The National tribune., 1900-08-02

City Hall have listened to was that Of
the assassination of President Garfield.
Friday, Oct. IA, 1881, Guj:eau was
brought into the room at the right of the
main entrance and arraigned on the
charge of numbering the President of the
United States.
The trial began Monday, Nov. IA.
Never had a trial under this roof since
the day of the laying of the cornerstone
created such widespread interest, and
never before within these walls had q
trial developed so many strange incidents.
1t was blending of farce and tragedy,
running through 56 days. Guiteau's wild
and wicked career, his political aspira-
tions, his numerous adventures, the de-
tails of this most hOryible crime, the tests
of his sanity or insanity, his interruption
Of Judge, jury and witnesses, the holding
of witnesses for days and weeks almost
as close as the prisoner at the bar, the
summoniDg of witnesses by the prosecu
ton or the defense, whether they knew
little, much, or nothing of the case, Gui
teaus comments on witnesses, his Ques-
tiOns, answers and repartees, the crowds
that assembled daily, through sun and
rain, snow or sleet, until not only the
and pavement-altogether has stamped
this trial as one of the most remarkable
in the history of the world.
Let us see if there is not brighter side
to old Judiciary Square.
We have told in these Yesterdays some
time ago of the old, old story of - o o'clock
in the morning." When sturdy Tom
Benton was oblivious TO all things earthly
but sleep; when young Lieut.. Fremont
and Jessie Benton would steal n march,
and sitting on bench under the shade
of grateful tree in Judiciary Square lay
the plans for their journey through life.
The innocent bird-chatter and the Oc-
caslonal news craftsman revealed no Sc
crets. and the honied words of life, ut
tered in these sweet morning hours in the
shade Of judiciary Square materialized
into concrete form, without any permit
from pater familias, and the twain be-
came one!
Perhaps the crowning glory of Ju-
ciary Square is when the American Eagle
spreads his wings above the New Presi-
dents platform at an Inaugural ball. 1t
will he remembered that there were three
Inaugural Balls when President Jackson
was inaugurated-one at Carusis Assem-
bly, Rooms, one at the New Assembly
Rooms in the Jackson Building uhe Globe
Buildingt, and the other at the New
Grand Saloon, built for the occasion, on
judiciary Square.
Doors from the City Hall opened into
the grand saloon, where music, dancing
handsomely caparisoned women, diplo-
mats in court dress. officers uniformed,
all waiting the Hail to the Chief"
which opportunity came about II 80
clock, when the General marched down
the steps from the City Hall into this new
Alladin's Wonderland, surrounded by his
friends and officers in waiting. There
was the din of music, the clinking of
china, the, tinkling of glass, eating and
merrymaking-a broad contrast to the
everyday work of Judiciary Square. Who
does not remember the second Inaugural
Ball of Gen. Grant? Again Judiciary
] Square was put in requisition-a building
800 feet long by 100 wide, Il ball room
300 feet long. The official report said OF
| the inside:
"The mighty American Eagle spreads
his wings above the Presidents platform
He has suspended from his pinions
| streamers one hundred feet in length,
The circumference of this vast design is
lS0 feet. In the rear of the
| balcony are immense festoons of flags,
banners, shields, radiating from a huge
star of gaslights." Every body remembers
that cold day. A contemporary writer
said: You might as well have tried to
| have warmed Pennsylvania avenue.
Twenty-fOur hours before the ball the
| wind devils went at it. The Presidents
platform was at the north end, and the
| muslin splendors Of the Presidential wait
| ing room could not and did not warm
| that polar wave. The thousands of ca
nary birds perched aloft were expected
| to burst into tumultuOus song at the sight
of him, but had one and all gone to bed,
| with their toes tucked into their feathers
and their bills buried in their breasts in
dumb effort to keep them from freezing;
| not q canary bird sang.
"On the platform was President and
Mrs. Grant, Mrs. Fish and the Secretary
of State. the Secretary of the Treasury
Mrs. and Miss Boutwell, and many other
officials. There We're foreign Ministers in
Glittering decorations; but what did it all