The Washington herald., 1909-03-05

On no other occasion. or no previous
inauguration. had Washington ever been
dressed in such gaia attire as that which
she donned IN honor of Taft and which
was marred by the weather.
As the day Tor the celebration Of the
Inauguration drew near Washington,
usually a staid and sober city. marked
by conservatism and not prone under the
stress Of any excitement TO great en-
thusiasm. gave herself wholly to the spell
of patriotic fervor.
Along the line OF the inaugural march
there was scarce a window that was not
taken. There was never a balcony
though some Of them were old, of iron,
and rusted, and fallen into decrepitude-
that was not bolstered and shored up
and made safe. so that points of vantage
could be used ror the occasion. The whole
city along the line Of march seemed to
be quite mad in its fervor Of patriotism.
partly due to individual effort and part
for which the inaugural committees were
responsible.
But the general effect was that Of "A
riot Of color. in which, as vas fitting
the stars and Stripes p-edominated. The
inaugural committee had done its best
10 secure some sort Of harmony in the
decorative scheme. and had urged that
house fronts and balconies and windows
be decorated in white and green. but
with little avail For most people had the
American flag on hand and displayed il
freely, and other people had decorations
OF past inauguations tucked away in the
attic. which they brought forth for this
occasion.
Flags of All Nations.
Along the line Of march Chinese restau-
rants displayed the yellow banner Of the
Celestial Empire, and the German flag
flew. and the English. and the French
and there were stars and shields and
strange designs in many colors. until the
general effect as one looked down the
Avenue-the finest thoroughfare in all the
world for such a parade as this-was a
riot and blaze Of many c0l0rs.
If there was any one who desired TO see
Washington beautiful the normal Wash
ingtoa. it IS plain that inauguration day
was NOT the time: for in the excess OF
patriotism over the departure Of Roose-
welt and the accession u Taft. the facades
OF her buildings We're hidden and dis
t0rted, her modesty. one Of her chief
charms was pat to blush, her art rel-
dcred for the uonCe inartstic; her beau
ties were -draped with tinseI, her perma-
nent soIidity and conservatism disguised
beneath the garish trappiugs of the
county fair.
There was so much pine lumber along
the lire Of the procession that you could
smell it.
Flags Out Of Place.
Perhaps the first sign that one coming
into the city would notice thar the city
was in gala attire would he the flags
iyiDg az tie dome OF the CAPITOL. and
these. too. seem d little out Of place. de-
tracing as they do from the wonderful
architectural beauties os one OF the
Erandest domes IN tie world.
Il IS along the line of parade that the
decorations are most in evidence. though
many business houses elsewhere have
made brave attempts al gala attire. and
The liberal display OF the American flag
has been by no means confined 20 Penn
sylvsnia avenue. Looking down PennsvI-
vaia avenue from the Capitol. one cannot
help but be struck by the thought that.
after all what a beautiful flag the Stars
and Stripes IS Hero and there Won shall
see other cOlers, the green and white
banners which the inaugural committee
tried so hard 20 have adopted as the
official inaugural colors. flags OF other
nations. and so on.
Hut the main end of the whole de-o~a-
tive scheme is given by the American
flag. and it is no eNaEgeration 20 saw
that the business houses on both sides
Of the street are literally covered with
thousands Of them. L is q riot Of color
red. white. and hlUe-from the Capitcl 10
the court Of honor in front Of the White
House
The court Of honor. though marre5 nor
laps. was still very beautiful. II is com
posed "i two sets of four pillars each
tan, white pillars. the imitation flutfurs
of which are lines Of laurel leaves. FacH
bears on its apex a golden basket con
tanning palms and flowers. From these
extending in both directions. west 10 the
Mills Building and east TO Fifteenth
stre7t- are smaller pillars Of white. from