The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-14

peru CudTBeT. SIaH lnciuQeO brlS-
| adler General Breckenridge and many
other prominent officials, mounted and
In uniform. presenting a brilliant ap-
pearance.
The military forces participating in
cluded artillery, cavalry, marines and
| sailors. First came the Second United
| States artillery and three battalions
| of artillery from other regiments. The
fifth United States cavalry acted as the
| immediate escort of the president. Un-
| der Colonel William A. Rafferty,, the
| troops were assembled along the north
| curb Of Pennsylvania avenue fronting
| the White house, and as the president
appeared the cavalry salute was given
and the troopers wheeled into column
| of platoons and swept down the ave-
| nue. toward the capitol. With the pres
| ident were the various members of his
cabinet, in carriages. Then came the
| national guard of the District of CO.
| lumbia, three regiments strong.
Vying with the presidential party in
the interest excited was the notable
| procession of governors of the states
| and territories, with their staffs and
/ military escorts. This gave a touch of
| individual interest to the people from
many states, and the chief executives
| were warmly welcomed all along the
line OF march. The governors march
| ed in the order Of the admission of the
| states to the union, Governor Tunnell
of Delaware, coming first.
| The grand army of the republic
| Spanish war veterans, the old guards,
| and especially invited guests followed
The parade moved down Pennsylvania
| avenue between two densely packed
| masses of humanity. AS the parade
| reached the capitol it swung northward
| to the broad plaza on the east front.
| The president took position on the re-
| viewing stand directly at the easterly
/ al fro of {ba FOL To ctr c,t1t~
| rounded by his cabinet and prominent
| men of the senate and house of repre-
| sentatives and of various walks of pub
| lie life. The various divisions gave him
the regulation salutes.
After the parade came imposing exer-
| ciSes in the hall of the house of repre-
sentatives where was gathered as dis
| tinguished company as it's walls had
| ever held. On the floor were the presi-
| dent and the members of his cabinet,
| ex-President Harrison, the members of
| the senate and house, the ambassadors
| and ministers of foreign countries in
| full court uniforms. the chief justice
| and associate justices of the supreme
| court In their judicial robes, Lieuten-
| ant General Miles and many distin-
! guished officers of the army and navy
| who had received the thanks of con-
gress, the governors Of more than half
the states of the union and the commits
sioners of the District Of Columbia.
while the galleries Were resplendent
with the wealth and culture of the ma
tional capital.
AS a spectacle nothing could have
been more imposing or impressive. The
bright sun, streaming through the
ground glass ceiling on which were the
| arms of the several states, flooded the
hall with light and frightened the ef-
feet of the gowns Of the ladies in the
galleries, the glistening uniforms on the
floor and the elaborate scheme of deco
ration which submerged the hall in a
| sea of color.
A company of Jackies from the gov
ernment yacht Dolphin had literally
I swathed the hall in flags. The fronts
OF the galleries were hidden by them
the brass railings which marked off the
lobbies were festooned with them and
the speakers marble rostrum was COW
, cred with them. Not more than half
| were the American flags and this fact
was at first rather startling until the
full beauty Of the color scheme dawne6
upon the spectators. Below circling the
hall and walling in the distinguished
? assemblage were the glorious buff and
blue under which the continental army
of Washington had achieved the indie
pendence of the American republic
while fronting the audience back OF
the speakers desk the beautiful sill
, | flag of the republic and from it stretch
ing away on either side over the paint.
ings of Lafayette and Washington
: blazed the Stars and Stripes.
Circling the area in front of the
speakers rostrum were large leather
chairs for the president. his cabine
and the members of the supreme court
: The members Of the house were seatet
on the left, leaving the whole right O.
: the hall for the visitors.
The procession into the hall was {
stately one. The door-keeper announc
. | ed each division as it appeared a
: the main door. First came Senate
Frye, president pro tenn. of the senate
and the members Of the senate. Sci
| ator Frye assembled the rostrum ant
took his place beside Speaker Hender
son and the senators seated themselve
in the first three rows On the right.
The members Of the senate were foi
? | lowed by Chief Justice Fuller and tn
r | associate justices OF the supreme cour
! in their judicial robes. They wer
seated opposite the place reserved TO
the president and his cabinet.
e Next came the ambassadors and min
y | listers to the United States and othe
t members of the diplomat corps, head
i ed by Lord Pauncefote. They wer
seated Immediately behind the mem
: bers of the senate. The governors o
= states and territories. headed by Gov
: ernor Schofield. of Wisconsin, sat Il
rear of the diplomatic corps. Governo
8 l ftOOSeVeIt. OF new YORK. attracte
Z | much attention.
Z Following the governors came Lieu
n | tenant General Miles in full uniform
q the commissioners Of the District o
Z Columbia and the members of the cen
: tennial committee at large.
= The president and members Of tn
4 cabinet were the last to enter the hal
: They were escorted to the chairs re
O served for them by President MacFar
Q land, Of the District commissioners.
= Meantime the speakers OF the occa
: sion, Senators Hoar. Daniels and Nc
= Comas and Representatives Payne an
Richardson had taken places facin
!. the assemhlage at the desk immediate
h ly below the presiding officers,
Speaker Henderson called the distin
guished gathering to order and brief
explained the purpose of the celebra
q ton.
Everybody rose and stood with bow
. ed heads while DR.. Milburn, the bin
e l chaplain of the senate offered an i'm