Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-28
Special Correspondence of Gazette and Journal.

Washington, Feb. %. As the time
for the second inauguration of William
Mckinley as President of the United
States draws near it is apparent that
the forthcoming celebrations will
eclipse any heretofore held in this
country. Of a like character. 1t has
been said that should William Jennings
Bryan have been elected that Washing
ton would have been unable to 40
oUmmodate the thousands OF outsiders
who would have flocked hither, but as
the case now stands, William Mckinley
will witness the largest throng OF
strangers that has ever been enter
tanned by the National Capital. II is
estimated, and properly so. that over
100000 visitors will witness the
inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol,
the procession, fireworks, attend the
inaugural ball, 30. Almost every
available room in the city has already
been engaged, hotels will be taxed to
their utm Jst capacity, utilizing halls,
parlors, writingrooms and in fact every
possible space where a cot can be put.
All the public halls, armories and a
great many public buildings will be
turned into boarding and logging
houses for week or ten days. Mill
tary organizations, clubs, civic organi-
cations, college students, numbering in
all about 80, 600 men will take part in
the procession which will follow Penn
sylvania avenue from the Capitol to
Washington Circle, two miles away.
Along this grand avenue will assemble
in stands, erected for this purpose only,
10 windows, on house tops, and side
walks to witness the greatest parade Of
the age. The stands which have heen
erected for this purpose will aocommo-
date ESTIMATED $4,000 people, and
twice that number will witness the
parade from the sidewalks on both
sides of the avenue while there is no
possible way to form any idea of the
number gathered elsewhere along the
line OF march.
The total number of soldiers listed
10 parade at this date Is, Regulars,
$500; State militia, 21,000. Almost
each regiment or each State will bring
several bands along with them and
then every civic organization will be
accompanied by musical organiza-
ton, so it promises to be "one line
of popular airs. F"
Tie events leading up to the inaugu-
ration of the President are most in
teresting. The President and Vice
IEtblubub VIII tCafo hhciI iOopoOtpO
residences on the morning of March
4th, the Vice President going to the
White House, whsre, in conjunction
with a Joint committee OF Congress,
they will take carriages and proceed
in their respective places IN the line OF
escort between United States troops
| and the National Guard Of the Dis
| trict of Columbia. The escort will be
under the command of Gen. Francis V.
Greene, and win consist of United
| States troops, marines and sailors and
troop Of cavalry from the Presidents
own State. The escort will then pro
coed along the avenue to and around
| the north side of the Capitol to the
east front, when the Presidential party
| will prorasd to the Senate Chamber
and participate in the inaugural cere-
| monies. At high noon on the east
portioo of the Capitol before thous-
nnde of citizens and others the Presi-
| dent will have administered to him by
the Chief Justice of the United States,
Hon. Melville Fuller, the oath pre-
scribed for this occasion, which con-
firms him as President. Preceding
this event the Hon. Vice-President pro
tempore, William p. Frye of Maine.
will administer ths oath TO the Vice
President Theodore Roosevelt in the
Senate chamber. All the newly elected
Senators will at this time be sworn in.
| After the President has been sworn in
and concludes his inaugural address
| the procession starts from the east
front of the Capitol, and for hours
will be heard the tramp, tramp, tramp
Of soldiers, hut not ''as IL to war. "
The ball, which takes place on the
evening Of the Inauguration day, will
be held in the Pension Building, which
has been used for the same purpose
| four times heretofore. The building
is we'll adapted for the grand function.
The decorations of the ballroom will
be beautiful and embrace an artistic
combination Of plants and flowers. the
effect or which will be heightened by
| the background of gold bunting, and
the delicate rays Of thousands of small
electric bulbs. The floral decorations
Is given the place of prominence and
| then the bunting, then the electric dis
clay. By subjeoting the bunting and
electric displays to the floral deoora-
tions, the beauty OF the latter is
enhanced and the same can be said Of
| the costumes of the ladies as the colors
of which are frequently nullified by the
dazzling effect OF SO many lights. The
| President is escorted by the chairman
and yice-ohairman of the inaugural
| committee from the Executive Mansion
to the Pension Building, and is there
received by the chairman Of the re-
ception committee, Lieut.. General
Nelson A. Miles, and members Of his
committee and escorted to rooms re
served for him and party. The Presi-
dent, later in the evening, will make
tour of the ballroom.
The illumination of the avenue and
fireworks display will be great features
of the evenings entertainment. The
avenue will be illuminated by thou
sands of electric lights of all sizes,
ranging from the small incandescent to
arc lights. The Court of Honor,
which will be ON the avenue between
Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets, will
be one grand mass of colors. This
court will consist Of pylons, arches, &c.
The stands will be coyered with
colored globes, making sight almost
beyond description.
The fireworks display will take place
in grounds south of the Executive
Mansion, familiarly known as the
monument grounds. - This display
will consist of aerial and set pieces or
photographs of the great statesmen and
iormer Presidents, heroes of the diff
ferent wars, &c.
The public has little idea OF the
work leading up to the inaugural cere-
monies. After the election has taken
place and the successful candidate de-
clared cheated, the chairman of the
national committee of the successful
| 49,. Asxt .sk s,f