Evening star., 1897-02-13

the dark horse Of the democratic conren-
tion-James Knox Poik-was elected over
Clay. the leader of the wings. The inau-
guration took place on the 4th OF March,
iSia and for that period was n most mag
n'ncent affair. For the first time out-of-
town military and political organizations. in
any considerable number. participated.
That handsome and well-driled o-ganiza-
tfon. the Independent Blues of Baltimore,
headed by their celebrated band. came
over. and had the post of honor. Lieut..
Col. W. H. Watson. who was a few years
after killed at the head of the Maryland
and District Of Columbia battalion in Mex
ieo. then commanded the Blues: The Saw
age Guards. from near Annapolis Junction.
were also present. There were. including
the two horse companies and the Colum
bisn Artillery. which fired the salutes. an
even dozen organizations of the military.
In the civic division was the Empire Club of
New York. drawing piece of ordnance. and
after the Jacksons. the Young Hickory and
ether clubs came the state delegations. Gnd
these bore appropriate insignia.
Mr.. Polk was accompanied from his lodg-
ings at the National Hotel to th4 Capitol by
Mr.. Tyler. ard when he reached the White
House the doors were thrown open and for
few hours he was kept busy IN receiving
congratulations. The visit Of the Empire
Club was gratefully remembered oy num-
hers OF our working people. for with their
Baby Walker" the cannon) the glass OF
number of public buildings was Jared
out.
Worked at q Fire.
The club remained in the city several
days. and on the night OF March 3 worked
manfully at the National Theater fire With
the apparatus OF the old Franklin Fire
Company. whose house was then at the
southeast corner of 18th street and Penn
sylvania avenue.
As the Mexican war had brought Gen.
Taylor to the front and made him Presi-
dent over Gen. Cass. so did Ii bring for
ward numerous heroes of that war. and
numbers of them were prominent in the in
augural procession. The pageant was
therefore more interesting than usual. for
aside from old Rough and Ready who
rode with President Polk both to and from
tne capitol. there were Gems. Scott, Wool,
Quitman, Gaines and others. whose deeds
had added to the many laurels OF the SOL
1ier, and in the lire of the procession were
over dozen military organisations A
feature of this part of the line was sew
erai compa mics Of boys. in one of which
was the Rough and Ready Artillery with
two guns, drawn hy hand. The personal
escort of the President was an even hun
dred young men. mounted. and the civic
portion of the unofficial procession was
made up of Rough and Ready" clubs
civilians and students of Georgetown Col
lege. In the evening there were inaugural
balls held at the National Theater. Caru-
Sis saloon (now Kernan's Theater, 11th
and c streets) and the Assembly Rooms
afterward the Canterbury near the pres
ent police headquarters, and the President
spent short time at each. accompanied
by his married daughter. Mrs. Col. w. w.
Bliss. who. as her mothers tastes were
too domestic for the role of the first lady
In the land, took her place.
Sixteen months after the Inauguration
ceremonies funeral services were con-
Quoted in the east room of the White
House, for Gen. Taylor had died on July 9
from exposure to the heat on July L. The
iuneral procession was one of the most
imposing ever seen here, and surpassed in
length the splendid inaugural pageant
Gen. Scott mad command of the military
escort. and behind the funeral car, which
was drawn by eight white horses led by
grooms, came the generals favorite horse
Old Whitley. touching feature of the
occasion.
Pierce and Buchanan.
Mr.. Fillmore filled out the term, ard
when Gen. Pierce. another soldier of the
Mexican war. was elected over his old COM
mander Gen. Scott, he did not follow the
precedent of vacatirg the White House on
the 4th OF March, but accompanied his sue
cessor to and from the Capitol and with
Mrs. Fillmore welcomed the new tenants
OF the mansion. The weather was then
cold and raw, but this did not pre;cnt both
military and civic display of larger pro
portions than any of its predecessors There
We're number of visiting military orpani
cations in line and the numbers anon, tba
Capitol were estimated at 2aNO After
seeing Gen Pierce in Office Mr. Fillmore
.ooh the rooms at Wizards Just yacat led
oy MS successor. In the evening the presi-
cent hefd general reception at the White
rouse. Mrs. Pierce was too quiet a lady
loI washington society, and beside. their
only son having been killed in a railroad
accident few months before it could moi
pe expected that she would be much of a
social leader. Nevertheless SO popular han
become the President that the departure of
the administration was felt by all
Mr. buchanan, the bachelor Pres,den.
was in 1851 accompanied by President
Pierce from Wizards to the Capitol and
there took the oath Of Office The day was
beautiful sprfng-like one and the stre.fs
were crowded as never before probahIy
more Pennsylvanians witnessing the IN
aueura tion of 'Old Buck than were ever
assembled beyond the. limits of the state
among the visiting military were several
companies from Philadelphia, and one each
from harrisburg, Lancaster (the Fenciblesl
ana York Worth Light Infantry. and
tnere were clubs on clubs from that state
with numbers from distant points. Th;s
was the finest event ever seen here and
the festooning of the buildings along The
line OF march was more elaborate than
ever While there was much of a politicaI
character about this event. locally Mr.. Ru
chanan was SO well known to the citizens
mat there was well nigh q universal de-
sire of his neighbors to do him honor.
j. X. GUNN