The Washington herald., 1909-03-05

but for the fact that the various regi-
ments Of infantry. cavalry. and artillery
were forced by the nclemency OF the
weather 20 clothe themselves IN great
coats. which gave a yellow and duh same
ness 10 the whole Of this part Of the
parade. of course. even this lent a sug-
seSuon ef force. IN a way. for certainly
tie troops marching in perfect order
locking womanlikc: and especially was
this true Of the various mountain bat
teries and Gatling gun brigades. with
their almost uncanny suggestions Of po-
tentiaI force.
In the grand military division 4 was
the sailors, after all, who came In for
the largest amount OF applause. Bronzed
and looking fir. marching in perfect STEP
/ and showing the effect OF constant drill.
| accompanied by their bands. came the
! sailors Of the Connecticut. the Vermont,
/ the Georgia. the Louisiana. the Wisconsin.
/ the Illinois. the Kearsarge. and the Ken
/ tUcky-the bluejackets. who were all the
more endeared 90 the hearts Of the popu-
lace because they have just returned
\ from their memorable trip around the
world
/ The picturesque part Of the parade 50
/ Tar as mere show went. rested with the
I Independent organizations in the civic di-
vision such as the Worcester COnunen-
! tails, q Worcester. Mass. and the Cray
/ lnvinclbles. Of Philadelphia. though. OF
| course by far the most attractive and
glorious Of all the independent organiza-
( tiOns was that remarkable Troop A. Of
| Cleveland, Ohio. the Black Horse Troop.
/ whose uniforms were so striking and
/ which marched So we'll And in the civic
/ division or the parade there was the Strik-
I ing Taft Club. Of Cincinnati Ohio. with
+ It's great body Of men IN white top hats,
the Theatrical Republican Club. Of New
/ York City the Veteran Zouaves. of Eliz-
abeth. y. J.. and the much-cheered Uncle
Sans Club. Of Buffalo. Y Y. II was or
ganizations such as these. Of which there
/ were a great number. that hrared the
/ weather and kept their appointed places
in line, that made the latter half Of the
( parade that passed the reviewing stand
I Of President Taft so complete and pic
tuTesque
Display of Fireworks.
When the last part or the parade had
passed the reviewing stand. shortly be-
fore o'clock there was cessation
in the ceremonies for an hour or two.
But AT O'Clock began on the White Lot
a display OF fireworks never before equal
ed in Washington. where many brilliant
displays Of this sort have been held. II
began with a national salute Of 10I aerial
guns. and continued until q late hour a
constant succession OF wonderful s,5r-
prises in pyrotechnics. Bombs were fred
high into the air. 20 burst with a terrific
defamation The heavens were filed with
glowing stars: rockets vent hu-Ilnp
through the sky IN various directions
The noise was deafeninE and the sky
lurid with the glow.
And al 3 O'Clock began the inaugural
ball, over which the incIement weather
had no power OF harm. For the norca
as often before. the Pension Building had
been converted into a palace OF 6aIieb.
garden OF great beauty. By the use Of
an enormous quantity OF flowers and q
( laVisn display of the national colors the
interior Of the ballroom was made into
q marvel Of beauty, and until the early
nours OF tne morning the place was
thronSed with happy crowd OF dancers.
comprising all classes Of Washington So
clety-disuHctively a ball Of the people.
Taft at the BAN.
Shortly after 10 O'Clock President Taft
and Vice President sherman arrived At
I the ball, accompanied by members Of their
/ families They were formally received
By members Of the Inaugural committee
where many Of the dancers had a chance
1 TO greet them, and were finally escorted
to the special balcony reserved fol-. them.
+ whence for some time they looked on AZ
the revelers. It was perhaps the most
. brilliant inaugural bail that has ever been
held, and was undoubtedly one Of the
most brilliantly successful features Of in
! augUral day.
In the meantime. and far into the night.
u there were countless hundreds Of peopIe
who did not go to the ball and who had
come from the fireworks display. They
thronged the city's streets. admirfng the
:. most brilliant illumation that Washington
has ever known, viewing the brilliant
decorations Of the court OF honor, and.
despite the chilly weather. enjoying the
nations holiday. In spite Of all that Old
Boreas had been able to do--and he had
: done his wOrst-1IarCh l. 1879, viii have
to stand in the history Of the country as
| the most brilliant of all inaugurations.