The true northerner., 1897-01-06
M'KINLEY' SNAUCURAL
Mary New and Attractive Fea-
lures Proposed.
GRAND ELECTRICAL ILLUMINATION

The Inaugural Parade Arrangements For
accommodating the Crowds-President
Cleveland Eager to Get Out-Where Four
Thousand People May "Trip the Light
Fantastic Toe."
WASHINGTON, Jan. g. - Especial. l.
Among the many new and attractive fea-
tures now proposed for the Mckinley In
augural Is an illumination of the United
States capitol by large electric searchlights
IL has been figured out that big flashing
ray from the top of the senate or house
wing could be seen all over the capital on
the gala night, and that succession of
such flashes, turned now one way and now
another-flrst lighting up the hole stretch
of Pennsylvania avenue, mile and a half
to the treasury and White House, and then
the shaft of the Washington monument,
the portico of the patent Office the turrets
of the Smithsonian and the huge roof Of the
pension office, where the inaugural ball is
to be- held-would add much of splendor to
the scene.
Great Flashlights.
There has also been talk of a general
electrical illumination of all the public
buildings. Ii this be decided on, it will
be in place of the usual fireworks exhibi-
tion given at the base of the Washington
monument. These fireworks displays arc
usually very disappointing as we'll as very
expensive. Great crowds assemble, but for
some reason ur other the fireworks get
more or less lazy and refuse To work. Per
haps rain falls in torrents-it usually
storms in Washington on Inauguration
day--or the wind blows with SO much
force that the oombustibles take fire acci-
dentally and all 60 of together. Electric
arches will be thrown across Pennsylvania
avenue between the capitol and the treas
ury, and IL searchlights are used TO fash
from the national statehouse and all the
public buildings are brilliantly illuminat-
ed Washington will present such spec
tacle as was never before witnessed on this
continent.
The great inaugural parade this year Is
expected to eclipse all former parades in
brilliancy and interest Usually we have
just a little too much of the Pennsylvania
militia, who come to the inaugural 5000
strong and compose the greater part of the
procession. They are fine troops, and at
first win much applause, but after couple
OF hours of tramp, tramp of the gray coated
keystoners the whole thing grows a little
tiresome. This year the understanding Is
that there will not be quite So many Penn
sylvania militia companies and few more
crack companies and regiments from other
states. The Republican League of Clubs
are expected to turn out 20, QUO strong, but
IL they are present to this number or any
thing like it they will be scattered through
the procession so AS to avoid too much
monotony.
To Accommodate the Crowds.
New arrangements are to be made for
accommodating the great crowds which
wish to view the inaugural parade. Usu-
ally a number of board stands are erected,
and seats in them are sold for 90 cents, 81
or even So each, according to location. But
the stands are almost always without roofs,
and their occupants are exposed to the fury
of the storm. Four years ago "a number Of
men and women lost their lives through
exposure to the weather in these open
stands. Now it is proposed to put roofs
over all the seating accommodations.
General Horace Porter of New York,
who is To be marshal of the inaugural pa
rade, was in the city not long ago and
while here called on President Cleveland
in company with Mark Hanna and mum
Der of other prominent men. AS they all
stood chatting in the presidents library
General Porter, who was General Grants
military secretary, told the following story
Of the first Inauguration of President
Grant
1t seems that for some reason or other
Mrs Grant had always had doubts con
cerning her husbands elevation To the
presidency. At any rate, she and General
hud avid tull ka
over, for, after taking the oath of office AS
it was administered to him by the chief
justice of the supreme court and thus ac-
tually becoming president of the United
States, General Grant turned to his wife,
with smile on his face, and said To her.
Julia, are you satisfied nowY'
Mr. Cleveland Getting jolly.
President Cleveland is evidently begin
ming to feel somewhat like the schoolboy
who knows the end of the term Is near,
and who is eager to get into the open air
and have q good time. The members of
his cabinet say Mr.. Cleveland Is In unusu-
ally fine humor Of late. He Is jollier than
he has been for long time, and is besides
becoming a confirmed theater goer. AL
most every week the president, accom-
panied by Mrs Cleveland, may be seen
He enjoys the play, too, and the remainder
of the audience like to watch the corruga-
tions come and 60 In the chief magistrates
big neck and not pretty face whenever
something funny excites his mirth.
/ have been asked to tell how large the
room is In the pension office where the
Mckinley inaugural ball or reception is to
be held. 1t IL $50 feet in length by l3O
feet wide. The authorities say that 4, 900
persons can conveniently assemble on this
floor at once, though, of course, dancing
is out of the question under such circum-
stances. The apex of the roof over this
great hall Is $50 feet from the floor. So
you can imagine what an enormous build I
ing IL Is, nearly all In this one great amphi-
theater. The roof is supported by eight
massive pillars 80 feet high, and the deco
rative opportunities which they provide are
admirable.
Surrounding this immense hall are three
galleries, rising one above the other. Two
of them are 20 feet wide and the other 10
feet. They afford a splendid promenade,
with full view of the beautiful scene be-
low. This building, floor, galleries and
apartments thrown open to guests can cas-
lily accommodate from $4,000 to $1,000