The morning times., 1897-03-05
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
Mr.. Hobart Inducted Into Office
Before Notable Gathering.

MT. hobart 1EduCted Into Office
Before a Notable Gathering.
Tens OF thousands saw the Journey Of
the two Presidents 10 the Capitoi and
back TO the Executive Mansion. but a
far more limited number were privileged
TO see the interesting and important ere
monies in the Senate Chamber. which pre-
ceded the inauguration proper. The Capac-
ity of the large Senate chamber and It's
spacious galleries was taxed to the ut
most t. accommodate the distinguished
invited guests who were privileged to
witness these events. For about half an
hour yesterday the Senate practically rep
resented all the authority i'll the United
States The old House was dead. the
new one not organized. The retiring Pres
ident had announced that he should tran
sact no further official business OF any
character. The new President was not
vet obligated. But the Senate, ccntin-
uous body, still lived, as full of power
and as yiriie as at any time in the history
OF the country.
1t was in the presence OF this great
constitutional body, and witnessed by a
large audience Of eminent American states
men and ladies of distinction, that the
preliminaries OF the Inauguration were
carried out yesterday. The audience was
an uucommonly brilliant one, and notable
individuals were as thick as VaIlambrosa
leaves. The presence of two Presidents.
two Vice Presidents. two entire Cabinets
and the full bench OF the Supreme Court
was remarkable, but far from all that
made the occasion notable. In fact, every
body present was somebody.
Gatherings of distinguished men are not
uncommon in this country, but rarely, in
deed, is an assembly seen containing SO
many ladies of social eIninence Mrs.
Potter Palmer was there, the picture of
health, ,stilleyidencingth red undant beauty
of her younger years. and garhed from the
very latest fashion plate. By her side
sat a modest, quiet woman in black. the
widow ofthe great hero OF the War of the
Rebellion, twice President, Ulysses S. Grant
The wife and the mother of the new
President were interested spectators, as
were all the aides of the Mckinley party.
Mrs McKinley's pale, intellectual face
showed signs of recent and severe suffer
ing and she had to he aided in walking
to aid from her seat by Chairman
Bell, of the Inauguration committee, and
ter Mrs. Mckinley, the elder, was very
agile for her years, and politely declined
the assistance of the escorts who would
have helped her to her seat. Mrs Hobart
was also IN the reserved gallery, and was
easily identified to strangers by the large
bunch OF fragrant vioIets that she carried.
In the diplomatic gallery were the la,ues
Of the foreign ambassadors and ministers
and their guests. Most interest attached
to the presence of the forner Queen OF
Hawaii, now plain Mrs Doninis, of Homo
lulu, who was accompanied by her per
sonal representative, SIR. Palmer. The ex-
queen watched the passing OF her great and
good friend Grover with deep concern. Mrs.
Yang Yu, wife of the minister from Pekin.
sat in the front row OF the diploma tic
gallery, and the bright colors of her strictly
oriental silk costume made her the most
prominent parsonage in the gallery.
There were many other ladies of dis
tinction present, but the narrative must
hasten ON TO the hundreds of celebrated
men who were on the floor below At
least twothirds of the occupants of the
gallery seats wereladies, but to the Senate
floor only men had been admitted The
very corn1nonest in that threng was mem
ber OF Congress, while Secretaries and gov
ernors, judges and generals, and Senators
were altogether toonumerous to enuInera te
The four ambassadors of England. Ger
many, France, and italy were accorded
precedence IN yesterdays ceremonies. and
they were given seats Immediately in
front of the Vice Presidents desk and facing
the audience. In the middle of the Deno-
cratic side appeared the ministers OF
several foreign countries, including those