New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-28
AN AMAZING FESTITITY.
PRESIDENT MKINLEY'S INAUGURATION AS
VIEWED IN THE IMAGINATION OF
A FRENCH JOURNALIST.

Tho "F,paro" Of Paris two days after President
McKiney's Inauguration presented TO its readers a
vivacious account Of the ceremonies of the day.
drawn from a Partisan Imagination which conveys
some striking and entertaining facts that nave I'M
doubtedly escaped the closest attention or Amer
leans even those who were present Nothing Is
more curious than this ceremony, observes the
French Journal which an altogether lndlVldual
character is lent by the temperament or the Amer
lean people The hero Of the day. Mr.. Mackinley'
has heen for a week installed with his family mod
estly in little villa. far from the noise and the
crowd Surrounded by his family he has stayed
till midnight of March in his office, and his secre
taries who have been warding off offlce-seeKerS IN
the next room, declare that they heard (ham-
payne corks popping above the joyous bursts OF
laughter that kept up all the evening!
On Thursday when noon struck, the President
elect without uniform or pomp OF any KIND: Gao
in an overcoat and high hat went on 1901 70 Iile
Capiiol 10 take the oath and TO come into contact
with the people There is nothing more primitil v
CharaCterizes the American democracy in such an
impressive way. The only official element u, IL Is
a detachment of soldiers and marines. VINO marcN AT
It's head; but surrounding, preceding and following
Mr.. MacKniey there is vast mass OF nuinan Ky
marshall" chief CT police keeps 1t at proper
When he reaches the threshold of the palace the
President uncovers and walks In alone; Having
taken the oath and ms e ret nn
the White House. all the time afoot and continu-
a Ysn ReG' Doodle" Or Star spange Banner Mr.
Cleveland welcomes him and hands him the keys
of The house Then comes the diplomatic recep-
ton and the first Cabinet meeting.
But the fatigues of the day are not yet over Tor
the new President. He has to be present at pub
lie banquet Of 10000 covers, at % head served
in in the public garden and to open the pail
which is the last of the festivities AT the dinner
Mrs NIacKinley docs the honors, dazzling in the
charm of her youth, wearing gown OF white satin
spangled with silver and adorned with Venetian
lace and precious stones. The menu offers variety
of extraordinary dishes-fried oysters chicken cut
let's veal in rice, chicken lobster and crab salad
pat6s de foie gras and Roman punch. If wine is
passed it is certainly not With the approval OF the
temperance societies. who have organized Il demon
straioa the day before against the generous wines
Of France, ~
The bali that marks the close of the festivities Is
of an unheard-of magnifcence: and IT certainly Is
no common sight TO see 1900 people dancing at the
same time in a tent in the public garden ,
For the future the new President does not belong
10 himself but is the prey of Journalists and re-
porters Already they have published the list Of
things contained in his baggage and that Of Mrs
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. linen. jcwery silverwaTe. toilet
articles has been counted, Labelled and
delivered over TO the curiosity of the public. one
transatlantic journal has ever published a picture
of the sheep whose wool furnished the cloth from
which the Presidential overcoat was made.