The herald., 1897-02-28
M'KINLEY'S INAUGURATION
Will Consist Of a Simple Ceremony and
Gorgeous Pageant
The Transition From Private Life to Official
Dignity and Vice Versa-cieve-
lands Last Official Act

to the surging oblivion of private life.
The first of these is William Mckinley.
The second is Grover Cleveland.
Once in every four years the pomp of
power finds stupendous illustration in
Washington. To the mind the transition
which takes place on that day is marvel
Gus in its Importance. Yet 1t Is accom-
plshed In manner which is simple
enough, and when one comes to see all
there is nothing that shakes the nerve
unless it be the blare Of the trumpets in
the inaugural procession or the gaudy
finery Of the bedzened participants
therein. Inauguration day is curious
mixture OF the programs of all the
notable holidays which the greatest re-
public In the world observes annually.
1t Is a hodgepodge out of which every
one can extract one thing that Is IA
miliar.
This is the day when the statesman
and the drayman stand on a level, just
as much as on election day, for both of
them can, if they will, see man resign
the presidency and become citizen,
ordinary, in the patriotic sense of the
word. They can see another man step
from the orchestra circle of the amphi-
theater of the republic upon the stage
of state and both may hear him speak
and gaze their fill upon him in the full
glare of the footlights-while the lime
light of public opinion is turned full upon
him.
1t Is sometimes the case that the out
going occupant of the White House con-
ceals the gnawing disappointment of
bitter defeat, and, Spartan like, well
comes the successor whom he has
t,.tx, tA xxtit A1t Nf
lost election. That is a time which at
least tries ones SOUL If 1t happens to be
such a situation as indicated. In the
year 1897, however. there will be no rea-
son for bitterness, except that which
one man OF one party might feel when
yielding to the representative of the op-
position 1t is whispered-after the
fashion of the stage-that the present
occupant of the White House WILL TAX
ing all things into consideration, feel
none of the regret that the representa-
tive of his party might legltts,ately
confess to. So 1t will probably be that
the meeting of Mr.. Mckinley and Presi-
dent Cleveland, for that will be their
relation when they first come together
on March 4, will be that of two men who
have no bitterness to conceal, who cher
ish none but the kindest feelings toward
one another.
All these things the people of Washing
ton are talking about just now. They
are, as we'll, the topics of conversation
Of thousands of strangers who are with
in our gates. Washington is no longer
anything but cosmopolitan-for a linn
tied period. The streets, the private
houses, the hotels. all places, are throng-
ed with the representatives of all Sec
tions. Once in four years the city makes
of itself vast boarding house. 1t is
not hospitality altogether. 1t is merely
the harvest time. for the seed time came
November 4, 1896 This is essentially a
moneymaking place. so far as the ca
terers to the public appetite are con-
cerned. Therefore when the time comes
when every attic Is at premium, for
the air Is not balmy, the purveyor of
rooms and Of eatables doubles and
sometimes trebles his scale of prices, and
seeks to procure the wherewithal for a
bank account that will tide him over the
rough places in the highway of expe-
rience during the four years which must
elapse before another inaugural ton day
comes around.
Adding to the throng of those who
have arrived simply to see the sights
OF the city and the pagean. of the day
of days, is throng a horde, a mob of
individuals, male and female, who, like
a pack of beagles, are in full cry for the
official fox-that is, the dispenser of
public patronage. Every office has an
applicant There are hundreds here,
hoping, praying and ready to beg for the
shoes in which the office holders of the
Cleveland administration are already
shaking. There are few, indeed, who
do not believe that success will ulti-
mately be theirs. The fact of civil
service escapes their minds, or else they
ehunt it to one side just as if it were a
disabled car which nobody thought was
any account Old timers here, how
eVer, are looking forward to the burn
ing days of August, when the galaxy of
would-be officials will realize vividly
out sadly that many are called but few
are chosen.
The decorations this year promise
about the same general ensemble as in
the inauguration days of the past The
people OF Washington believe in individ-
ual taste when it comes to matters of
decoration. Thre is no general idea of
harmony maintained. Effect is en-
tireiy lost sight of. In fact Pennsyl-
vania avenue, with it's tremendous area
lined with buildings so low that there
Is practically no sky line, presents the
appearance of the Star Spangled Banner
with bunting recklessly distributed and
In the most incongruous fashion, 1t
reminds one of nothing so much as a
house which any number of persons
painted each square to suit their indi-
vfdual tastes. Some day Washington
may learn the wisdom of the fact that in
union there Is artistic effect as well as
strength.
There Is one matter which oyershad-
ows all else in the least local--the wealth
er. Will 1t be like General Grants sec
ond Inauguration, when the coffee froze
in the cups, or are we to have "Cleye-
land" weather? The weather is an un-
failing topic of conversation always. and
generally of the lightest sort In this
instance, 1t is of most serious import.
Freezing weather, mud or slush, rain or
snow-any but the first means that the
great inauguration day parade will re-
semble the bedraggled appearance of
the peacock after an encounter with the
farmers dog. The soothsayers, though.
have 1t that Major Mckinley has never
been harbinger of stormy weather, and
that consequently we may all expect a
smiling sky and genial warmth on the
day when he takes the office to which SO
many aspire and so few attain.
The ball will be held Thursday night
and five inaugural grand concerts viii
be given in the ballroom on the following
Friday. The first concert will be given
at 1890 a. M, in honor of the United
States army. represented by Gen. Miles
and staff. The Republican Glee Club Of
Columbus, o., will sing a number of
patriotic airs. At p. m. concert viii
be given in honor of the navy, repre-
sented by Rear Admirals Walker and
Hamsey, and at night the concert will be
given In honor Of the states Of the Union,