The age-herald., 1899-05-24

Of forty-flve guns. The first days fes- tivities were marked by a parade com pTising all the regular army and naval or ganizations stationed in and around Wash- ington, together with the District of Co., lumbia volunteers, the Delaware National Guard the Chinese naval reserve of Phila- delphia, the veterans of the c. A. R., and the Fourth and Ninth United States yolun- teer regiments immunes.) The day opened bright and promising, became heavily over cast at noon, and the guns had scarcely finished the national salute before there was downpour of rain that plastered the bunting decorations flat against the house frorts and the crowds which had just be- gan to gather on the streets hurriedly sought shelter.
 The storm, however, was of brief dars,- tion. He sun came out and shone bfil- liantiy throughout the afternoon. Over 5,0U1 men were in the parade The ronte was that followed by the inauguration parades, down Pennsylvania avenue, around the treasury and in front of the white house grounds where large review ing stand, gracefully decorated with bunt- ing had been erected. The three squares extending from the state, war and navy to the treasury building had been transformed into a court of honor On each side classic columns were reared and two broad arches spanned by festooncd flags and bunting marked the entrance and exit to the court. The public benches along the avenue at this point were black with people and the sur- rounding parks were thronged. The presi- dent, members of his cabinet and their wives, ambassadors and foreign ministers with their attaches, General Miles and his staff aud many prominent people in public and private life occupied the reviewing stand. The enthusiasm was great as the parade passed through the court of honor. Cheers and applause greeted favorite or ganizations.
 The president and Secretaries Hay and Gage, who stood on small platform jutting from tho stand were repeatedly and tumutously applauded as they uncovered each time the American colors trooped by. General Wheeler was accorded the largest demonstration. In full uniform, he rode in a carriage. He was everywhere cheered. As he reached the reviewing stand he arose and saluted the president. The people went wild Another interesting and signifi- cant incident was the cheering of Sousns new march Hands Across the Sea-" one of the bands striking up this stirring air as the reviewing stand was reached. The applause which greeted it was started by the diplomats. spread through the stand and broke in a roar of cheers along the whole length of the court of honor. The parade was three-quarters of an hour pass ing the reviewing stand
 Probably 75,000 people went to the White House lot to view the magnificent display of fireworks, which included a realistic re- production of the battle of Manila por- traits of President Mckinley, Admiral Dewey and other notable characters of the war President and Mrs. Mckinley aod most of the members of the cabinet and ladies of the families occupied vantage seats and were interested spectators of the exhibition.
 There were many special electrical de- vices on business houses, while the court of honor, stretching along Pennsylvania ave nue in front of the presidents house formed an object of much interest to the thousands of spectators. The great center pieces were handsomely illumined and decorated, as was also the grand stand from which the president and his cabinet viewed the parade in the day.