The Bourbon news., 1897-03-05

The graceful interchange OF courtesies be-
tween the outgoing and incoming officials.
which has only twice been intermitted-once
when bluff John Adams packed his gripsack
and slipped out at the white house at day
light on the fourth of March to avoid shaking
hands with his hated federalist success
sor the illustrious Jefferson. and
once within living memory when
Gen. Grant because of his str aimed
personal relations with Andrew Johnson,
drove in his buggy from the old war depnrt-
ment to the capitol, accompanied only by
Gen. John A. Rawlins. his chief of staff-were
on this occasion exercised to the full extent
Mr Cleveland and Mr.. Mckinley rode side by
side to and from the capitol They had dined
together at the white house the day before,
and they lunched in each others company on
the day in which they transferred the gov
ernment of this great nation. the one TO
the other. An additional air OF cordialIty
infused into the proceedings by the similar
tty between the views entertained by the re-
tiring president and his cabinet on the finan-
cial questions and those upon which the sue
cessiul candidate of the republic
an party was elected. Mr.. Cleveland in
truth felt more qualification probably in in :
stalling at the capitol as his successor the
leader OF an opposing political party than he
would have had in escorting under like cir
cumstances the leader chosen by his own po-
litical associates as their candidate for the
presidency. This innovation on the usually
closely drawn PARTISAN lines Of American pol
itics gave added piquaucy 10 the proceedings.
Repeated but unsuccessful efforts have
been made OF late years to change by legisla-
tiop the date Of the inauguration ceremony to
later period of the season, so as to avoid
the uncertainties and frequent inclemencies
of climate which prevail in Washington in the
early part OF March
The decorations OF the city were exceed
ingly effective with but one notable except
ion That was the treasury. department, the
majestic outlines OF which were disfigured in
violation of all rules of taste. Each Of the
graceful fluted columns Of the eastern facade
on 18th street, was partially swadded in strip
ped pantalets, falling short of the pediments
exactly after the fas hion Of Uncle Sam s. trou-
sers as depicted in the csmic papers, and over
the entablatures at each end and also over
the main eastern entrance. the shield and
eagle OF the United States were daubed upon
a fideous yellow background. the whole
forming a tawdry combination which
scorned to display. Everywhere else
however, the scenic effect was fine
and even the bad taste displayed in the treas
ury drapings was in part obliterated By the
animated concourse of employees and theil
families and guests who occupied the tempo
rarv seats which. piled tier above tier
reached half way up the side OF the building
and entirely covered the garden at the south
end looking down Pennsylvania avenue Th'
payiIion In front of the white house
from which President Mckinley re
viewed the returning procession was thini
of teauty-an architectural creation OF whit,
and gold, strongly resent bling In its apparent
IL snbsta initial pillars and its general outlines