Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1897-03-11

an element OF the military display. As
the ranks passed beyond the presidents
stand and come In sight or the war de-
partment they saw the most complete and
worthy decoration of any of the great
buildings OF the city. rms lolft work 81
Secretaries Lamont ard Herbert was the
most impressive beautiful ana tasteful
in Washington, and altogether IN keeping
with what they have always done when
the resources Of the army and navy cs-
Establishments could add dignity and
strength 10 any national AFFAIR
There have been longer Columns in Tor
mer inaugurations, but there have never
been so perfect an organization Of the par.
ade' or SO PROMPT so Te,. G Gfgan Por.
ter and Gen. Dodge with their leading
aids secured on this occasion.
The fatigues OF the day wore heavily
upon the Presidents aged mother and his
wife and they left the stand early, re-
turning to the White House for little
rest For three hours and more President
Mckinley and Nice-President Hobart
stood at the front OF the stand returning
the salutes of the passing multitude.
| of the marchers except an occasional
cheer given In response 10 the applause OF
the occupants OF the Presidents stand as
| II recognized some famous organization.
| or showed its appreciation OF something
! striking or unique In the uniforms or
| equipments Each organization as II
| passed dipped it's colors In salute TO the
| President and vice-president and In turn
were saluted by them. The President In
! returning these salutes not only removed
| his hat. but gave a low bow. The only en-
| thusiastic demonstration seen from the
| Presidents stand occurred just the last
| of the parade passed by. At that moment
| the thousands of people who lined the
| streets, as IL actuated by single impulse,
| rushed into the middle of the street and
| surged round the President, cheering and
| gesticulating like mad. Cheer after cheer
| was given as the great mass OF people
| crowded around and struggled to get near
! the President. 1t seemed almost providen-
| tial that many were not crushed in the
great throng, but, so far as known no
no tod hn nd
| vice-president waited for a moment and
| then hastily left the stand and returned
to the White House.
The many glories OF the day were
| eclipsed by the brilliancy Of the various
| night displays. 1t was at the brilliantly
illuminated pension building that politics
| paid its tribute to society. There the dis
| tinguished guests of the occasion paid
homage to President Mckinley and the
| later treaded the maZes of the dance. The
| inaugural ball is always the climax of the
! day. To the minds OF many there Is moth
! ing comparable to II. They like to see
| the parade, they linger for a sight of the
| prominent men and women, they occupy
! their weary places on terraced stands for
| hours to see the President and the inaugu-
! ration party pass but the hope of most OF
them, especially the ladies who have come
! provided with exquisite gowns, designed
| and planned months in advance, is the
| ball. The pension building is admirably
suited for this spectacular display. 1t Is
! an enormous hall surrounding a vast court
supported by huge pillars of marble
around which circle two galleries. This
great court became the ball room. the
! equalled before. 1t is certain that they
! have not been approached in this country.
Those who have attended noted fetes
abroad insist that they have not been
| anywhere excelled. They were both mag
nlfcent and wonderful in all their various
! effects.
The presidential party, the notable fig
ures OF officialdom, and the world OF
society, which IN Washington has the
! diplomatic corps, AID the army and navy
Tor conspicuous factors, delayed their ar
rival until fashionable hours. The first
! corners, however, were repaid for their
enterprise by Tire finest view, for with
! out great enough crowd To conceal the
decorations the wonderful hail was to be
seen TO the best advantage From the
two balconies oncircling the hall high up
hundreds Of people looked down as into an
arena upon the other hundreds CT stall
wart, black-coated men and richly-gowned
women who swept in continuous pr1ces-
sion around and around the broad surface.
Meantime, during the first hour before
the dancing was TO begin. the spectators
were entertained by concert from the
white uniformed military baid which
hlled the gallery at the east end of the
hail. and alternated with the orchestra
high up in the south gallery rendering op-
cratic airs or stirring marches. The hu-
man element OF the ball was. after the
building had began to fill up. its most in
teresting factor. The democracy of the
great social event of Inauguration i'm
pressed itself upon a, visitor, CITY and
country society and ofiicialdom, even
black and white. touched elbows on
friendly terms in the general rotunda.
Among the fashionably-gow women of
New York 400 and from the society peo-
pie of every American city We're the visi-
tors from rural towns. OF dancing there
was none during the first two hours and
little thereafter for the floors were too
much crowded TO dance with comfort and
most Of the visitors chose rather to watch
the display than 10 risk their toes and
garments In the crush.
The entire city was ablaZe with light.
ia
Illuminated, and the whole line of march
OF the day, with its countless fag-effects
and beautiful intertwinings and drapery
OF the national colors shone clear and dis
tinct. Private Nominations Joined each
other from end to end of the avenue. The
immense public buildings seemed i'm
flames At various points high over them
against the blackness Of the sky, great
flags, illuminated by search lights, waved
clear and bright as II the spirits of the
upper air were active participants in this
national festival This effect was magi-
cal and moved the thousands below to
an enthusiasm which even the marvellous
scenes of the day had not kindled As
the general illumination faded the search
lights began to reveal the public build
ings and the Washington monument. The
capitol. the public library and the state,
war and navy buildings flashed suddenly
into light, each wonderful and entranc-
ing mirage of the night, alternately fix
ing the breathless attention of the multi
tudes and suddenly disappearing into
darkness The fireworks and the street
Examinations have not been equaled In
the past, and the entertainment for the
thousands who could not attend the ball
was varied and ample.
Never before was an administration
launched upon its unknown future with
more impressive or enthusiastic demon
stration. But now the lights are out In
the ballroom: the flags no longer CLEAN
against the darkness of the sky; the wild
acclaim OF the multitudes is stilled after
day of fervent patriotic emotion the
national capital slept. With the sunrise
OF the next day the new administration
which all our clans united to welcome
was compelled TO take upon itself the
countless tasks which will test it's
strength. The prayers OF all the nation
are with the new President that his four
years as our ruler may be full of happi-
ness to himself and his and may bring
the hoped-for prosperity to our beloved
land.
Mrs. Cleveland came over from Prince
ton for the purpose of entertaining the
Mckinley party. She had arranged a
luncheon for the wife, mother and per-
sonal party Of the President-elect in the
White House just prior to the review OF
the parade, and i'm the public home she
was about 20 leave awaited their coming
about o'clock. The Mckinley party left
the capitol ceremonies ahead of the pro-
cession and OF the two Presidents. They
were greeted I'm the blue parlor by Mrs.
Cleveland, Secretary Lamont and Col.
Wilson and escorted to the family dim