Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26
JUDGE EDGAR II. BATES
WHAT A BOY SAW OF EARLY IN
AUGURAL EVENTS.
First Sight of Gen. Lafayette-Dedica-
ton of the Washington Monument
and Other Ceremonies.


the visitors return to their homes satis-
fed Will, having seen a President and an
inauguration.
Few people living. however. can boast the
distinction of having seen all the Presidents
of the United tSates excepting four-Wash-
ington John Adams jefferson and Mon
roe. and of having seen all the Inaugural
lions excepting the first five.
Judge Edgar II. Bates, now visiting
Washington from his home in New YORK
city. where he has lived for the past few
years. enjoys this unique distinction ana
talks interestingly of these "reminiscences,
remembering as clearly the days OF the
''3Vs'' and "4Vs'' as if they were or a lew
DAYS past Judge Bates, at eighty-seven
years of age makes the trip between ne"
York and Washington alone several times d
year and while in this city always ATTENDS
The meetings of the Oldest Inhabitants AS
sociation. OF which he is one of the Oldest
members.
Monroe's Inauguration.
When James Monroe. fifth President of
the United States was inaugurated in 1871,
Judge Bates was small boy of three years
at his fathers old home in Fairfax county,
Va, and while 1t is quite probable that our
ing President Monroe's term of office ne
was pointed out to the little lad by ms
patriotic father, who frequently visited the
capital CITY, yet Judge Bates does not posi-
lively know of any occasion upon WHICH ZIG
saw President Monroe.
Four years later at seven years or age
he was brought by his parents 10 the m
augural of John Quincy Adams, and years
afterward when Adams was in the HOUSE
of Representatives" says Judge Bates, l
frequently saw him on the streets and at
public ceremonies in washington. ha'e
often seen him swimming, early IN tne
morning near the old Poplar Tree that
was so long a landmark on the river bank
back of the White House. He was stout
and of medium height, as l remember OF
build not unlike Grover cleveland. II was
during the first year of John .. ADAMS
term, in 1925, that Judge Bates saw General
Lafayette, and the circumstances OF thal
occasion are clearly pictured in his men,
ory as If they had occurred yesterday.
1t was on Washington street in Alexan-
dtia and Lafayette was the center OF
attraction In the parade that was given
lnI his honor. Probably more attractive
than the famous French general however
ID the obServant boy who watched the pro-
cesSon, were the two great eagles, botn
said to be a hundred years old, which had
been loaned from Mumford's Museum for
the occasion and which were perched IKE
winged victory on either side OF the trl-
umphal arch which spanned Washington
street. At any rate, the old man now clear
ly recalls that the boy beheld the wings or
victory flap majestically the carriage
containing the distinguished guest passed
beneath the arch.
Jackson's Enormous Cheese.
The inaugural of Andrew Jackson in 1879
the judge clearly recalls, for he not only
witnessed the installation ceremonies, but
he remembers a unique feature of the event.
A great public reception was given at which
a collation. was served II did not attend
the reception" said he, but well remem-
Der that those who did attend were quite
impressed with the size OF an enormous
cheese which was one of the viands pro-
vided for the repaSt. Andrew jackson was
a tall. slender, erect man. frequently saw
him during the eight years he was in othce
and l also witnessed his second Inaugural
ton. 1t was during his second term on
July 4. 1896. in Alexandria that l saw
James Madison, fourth President of the
United States. He was in carriage in the
parade that was part of the patriotic dem
onstration that day He was then an old
man and died during that year.
Courtly Martin Van Buren,.
Martin Van Buren, impressed me when
/ saw him take the oath of office as being
one of the most courtly and polished men
In manner 1 had ever seen. He was short
and stout and was an elegant old-style
gentleman. I attended a reception given
in honor of President Van Buren, in War
renton. Va. in 1898. 1 was employed there
at that time In the wholesale establish
meut of my cousin, William Wheeler, and
Robert Hooe, afterward owner of the Hooe
building In this city, and the President
stopped IN the town en- route TO the w hlte
Sulphur Springs some six miles beyond.
Upon this occasion he was a guest for the
night at Brinnaughs Hotel and held the
reception which was largely attended by
the residents for miles around. The only
means of transportation to the White Sui
phur Springs in those days was by carriage
ride through Georgetown and across the
Chain Bridge, there being no Aqueduct
bridge, and it is quite probable that travel
ers were tired of their tedious journey be-
fore they reached Warrenton.
When Harrison Was Inaugurated
The day that William Henry Harrison
was inaugurated he contracted the cold
that resulted In his death. He was not a
young man. having served sin the war of
1872 the old 'Tippecanoe' of the campaign
slogan. 'Tippecanoe and Tyler too and
the drenching rain and driving snow that
made the day miserable for every one
was too severe for General Harrison He
sat in an open carriage, part of the time
bare-headed, bowling to the crowds on
either side of the street, and as the car
riage passed me on its way up the avenue
L noticed the odd appearance OF his high
pointed collar. One end was wilted and
laid fiat over his high stock, while the
other stood up about his chin. During the
ceremony u cannon exploded prematurely
ON the present site of the Center Market
killing man. On April e. one month
from that day, General Harrison died and
John Tyler became President.
Tyler was tall, wiry man and was fond
3,
was a familiar figure on horse back to
Washingtonians.
President Polk was In stature one of
the smallest Presidents we have ever had.
lie was what would be called a small man.
with hair long and black as coal The day
after his inaugural, March o, 1915 the Ma
tional Theater burned to the ground. 1t
was rebuilt. for Jenny Linds concert about
year later, / believe.
III l remember rightly, the Inauguration
day OF Taylor and Fillmore was cold. raw
and windy. President Taylor was stout
and or tall or medium height, and believe
was not man of superior education for |
recall that his inaugural address was at
the time severely criticised for its gram
mar
Dedication of the Washington Monu-
ment
Il was present at the dedication of the
Washington monument by President Tay-
Tor Gov. Winthrop OF Massachusetts, de-
hvered the GRAFTON. and for years 1 could
repeat. verbatim, considerable part of
the Grafton. sentence or two 1 still re-
member: Build 1t TO the skies; you can
not make II higher than his fame Build
IL or whitest marble: you cannot make it
Purer than his life This may not be exact,
Tor have not read the grafton for probably
forty years l memorized the beautiful sem
tifnentS at the time. President TavIor dad