Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-02-11
FIRST INAUGURATION
Induction Intp Office Of Presi-
G!.9, :yt
dent Washington.
IN Yftoa-
-r--,si
TRIP FRoM:sslME T.. VERNON
TRIuMpHAL PROGRESS FROM
VIRGINIA TO NEW YORK.
Scenes Attending the Taking Of the
Oath and the Delivery Of the
Inaugural Address.



nrincipal. If not the sole, feature of the
presidential Inauguration ceremonies was
the taking Of the, oath of Office. Today
the taking of the oath is but one of many
features.
The correspondence of Gen. Washington
In the fall and winter Immediately pre-
ceding his Inauguration as President show
ed very clearly an unmistakable reluctance
on his part to assume the duties of the
Office. Nearly all of his letters were in the
same strain. To Samuel Hanson he wrote:
MY first wish is to be allowed to spend
the evening of my days in the quetude CT
uriyate life" To Lafayette he addressed
similar remark, and to Harry Knox he
wrote: .My movements toward the presi-
Dental chair are like those of a criminal
going to the place of execution
Having said farewell to his mother at
Fredericksburg, and having borrowed 500
pounds to defray the expenses of his trip
rorthward Washington, on April is, left
for New York in his carriage, in company
with Mr.. Thompson and Col. HUMPHREYS.
| Scarcely had the three left Mt. Vernon
when they were met by party OF friends
and admirers from Alexandria. Together
they proceeded to that city, and there, at
Wise's tavern, great dinner was served
in honor of Washington. Patriotic toasts
were numerous and speeches were not lack
ing.
GO" said the mayor, addressing the
President-elect in his farewell remarks;
"go and make grateful people happy"
So overcome by his emotions was the
great general that he could scarcely re-
spond to the eulogistic farewells. When,
or the next day, he left Alexandria, he was
accompanied to Georgetown by a great
crowd of not only men and boys, but also by
large number of women and children,
forming a procession which, said writer
of that time, was greater than triumphant
Rome ever held"
The company was met half way by a
number of residents of Georgetown, who,
not content with this escorted the general
as far north as Baltimore. Outside of that
city the cavalcade was met by number of
the more prominent citizens and together
they proceeded to Grants Tavern where a
supper was served. The general went to
bed at 10 o'clock, and was up before day
light on the following morning Saturday..
At $50 the early breakfast had been dis
posed Of and, amid the cheers of the peo-
pie and the boom of artillery, Washing
ton started for Wilmington. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY the intention of the escort to ae-
company him to that place, but when the
procession had left Baltimore seven miles
behind the general insisted that the Balti-
moreans return home and they reluctantly
complied with his wish. = Near Wilmington
delegation was awaiting his approach
and an address was read to him. He was
most Hospitality and reverently cared for,
and was accompanied by many Delawarians
to the Pennsylvania line Philadelphia had
made great preparations to receive the
hero. One thousand dollars had been ap-
proprfated to pay for great military re-
ception, and individual effort to do honor
tc Washington was evident everywhere.
Early Monday morning Washington arrived
at Chester and there ne brea kfasted His
carriage was, by himself, ordered to the
rear, and when the journey was once more
taken up the President-elect was mounted
on magnificent white horse.
Reception at Philadelphia.
General Arthur St Clair headed the local
notables who came out from Philadelphia
to receive the passing guest. The crowd
was an enormous one-greater than ever
before seen in Philadelphia. Triumphal
arches spanned the streets and decorations
of evergreens and flags hid the fronts of
the houses The boats on the river we're
bedecked with the gayest colors and every
where there was eulogistic and patriotic
notices.
Gray'S ferry was reached about noon.
While passing bareheaded beneath one of
the arches erected for the occasion Wash
ington was requested to stop. He did So,
and Miss Angelica Beale placed on his brow
the laurel wreath of the victor. The AL
lance and a Spanish frigate at anchor in
the river fired salutes at Washington's
approach, the bell of Christ's Church was
rung, the populace cheered and the scene
was one which could not be forgotten by
any of those who witnessed it.
At the celebrated City Tavern, at I'd ard
Chestnut streets, great banquet was
served, and one of the newspapers of that
time remarked that novel and extraor-
binary feature of the occasion was the
playing of music by band throughout the
whole of the dinner
1t was a busy evening for Washington.
He received a large number Of private
citizens, and nearly every institution in
the city presented him with a compliment
tary address before he left the city, which
he did next morning. The City Troop had
made arrangements to escort the general
as far as Trenton, but to this Washing
ton made strenuous objection because of
the rain, which was then pouring down.
The rain ceased, however. shortly after
noon, and before o clock Washington
had left Philadelphia
Welcome at Trenton.
His reception at Trenton was character
lied by the chroniclers of those days as
being magnificent. gigantic arch, COW
cred with suitable inscriptions was the
| most prominent feature in the decorations.
At the Trenton end of the bridge over
which Washington crossed into New Jer-
sey were a large number of richly-dressed
ladies, and Immediately in front OF. them
were their daughters, six of them with
baskets of flowers in their hands. When
the general approached them. the process
sion stopped while the ladies sang an ode
composed for the occasion. and the daugh-
tiers strewed the hero's pathway with beau
tiful and fragrant flowers. Dinner was
eaten at Samuel Henry City Tavern, and
Washington spent the night at Princeton
with the Rev. DR.. John oWitherspoon AT
o'clock Wednesday afternoon the party
left for Elizabethport. where he stopped
at the public house Of General Smith Here
the final stage of the Journey began, Tor
it was here that Washington stepped on
board the great barge which was to con-
vey him to New York 81 The barge was a
fine specimen of the shipbuilders art, and
1t was manned by thirteen masters of YES
sells. James Nicholson was commander,
while Thomas Randen was coxswain. In
addition to Washington sand his friends
there were on board members of the joint
congressional reception committee and
| number Of other celebrities.
Arrival att New York.
Long before the barge reached New York
| It was met by hundreds of effervescent
gentlemen in boats 9fsvarious descriptions.
| The weather was fine and the water
| smooth. although there was breeze. As
| the flotilla neared Bedloe's island a large
| ship sailed close to the barge and moved
parallel with it, while about twenty ladies
| and gentlemen sang an original ode OF
| praise to Washington. the words being set
| to the tune of GOD Save the King.
Washington was much affected by this