Omaha daily bee., 1897-03-05

gathered with patriotic purpose, passed
down through its beautiful grounds and
wheeled into Pennsylvania avenue at the
Peace monument, where its real march
began.
DECORATIONS.
From this point to the Washington circle,
two miles and a half distant, this noted
avenue had been made triumphll way.
This great avenue, with width OF l6O feet
and a perfect concrete pavement doubly
swept for the occasion, afforded such helu
for decoration and ease Of movement oil col
umns as cannot elsewhere be found In the
land. Looking from the head OF the line at
the Peace monument toward the treasury
and white house, a mile and hait away
was like gazing into a broad canyon, whose
high walls we're mass OF men, women ana
flags. The buildings. low and high, pam
and stately were almost concealed from view
by the spectators, and these, in turn, were
as thickly covered with streamers. banners
and bunting, waving in the light breeze
or woven into countless forms Of beauty, as
are autumnal woods with the glories oil au-
tumn. Everywhere, as In those woods, was
the coloring of golden entwined with the
banners to suggest the central plank of
victory.
AS basis for decoration. the inaugural
committee distributed $4,000 national flags
to all on the line of march who would use
demand that there would have been 100000
| used IL they had been provided. Upon
| such a background each individual owner
builded and wrought out such forms oil
beauty as his enthusiasm and his patriot
| ism suggested.
First was the clean-swept floor OF the
wide avenue, roped in throughout its length
| and clear OF every object save the lining
| of police, who kept it so, The wide pave
ments on either side throughout the llne
| Of march was packed. Rising above theSe
| came the crowds in the show windows. tnen
| the thick ranks Of the balconies Every
| window and cornce had its full quota Oh
! spectators and so upward to the fringes
| Of men along the edges of the roofs, every
| available point of observation, was not only
filled. but crowded to its capacity. Ine
| great stands which lined all the parks anu
| reservations were for the first time in the
| history of inaugurations both attractive III
| plan and beautiful in decoration.
REVIEW OF THE PARADE.
Over such triumphal way and thus honoret
| NV magnificent preparations, and the pres
ence and thunderous applause OF unendnt
crowds, President Mckinley was escorted u
the white house and when he projected u
stand in front of 1t to review the imposing
columns of marching thousands, which ha'
| followed him from the capitol, he received
at every hand unbounded admiration ana ac
claim which at intervals drowned the musi
/
stand occupied two-thirds OF the front OF tn
white house ground The audience was not
able in all its elements. The. official lie o
the nation was well represented. Ihe am
bassadors and ministers of all nation
honored the occasion. The political mag
mates of both parties had seats. The fam
lilies of the various dignitaries were presen
in force, and the press of the land wa
numerously and ably represented
Opposite the presidents stand, and mucl
| wi extended alOnl
the entire front OF Lafayette square, dis
tance OF two blocks. In the center OF this
directly opposite the president, 1t had bee
announced that Mr.. Hanna had purchase
$50 seats for himself and friends and tn
national committee.
The parade was famous column notabl,
commanded. General Horace Porter, grant
marshal, at it's head, recalled to all veteran
the campaigns of Grant, his chief. Follow
ing his numerous and brilliant staff, upol
which the sons Of Presidents Grant, Hayes
Garfield Arthur and Harrison were prom
| inent figures, came General Granville
Dodge, commanding the first grand division
which embraced all the military organiza
tions Of the parade His presence and tina
of his staff brought vividly to mind the oil
army of Grant and Sherman-the Army o
the Tennessee. With General Dodge, VIII
commanded one of its corps and now tn
president of its society, and General Hicken
looper of it's artillery and correspondin
its recording secretary. 1t seemed to thos
who identified these veterans as IT the arm
o of Sherman were passing again in the gran
!, review of a generation ago.
d After the soldiers came the civic organ
# cations, numerous in gallant trim and con
n manded by their chief, Marshal B. III. Wal
@ ner of Washington. From front to rear
e was the best organization, both in its mil
e tary and civic sections, that has marche
II in Washington since the veterans of til
= war passed through it from the fields
g reuown 20 their homes.
d BRILLIANT NIGHT DISPLAY.
- The many glorious scenes of the day wei
! eclirsed by the brliancy of the various nigl
y displays. The decorations of the ball roo
> have not been equaled before. 1t is certa
"a that they have not been approached in tn
~ country Those who have attended mote
=, feteS abroad insist that they have not bee
" anywhere eXcelled.
'e Tho city was ablaze with light All Il
~ parks and public grounds were illuminate
u Private illuminatons Joined each other fro
y end to end OF the avenue and the immen
~ public buildings seemed in flames.
u AS the general illuminations glared, Il
rs searchlights began to reveal the publ
u buildings and TO show Washington mon
III ment The capitol. the public treasul
u and the state war and navy building
flashed suddenly into light, each wonde
V full and an entrancing image OF night, alte
~ nately fixing the breathless attention
te the multitudes, and suddenly disappeariI
n io into the darkness. The fireworks and q
~ street illuminations have not been equal
w NJ, in the past and tho entertainments OF t
~ ~ thousands who could not attend the ba
ri was varied and ample
.ir Never before was an administratit
he launched upon its unknown future, wi
"a more impressive or enthusiastic demo
ng stration. The lights are out in the bi
- room; the flags no longer gleam again
the darkness OF the sky; the city ligh
burn low; the wild acclaim of the mul
er tude is stiIled after a day OF fervent P
,s triotic emotion the national capitol sleeI
10 With the sunrise the new admlnistratio
st which all citizens have united to WELDON
Ut must strip itself for the countless tas
ch which will test its strength.
d. II. V, DoYNToN.
nd ,r,,. ny w nET,,