Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-28

basis. Each vehicle costs SO. which is
paid to the driver who makes the
initial trip: rs persons cCme out from
the ball they take The first carriage
that comes along. TIL Stabicmen
Association issues a coupon guarant 3"-
ing the holder in addition to MS rae
to the Pension Office, a carriage Tor the
return trip. and they Keep thelr car
riages on duty long enough To COM
rletc the service. Thu scene INSIDE the
ballroom is one of considerable splen-
dor. Architects and decorators have
been at work for weeks in cmbelllshlnS
the Pension Office. until its great hail
is now extremely beautiful, and added
to the personal charms. and adorn-
ments of those who grace the occasion,
make the scene one of rare beauty.
But perhaps what is really more en-
ioyable than any of these regular parts
of the program is the Washington at
mosphere'' during the Inauguration
period. and especially for few days
beforehand. The gathering crowds
from the unloading trains; the organ
izations marching to spirited music
from the railroad terminals to their
camping quarters; the street fakirs
who cry out their wares from one end
of the avenue to the other, like the
shopping streets of our cities during
Christmas week-all give an air of
good fellowship and freedom from
care which is vary delightful. Most of
the visitors come from me re northern
ATTITUDES, SO that the average Wash
ingtOn day seams much warmer than
what they have been accustomed to.
They acquire on arrival in new city
d ohild-like fondneSs for cut-of-doOrs.
50 that in z roupS they stroll up AMI
down the avenues half aimleSSly,
watching the fakirs and the street
shows. meeting old acquaintance
from distant parts of the country. AMI
studying the strange hats and boots of
other visitors from sections with which
they are not familiar, since representa-
tives from every part of the nation as
semble here on such an occasion.
The scenes at the Capitol are a part
of this atmosphere. Congress is in scs-
sion almost continuously, and the
crowds visit its legislative hall as one
of the show places, either by day or
night. without being able to see much
that is going on, aside from getting a
taste of the rush and hurry of tho
closing hours Of a Congress. All these
things would he still more delightful
if the American coronation could come
about a month later when the Wash
ington weather is less of lottery.
Events have made inauguration in
large degree an out-Of-ioorS affair
No sufficient accommodations here
exist for indoor entertainment or spec
tacles at such time. The larger part
of the crowd must pcrtorce enjoy
themselves in the open. and hence
successful inauguration" more than
anything else depends on the weather
On this point statistics are not very
reaSsuring.
Occasionally the 4th day of March is
\ genuinely spring DAY, warm as well
az clear and sunny. Flowers are
sometimes IN bloom in the parks on
that day. But more often it is chilly
and cod. with raw Wind, and perhaps
cold rains or light, sticky snow.
Grants sccOnI inaugural in 1873 is
| remembered for its almost unScason-
able depression IN temperature, while
Lincoln's first Inauguration is often re-
| ferrcd to because of the SprinGlik"
| character of the day. 1t is Impossible
| to predict this year except that tn
| narly spring mas been VCry backward,
| and snow has remained on the ground
| longer this winter than the oldest in
habitaut can remember. Congress re-
| Gently appropriated $1,000 for the re-
;noval of ice. half Of which is to be cX-
| pended on the route Of the parade, and
row the old chunks which have been
standing in piles for months are being
chopped out. giving the great avenue a
! chance to dry. Unless snow falls on
| the day itself, good walking on the
parade route is assured. 1t is now
customary to have glass in front of ali
| the reviewing stands 90 that the on
| lockers may te comfortable.
| IMPROVEMENT THE ORDER.
| Every Inauguration is little better
than the one before it. Twelve years
ago the stands along the avenue were
of all shapes and sizes, many of them
| without roofs. and nearly all of them
without glass fronts. The Inaugural
ton OF 1895 witnessed regulations in
| this respect which have made the
stands uniform in appearance, greatly
adding to the beauty of the avenue
and suggesting what might be ac-
complished for our American cities if
paternalism would only go little fur
Their and establish some building lines
to which all property owners would
have to conform. This year the au-
thorities have issued regulations re-
gar0ing bunting so that the flmsy
stuff which washes out on the first
moisture cannot be employed, since it