, 1897-03-04

Washington, March 4.-(Special.)-
Although the day was not all that could
be desired, the rain OF yesterday having
made h atmosphere muggy and every
thing damp and clammy. the thousands
Of visitors made the best Of 1t and ap-
peared to enjoy the ceremonies to the
fullest extent.
Since their arrival ut the capital, the
home of the McKinleys has been at the
Ebbitt house. The major has seen very
few visitors and today he insisted that
the ceremony of h~andshaking should be
limited, as he has not yet regained his
full strength.
Last evening Mr.. and Mrs. Mckinley
were driven from the Ebbitt TO the
White House, where they we're the
guests OF President and Mrs. Cleveland
at dinner. There were only four pres
ent at this dinner, which is a social func-
ton introduced by Mrs. Mckee, the
charming daughter Of ex-President Har-
rison, four years ago. Up to the advent
OF the Harrisons at the White House
there was scant courtesy shown the in.
coming president by the man retiring
from Office. When Mrs. Cleveland re.
tired eight years ago she showed little
consideration 10 Benjamin Harrlson's
daughter. hut Mrs. Mckee heaped coals
OF fire upon her head four years later,
and o Mrs. Cleveland is returning the
compliment with the Mckinleys. After
the dinner last evening. the president
and president-elect had a dong inter-
view, presumably upon matters pertain
ing to affairs Of state. and at 10 O'Clock
the Mckinleys were driven back to the
Ebbitt house.
Never In the history of Washington
have such elaborate preparations been
made by all the people for Inauguration
day. 1897. which o many look upon as
the beginning OF an era Of prosperity In
the United States. All the stores and
nearly all the private residences of the
city bear the national colors, interviewer
in beautiful designs. The crowd In at
tendance is the largest over seer here
and the marching clubs and military
never looked more beautiful. The fact
that railroad rates were kept up pretty
stifly and that the hotels did moi hesl.
tate to double and treble their rates does
not seem TO have deferred anyone from
coming to the capital. II the people OF
Washington are not making a harvest
at the present time it is not because they
do not know how to charge; that Is one
thing in which they are adopts, and they
do it without a smile. Seats In some o.
the stands have sold as high as $40, and
In same cases single windows from
which the parade could be viewed have
sold for 5000 and $500.
THE CEREMONY.
At 1880 this morning Major McKin,
ley was driven from the Ebbitt house to
the capital, and after a brief interlude
in the senate he was taken to the broad
platform at the east front of the capl,
tai. where the oath Of office was admins
tered by Chief Justice Fuller. The
ceremony is a very brief one and five
minutes after those who occupied places
upon the platform had settled in their
seats it was over and President McKin-
ley had begun to read his inaugural ad-
dess, which is an exceedingly able state
document and was read from manu-,
script.
AT the conclusion Of the inaugural ad-
dess, the immense throng melted away
from in front Of the capital and the PEG,
pie arranged themselves along Pennsyl-
vaia avenue to witness the grand parade.
President Mckinley and ex-President
Cleveland entered their carriage and
the grand column began to move, the
presidents personal escort, preceded by
Grand Marsh Porter. being the first in
motion. The carriage in which the pres,
ident and Mr.. Cleveland rode was drawn
by four magnificent chargers. Follow,
Ing the ~president's carriage were the
troops Of the regular army, the ~nationa,
6OoANs ~ oA6uAAAullOu "a Veterans ana
finally the political clubs. Forty thou,
sand men were in line, and 1t took them
more than three hours to pass a given
point. AT the reviewing stand in front
Of the White House President Mckinley
and Mr.. Cleveland parted, the president
remaining to review the entire parade
from the grand marshal to the last OF
the Mckinley and Hobart clubs. After
the parade, the president will retire TO
the White House and rest till it is time
for the inaugural ball tonight, which
will be held in the pension building. or
course dancing will be out Of the ques.
ton, but 10000 people will assemble
there and show their dress suits and gor-
geous gowns.
CROWDS OF VISITORS.
Washington, March ga crush and
a jam at the railroad depots that almost
~blockaded passage to the adjacent
streets, and = constant influx Of hosts OF