The Washington herald., 1909-03-03

Washington Is as dizzy as q June bug
with the intensity oF its expectations
Il Is spinning around on IT'S civic ear.
intoxicated with the idea Of the approach
ing Inauguration. The great Dementla
Americana has hit It between the eyes.
and It IS staggering Up and down Penn
sylvanla avenue in an abandon Of open
mouthed anticipation
The crowds, growing greater and great
or. are slowly coagulating with their own
immensity. forecasting the time when the
historic Avenue VIII be packed with a
dense and mouonless crowd, awaiting the
vanguard Of the inaugural parade.
Faster and faster come the recruits
through the portals Of the Union Station.
and slower and more pomderously moves
the surging army Of sight-seers in the
downtown sections.
Plans of organizations.
Thousands Of plans Of organizations and
individuals are converging with swift ac-
ceIeration on the moment when Mr. Taft
who. By the way. was playing a quiet
little game of golf at the Chevy Chase
links yesterday afternoon-lays his hand
on the traditional Bible, and gives his
oath TO be true TO his country and 10 the
best that IS III him
Tomorrow afternoon. or as soon as pos
sible after p O'Clock, is the apex. the
apogee. the crucial moment toward which
The minds Of men, women, and children
have been running for months IN order
that the occasion may pass of without a
hitch. q committee composed Of some Of
the best thinkers and executive organ
lzers IN Washington has been giving its
undivided attention 10 the most iRsignifi-
cant details for weeks. Merchants have
flooded their places Of business with
streamers. bunting electric lights. and
flags. House-owners out in the city have
decked their dwellings with the national
coIors.
Men have struggled in Congressional,
gabernatorial. and Presidential campaigns
throughout the country. Political desti-
aies have been made and unmade in the
warfare of votes. A great national drama
aas been in progress.
Hero Of the Great Day.
Tomorrow the hero Of the great DAY.
5ecked with the gariands Of success,
makes his bow 10 the audience and re-
,eives the plaudits due to his undisputed
position
And still they come In families. droves,
and whole communities. they are pour
Ing through the gates OF the Union Sta
ton. overwhelming the seats and the
side floor space, and surging out through
the doors into the city. The great new
terminal hummed yesterday like a sea
shell with the indefnable noise OF multi
tudes A constant roar reverberated
through the high arches, echoed down the
corridors. vitalizing the atmosphere and
5iEning on the ear drums.
And down on the white tiled foor. Ike
myrisds OF black ants, surged back and
forth the human cause OF all the tu-
mult- Little family reunions, Iittle hand
shakes Of friendship. little exclamations
OF pleasure, each so important in itself.
were but tiny cons contributing 10 the
vast sum total.
In fun view Of the crowds on the outer
platform the magic finger Of the teieto-
scope wrote on an Illuminated sheet the
history Of the trains bearing down on
Washington loaded 10 the guards with
new arrivals As each chain Of coaches
pulled in a squad Of policemen cleared
the way before the gate. and IN an In
credibly short time a path as clean as
that through the Red Sea was opened
Up, through which the newcomers passed.
Directions 10 Strangers.
Thirty public service guides were con-
stantly on hand 10 give directions 10
strangers, and the multitude was handled
with marvellous ease and comfort. Cir
culating about in the crowds were plain
clothes men" from the local and outside
police forces ready 10 lend a hand al an
Instant's notice. and scanning faces to
find crooks known TO the rogues' gallery
Pennsylvania avenue grOaned under its
human load last night The sidewalks
were black with pedestrians. thousands
OF whos were forced to take to the street
10 make their way. Automobiles and car
riages groped and zig-zagged at a snaTs
pace, and the stream Of street cars re-
sembled a continuous train.
The entire system Of illumination was
brilliant through the night. The Avenue
looked ike a vista through a cave hung
With dazzling stslactites. The court Of
Matinee, COhan e Harris MinstreES.
To-day. Columbia Theater. soc TO SL5G.