Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-03-09

Washington March 6.-The most
brilliant and imposing inauguration
which the citizens of washington have
ever prepared has passed into the his
tory of the republic. Theodore Roose-
Welt did not ride to the capitol, hitch
his horse to a shade tree, enter the
building and take the oath of office
booted and spurred. The traditional
Jeffersonian simplicity was replaced
Ivy a pageant which has not been sur
passed in the annals of the nation.
1t was the first national Inaugural
ton since the civil war, The south
sent up its warriors and its state Of
ticials The men who fought each
other for four years under different
flags; the men who fought together in
war with Spain under one flag; the eX-
ecutive officers of the states who up
held the stars and bars and those who
stood for the flag of the union,
marched together in review before
their common president, a soldier of
the republic. With these to illustrate
our new nationality came the marching
representative from the Philippines
and Porto Rico, lands where the sun
set fading from the flag in the far Pa
Cific is sunrise on its folds along the
Atlantic shores.
Thousands Witness Ceremonies.
Throughout the week Washington
has been the Jerusalem of the nation
to which its tribes were crowding from
all its borders. Saturday fully 100000
visitors have gazed with wonder and
unbounded enthusiasm at the districts
handiwork for honoring its president
in all its multitudinous forms and large
proportions as it was successfully un-
folded during the day and night The
whole city was a garden poisoning
with flags. For a week every advanc-
ing wave of color has been sweeping
through its streets. Not only was the
line of march artistically decorated to
a degree never before attained, but no
street in the city was without its
national colors. Acting under a sug-
gestion from the inaugural committees,
the heads of the educational system had
requested its $4,000 school children to
see that each one of their homes dis
played the flag 1t was a request re-
sponded to by an army of children.
This apothesis of the colors was one of
the most striking elements of the 81.
gantic scheme for expressing the ma
tional respect for a president Two
miles and a half of the city's noted
avenue was transformed into fitting
highway for the nation in its countless
representative bodies to march as an
escort to its president. Every square
yard that was not black with people
banked high on the pavement, crowd.
ing all windows, and fringing all roofs,
was brilliant with the national keys.
The scene by day was magnificent, BY
night under the scheme of illumina-
ton. the tremendous crowds wandered
in fairyland
Elaborate Decorations.
Heretofore decorations of the ave.
aue have been chiefly of flags, stream
ers and bunting To these yesterday
were added palms Of large growth and
in endless abundance by carloads
from the south and shiploads from
Porto Rico
The presidents reviewing stand in
front of the white house, was in the
center Of the court of history and ex-
tended two long blocks from 18th
street.
Along each side Of the avenue were
noted historical figures in great mum
bers from the St Louis exposition.
This triumphal pathway, along
which the kings of the earth might
have deemed 1t an honor to be con
quoted. was cleared and closed to cars
and vehicles at an early hour. It was
a royal highway upon which the pres.
ident early entered and proceeded to
the capitol to sign such bills as con
gress might pass in its closing hours.
Grand Army Acts With Escorts.
General Chaffee had provided a per.
feet cavalry escort which could have
rapidly passed over the line But the
grand army, as is its habit insisted on
acting with this escort, and the presi.
dent. sharing the universal apprecia-
ion Of it's past deeds. yielded, and his
rate Of progress to the capitol was re,
duced 70 the pathetic pace OF men who
were fast approaching the scripture
limit Of life But the delay had It's
compensations Many thousands had
opportunity 10 see and greet the presi-
dent as his cortege slowly passed
along from the white house to Capitol
hill. For three hours this national
temple was the vortex Of activity. Leg