The San Francisco call., 1905-03-05

or the hall prevented unseemly crowd
ing.
The gallery visitors were practically
all in their seats before the official
guests began TO make their appear
ance. This circumstances was due to
the fact that while the officials were
detained until a specified time, the gal
lery doors were opened at IL O'Clock
and ticket-holders permitted to enter
any time thereafter. They found none.
OF the star performers in their as
signed places, if Senators may be ex-
cepted, but the wait was not long, and
in the meantime the gallery visitors
easily devised entertainment among
themselves. The Senators, many of
them showing fatigue as the result of
recent long hours of labor, were
grouped together completely on the
Republican side of the chamber. an
arrangement made necessary to make
room for other dignitaries.
ARRIVAL OF NOTABLES.
The two big. round-faced gold
clocks. which front from the north and
south walls of the Senate chamber.
had measured the time UP to 11;45
o'clock when the first of the special
guests arrived. These were the MEM
bers of the House of Representatives.
They had marched over in body to
the quarters of the Senate through
the long corridor from their own hall
at the other end Of the Capitol headed
By their redoubtable leader, Speaker
Cannon. with all the assurance of an
invading army, and when the south
doors OF the Senate chamber swung
open and Assistant Sergeant at Arms
Layton announced, "the Speaker Of
the House Of Representatives" they
walked proudly to the seats assigned
them on the Democratic side Of the
chamber. accepting as their due the
honor done them. Upon the stroke Of
the gayel of the President pro tenn,
the Senate and its visitors rose as one
person to welcome them.
The Speaker had scarcely taken his
seat at the side OF the presiding officer
and Senators and guests had not more
than resumed their chairs when the
doors again parted and Alonzo II.
Stewart. another assistant sergeant at
arms, heralded in genuine feudal style
the approach of the diplomats. headed
DIPLOMATIC CORPS ENTERS.
'The ambassadors and Ministers
Plenipotentiary." he said In ringing
tones, and again. upon the fall Of the
gavel, all came TO a standing posture,
while Sergeant at Arms Ransdell es-
corted the foreign dignitaries to their
places. fronting the presiding officer.
Tho O q
ton, and the brilliancy of their dress
and the distinction of the gentlemen
themselves were the subjects of much
admiring comment.
Events followed quickly. From this
time until Senator Fairbanks began
his address the Senators and their
visitors were kept constantly engaged
in rising to receive newcomers. The
Ministers were followed by the Su-
preme Court, officially gowned In long
robes and with Chief Justice Fuller,
distinguished in appearance. leading
the van. The judiciary was In turn
succeeded by Lieutenant General
Chaffee, chief Of staff. and his aid.
Gradually the hall was filled and
the scene had become more and more
animated, until for the last time in
connection with the occasion the doors
were opened TO admit q guest He
was the guest of guests-the Presi-
dent-the President and the Presi-
dent-elect, Theodore Roosevelt.
PRESIDENT TAKES SEAT.
'The President and his Cabinet"
proclaimed Sergeant at Arms Rams
| dell In well moduiated phrase.
Again all were an their feet. and
| again was attention sharply fixed. In
| the entire assemblage there was COM
paratively few who could not boast
personal acquaintance with the chief
executive. but this fact did not pre-
vent a general craning Of necks to OBJ
| serve him on this, the crowning oc-
casion in his career. All eyes were
| turned upon him as. accompanied by
| the Congressional Committee and the
members of the official household, he
| walked down the center aisle of the
| chamber in the wake Of the conveying
sergeant at arms. who placed him In a
| big red leather chair Immediately in
| front of the presiding officers desk.
where, himself an interested spectator,
and hanked by the committee on ar
rangements, he sat facing the other
| spectators. He had gone directly to his
seat, looking neither to the right nor to
| the left. but evidently never unmind-
full of the splendid scene about him.
He had once before been a partici-
pant in an inaugural ceremony, but
/ then only as the recipient Of second
| honors. He was there now as the head
of the people of the nation. and by
right of their choice. His manner was
that Of a man who appreciates re-
sponsibilities and at the same time
feels capable Of assuming them.
FRYE CLOSES SESSION.
The chief executive had very little