The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1908-01-21

and his party went there to receive the
public. Mr.. Fort was deeply moved
when he made his first entrace as the
chief executive of the State into his
future official home.
1t was a bower. Masses of flowers
banks of palms. draped flags and pill
lars set up for the occasion to be hung
with smilax and roses, had transformed
the somber old place. There were flow
ers purchased by the State and scores
of floral gifts from admirers.
For more than two hours during the
afternoon Governor Fort greeted all
who desired to shake his hand and con-
graduate him on his assumption of
office. When at last he retired to pre-
pare for dinner, there were many dis
appointed persons who had been unable
to get near him. They will have an
other chance to greet him tonight, when
he will receive again from Z to 8
O'clock.
Several weeks ago Mr.. Fort enter
tanned the members of the present Sem
ate at luncheon in Lakewood, where
he was resting after a strenuous CAM
paign that had ended in his election.
He there emphatically stated that 1t
was his desire that there be no military
display, and that his Inauguration par
take of the simplicity that history tells
US attended the induction into office
of President Thomas Jefferson.
The desire of the Governor-elect
were respected. There was no pomp,
and but little civic parade. True, the
city was alive with people, the sound
of martial music resounded throughout
most of the day, and there was a blaze
of bunting, but the splendor and its
accompanying expenditure of State
funds of recent years were lacking.
1t had been the desire of Mr.. Fort
that the Inauguration be in the State
House, but he saw that 1t was impaac-
ticable, and approved the plan to hold
the ceremonies In the Taylor Opera
House.
The Governor reached Trenton on
the train leaving Newark at 1888 yes
terday afternoon. He and his family
and friends had engaged an entire
floor of the Windsor.
Last evening he was the guest Of
honor at a reception in the Trenton
Republican Club house. He did not re-
tire until late, but nevertheless was
up early, preparing for the trying day.
AT a little before noon, carriages oc-
cupied by Governor Stokes and the
members of the joint committee on
the inauguration were driven from the
State House TO Mr.. Forts hotel. He
entered the first carriage with Mr..
Stokes and was taken to the theatre.
AS he entered the historic building
that has been the scene of so many
great gatherings, the hundreds who
crowded 1t from pit to dome rose and
cheered, the women waving their hand
kerchiefs, and the military band strik-
ing up the stirring strains of 'fHail to
the Chief"
Senator Hillery assumed his place as
chairman of the gathering. and the
Rev. DR.. James NJ. Ludlow, of the
Mum Avenue Presbyterian Church,
East Orange, the Governors home
church, invoked divine blessing upon
the ceremonies and upon his friend
who was about to assume the direction
of the government of a commonwealth
of more than 1000, 900 inhabitants.
On the stage where he took the oath
of office Governor Fort on September
IL of last year accepted the nomination
of the Republican party for the Office
he now holds, first handing to Gov
ernor Stokes his hastily penned resigna-
ton from his $1,000 position as SUI
preme Court justice. On the same
stage a few weeks later he spoke to
more than 1000 citizens of Mercer
County whose support he sought. He
has figured In many other scene in
the same big meeting place.
The opera house neyer presented a
finer appearance. The decorations in
themselves were beautiful, but the
thronged galleries, the crowded pit and
the well-filled boxes lent animation.
There were hundreds of beautiful
women, and their gowns added color
tone to the picture that was presented
from the stage. The personal guests
of the Governor and members of his
family occupied stage boxes.
There were many bright military
uniforms in the crowd, for the mem
bers and officers of the National Guard
who attended appeared in full uniform.
With the exception of the firing of the
Governors salute of seventeen guns in
the State House grounds on the banks
of the Delaware. there was nothing of
military aspect to the ceremonies.
While the new Governor was taking
the oath, the boom of the saluting can
non reached the ears of those in the
opera house.
The joint committee that arranged
the Inauguration consisted of Senators
Harry ID. Leavitt. of Mercer County,
and Bloomfield H. Minch, Northumberland,
Republicans; Senator Jacob C. Price.
of Sussex, Democrat; Assemblymen
Theodore B.. Gibbs, of Camden; Ed
ward H. Ginnelly, of Mercer. and
Henry Young, jr., of Essex. Repub-
%licans, and Assemblymen Mark A. Sui
livan, of Hudson. and Oliver C.. Hol-
combe, of Hunterdon, Democrats.
General Bird w. Spencer had charge
of the militiamen who acted as aides
at the opera house and at the State
House reception in the afternoon. To-
night from Z to 9 O'clock there will be a
large attendance of National Guard
officers. whose full-dress uniforms will
add to the interest of the evening re-
ception 10 the public by Governor Fort.
FOR POST LIGHT SYSTEM ON DEL.
---.t. - ~. .-t- S.