The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-01
THE THIRD INAUGURATION.
All Of the Interest Was for the Dspart-
ing Idol, Washington.

| The March number of The Century Is an
inauguration number" and il contoins sew
cral articles and many pictures relating to the
| life TINT centers around the White House. Mr..
| Joseph b. Bishop contributes an article ON
inauguration Scenes and Incidents" After
speaking Of the popular idolatryof Washing
ton. Mr.. Bishop says:
The chief sufferer from this condition Of
affairs was John Adams when the time came
TO inaugurato him washington's successor.
He IL the only President we have had, with
hopossible exception Of Mr.. Van Buren,, who
can be said to have played n secondary part
at his own Inauguration. The people had no
eyes for him; they saw only the stately figure
of Washington passing forever from the scene.
The ceremonies were held in Independence
Hall, Philadelphia, in the House Of Reprcsen-
tatives. Washington drove to tho hallin his
coach and -four, and was Justify cbeered both
outside and inside the building. He passed
quickly 10 his seat, as il eager to stop the APP
plause Adams entered n few minutes later
dressed in n hight drab suit and passed slowly
down the aisle, bowling in response to the re-
speciful applause which greeted him. He
took the oath and then delivered his inaugn-
raj address. He described the sccno subse.
quontly rs n solemn one indeed, made more
countcnance was as serene and unclouded MS
the day. There was 40 ID of tears, which
he sought in various ways to explain, though
no explanation was necessary. There was. he
said, more weeping than there had ever been
at the representation of a tragedy but whether
it was from grief or JOY. whether from the
loss of their beloved President or from the
tcccssion of an unbeloved one, or some other
cause, he could not say. He suspected that
the novelty of tho sun setting full-or5ed aud
another rising, though less splendid, may
have had something TO do with IT, For several
days after tho exercises be was still bewailng
the tendency 10 weep. Everybody was annoy
ing him by talking of tears and streaming
eyes, but nobody told him why, and he was
forced TO believe that il was ali for the loss Of
their beloved. Two or three had ventui ed to
whisper in his ear that his address had made
a favorable impression, but no other evidence
OF interest in him had reaohc him. One
thing he knew, and that was that he was "a
being of too much sensibility 10 act any part
well in such an exhibition.
II the tears Mt the inaugural exercises made
Mr.Adams unhappy, what followed must have
added greatly 10 his sufferlngs. When, at the
close Washington moved toward the door,
there was prccipitate rush from the gallery
and corridors for the street, and he found
great throng awaiting him be emerged from
the door. They cheered him, and he waved
his hat to them, his couptenance radiant with
bcnignity, his gray hair streaming in the
win he walked TO his house. followed by
the crowd, and On reaching it turned for
final greeting His corntenance assumed a
grave and almost melancholy expression. his |
eyes We're bathed in tears, and only by ges-
lures could he indicate his thanks and con-
vey his fai ewell blessing