amiss to give an idea of
the average weather conditions which
have prevailed on Inauguration day. to
note the proportions of SUB shine and
storm that have governed in the past
George Washington, the first presi-
dent. took the oath of office April 30, 1889.
in New York. 1t was a fair morning,
though the sunshine had to stray
through clouds at times, and rain fell
during the latter part of the afternoon
and evening.
At Washington's second Inauguration
In Philadelphia on March A. 1892, the day
was very pleasant and immense crowds
gathered about Sixth and Chestnut
streets to witness the ceremonies. One