The herald., 1897-06-16
THE PAR1s1AN REPORTER
Imagination Turned Loose on the In.
auguration of the President

The Figaro of Paris, two days after
President McKinley's inaugurati ton, pre-
sented to its readers vivacious account
of the ceremonies of the day, drawn from
a Parisian imagina tion, which conveys
some striking and entertaining facts
that have undoubtedly escaped the
closest attention of Americans, even
those who were present Nothing is
more curious than this ceremony OBJ
serves the French journal, to which an
altogether individual character is lent by
the temperament of the American peo-
pie. The hero of the day, Mr.. Mckinley,
mas been for a week installed with his
family modestly in little villa, far from
the noise and the crowd. Surrounded by
his family he has stayed till midnight Of
March 3 in his office. and his secretaries,
who have been wardng off officeseekers
in the next room, declared that they
heard champagne corks popping above
the joyous bursts of laughter that kept
up a IL the evening.
On Thursday, when noon struck the
president-elect. without uniform or
pomp of any kind, clad in an overcoat
and high hat, went on foot to the capt.
tol to take the oath and to come into con.
tact with the people. There is nothing
more primitive or more grandiose than
this procession, which chara cterizes the
American democracy in such an I'M
pressive way. The only official element
in it is a detachment of soldiers and
marines, who march at It's head; but sur
rounding, preceding and following Mr..
Mckinley there is a vast mass of hui
manity, which stretches as far as the eye
can reach. The marshal" or chief Of
police, keeps it at proper distance Dy
la sign.
When he reaches the threshold Of the
palace the president uncovers and walks
in alone. Having taken the oath and
delivered his speech, and reviewed the
garrison of Washington, he returns to
the White House, all the time afoot and
continually hemmed In by thousands Of
people singing Yankee Doodle" or Star
Spangied Banner" Mr.. Cleveland well
comes him. and hands him the keys Of
the house. Then comes the diplomatic
reception and the first cabinet meetip9
But the fatigues of the day are lot ~
over for the new president. He has to
re present at d public banquet of 10000
covers, at 20 head, served in tents in
tne public garden, and to open the bail,
which is the last oe the festivities. At
the dinner Mrs. Mckinley does the hon.
ors, 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 Of
fers variety of extraordinary dishes
fried oysters, chicken outlets, veal in
rice, chicken, lobster and crab salad:,
pates Ge fol graS and Roman punch. II
wine is passed it is certainly not vita
the approval Of the temperance societies.
who have organized a demonstration
the day before against the generous
wines of France.
Tne ball that marks the close Of the
festivities is Of an unhcard-of magniti-.
cence, and 1t certainly is TO common,
sight to see 10000 people dancing at the
same time in tent in the public garden.
For the future the new president does
not belong to himself, but is the prey Of
| Journalists and reporters. Already they
have published the list of things con-
tanned in his baggage, and that of Mrs.
neutrality-suspicious., linen, jewelry, sill
verware, toilet articles-everything has
been counted, labeled and delivered over
10 the curiosity of the public One trans
atlantic journal has even published a
picture of the sheep whose wool furnish
ed the cloth from which the presidential
| coat was made.