Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1905-03-09
ROOSEVELT AND FAIRBANKS TAKE OATH
Thousands of Visitors
g n the lose o War

Riders and Squadron A, at a brisp
clip proceeded up the Avenue to the
White House. where the president, af-
ter his lunch. took position in the
grand reviewing stand, surrounded by
members of his cabinet, the diplomats
and other notables. Then. to the
biare of bugles. the big procession
started.
The first brigade was headed by
Lieut.. Gen. Wade, in command of the
entire military section After him
came the Fifth band, artillery corps,
stationed at Fort Hamilton, New
York. This was first of forty bands
in the parade. Sustaining their repu.
tation of being the most perfectly
drilled body of troops in the world,
next followed the corps of cadets from
the United States military academy.
Naturally they divided honors with
the future admirals from Annapolis.
who marched Immediately behind,
dressed in natty suits of navy blue,
the jolly jack-tar spirit fairly shin
ing in their boyish faces. Then came
the regulars, real enlisted men, five
hundred of the Second battalion of
engineers swinging along behind their
own band.
Then came the state troops. To the
number of $4,000 they occupied nearly
two hours in passing a given point. In
order to prevent disputes as to pre-
cedence each state contingent came
in alphabetical order, SO that Ala
bama, with a single company of her
Third regiment, led the way. Indiana,
Vice President Fairbanks home state.
had only a company to her credit,
sixth in line, while the president s
state, New York, with the largest
quota. three full regiments and several
separate bodies, totaling nearly 1000
men. was tenth in order.
Although soldiery was the chief fea-
ture. the civilian organizations form
| ing the second section of the parade
showed up strong in numbers. March
ing in the open order affected by po-
litical clubs, they spread all over the
avenue. There were about $4,000 in
line. They seemed to be passing an
interminable time. mostly wearing
top hats and twirling fragile walking
| sticks.
Ohio, which usually manages to
make her presence felt, kept up her
reputation. She had in line the ia
nous Rail-spiitters of the Toledo Lin
coin club, the Tippecanoe club of
Cleveland, the famous singing organ
/ izations of Columbus, the Buckeye and
Republican glee clubs, the Knights of
| Maccabees and the Fleischmann Re
publican club of Cincinnati
l. The Spanish war veterans followed
the G. A. R. veterans, there being
about 1000 ali told of these two so,
cieties.
The Ball.
Inaugural balls are the biggest So
cial functions that occur in America.
The evenings reception at the Pen
sion building exceeded in grandeur its
predecessors in the great edifice.
There were in the neighborhood of
10000 persons at the ball
Mrs. Roosevelt's ball gown was
made of a special weave of a new
shade of light blue silk with figures of
doves in gold tinsel. The shade has
been named "Alice blue" in honor of
the presidents daughter, Who select
ed the material at the st. Louis fair.
The doves, which are represented as
flying diagonally across the blue of
the dress. are of varying sizes, from
two inches between the tips of the
wings down to the size of bee.
Mrs. Fairbanks wore gown of
white satin duchesse. embroidered
with roses of gold in the natural size
of the flower. The lace trimming was
OF Brussels point d'applique, with a
design of bow-knots and marguerites
interviewer.
The decorations of the ballroom
outdid anything that ever before has
been attempted. Walls, columns, VIII
dows and every nook and corner were
covered with green's and cut flowers,
palms and ferns, flags, banners and
bunting, SO that the thousands of
guests might look with interest upon
something else of beauty than dazzling
gowns and glittering jewels.
The doors of the Pension building
were thrown open at s O'Clock, but
the president and his party did not
arrive until 9 o'clock. They went i'm
mediately to rooms specially prepared,
carpeted and decorated for their recep-
ton, and half hour later the grand
march commenced, President and
Mrs. Roosevelt leading. All festivities
closed sharply at midnight, because it
was believed best to trespass no Sab.
bath principles. Thus the usual prac-
'tice of the presidents leaving at
midnight and turning the hall over
to the populace to dance until day
break had to be abandoned.
Concerts will be given at the Pen
sion office next week, SO that those
who do not attend the ball may have
an opportunity to see the decorations.