The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-05
How the Inauguration Looked With All
the GIamor Off.
The Hands of Burns and His Offensive COtere of
LieutenantS to Be Seen on Every Side
During the Function.
BY HENRY JAMES.

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MEETO, Jan. 1.-THE inauguration of a
Governor is an impressive function. 1t
seems, at superficial glance. TO be
invested with an actual solemnity. If
one coul not see beneath the surface
If the story of shameless compacts
could not be read as an open book if
there were not present the highwaynen
of politics and the thugs Of iobbery, one
would feel that a momentous occasion
was being woven into history. But as
a spectator, l saw Gunst and Step
paeher, the creatures of Dan Burns
and knowing that TO cattle of their sort
was due the very fact of the ceremonies
being under way, felt a measure of the
glamour vanish.
L would not go out of the way to
speak OF Steppacher except that he
thrust himself into the notice. and the
only. notice he deserves he seems TO
escape. To-day he was particularly Of
fensve, for he assumed charge OF
everything from the procession to the
reception of the joint committees es-
corting the Governor and the Governor
elect. He gave orders for the clearing
of the streets. Express wagons trem-
bled in his presence, and the hacks felt
abashed. At the Capitol he pranced
up and down the main aisle a. one in
authority, although he was not. Per
haps Jake thinks he is a pleasing spec
tacle, but he is no beauty. His bald
ness surmounted by a warty climax.
his squat inquire and his vacant face.
with its passing CLEANS OF cunning. fail
to inspire emotions Of joy. 1 say this in
all kindness by wav. Of a hint, having
no method of causing a house TO fall
on Jake.
Gunst was there, too, stolid. heavy
eyed. doub less glad hat his Job as
Police Commissioner had been saved to
him. and loving Burns more than ever.
since the man from Mexico had caused
the date Of the inauguration TO fit the
crime. Major Mclaughlin was in a
front row The major, 100, has de-
ciared tor --ur1is, but 1 am willing that
this be ascribed TO temporary aberra-
ton. Why a man viii devote his time
and his effort to. promoting the welfare
of PARTY and then .whack the party on
the head with an "a is difficult TO I'M
derstand. However, while the major
Ianr..respecta biIity and avoirdupois TO
q
NIass back home Jake is. a Federal
OFFICIAL. faithfully drawing salary.
Nose sells cigars, regulates. games and
Cha e4ans morals in San Francisco. He
5s.needed on the bay. Lesides, his pres
srra here TENDS TO rob The Burns cam
,aign of that air Of purity which is its
leading feature. Having lndulged IN
tbfs little swing from the subject, let
+. US get ack ~ain.
Presuning that the procession
through the streets, the orange pluIles
of the signal corps, the braid OF the
brave. music Of the bands and the
snGrting Of the warhorses has been
fully portrayed elsewhere, l let it go
at that.
The. throng in the Assembly chamber
was a credit TO Sacramento. and the
State, 1t was packed, but orderly, in
terested bat quiet. There were many
ladies. Mrs Gage sat on the right.
While not pretending to be able TO de-
scribe how any lady was dressed, ven
ture that she was city CARRIED. Her
robe was gray About her neck was a
feAthery boa of white and her hat, was
a combination Of pale blue with the
gray tint Of her gown. Her own color
ing is rich, her carriage and figure the
perfection of womanly dignity. Be
side her sat her daughter Lucille, a
veritable fairy in daintiest attire. Next
to her on the other side sat the wife
Of Governor Budd and then his mother.
The ladies conversed pleasantly, but for
some reason there were tears in their
eyes. a sweet and gracious person 1
would call the wife. of Ex-Governor
Budd, while upon his mother, save for
silver hairs, the burden Of years sits
lightly. The rest Of the audience were
OF no more individual Importance than
you and l.
After the necessary formality the re-
firing Governor and the Governor about