The Washington herald., 1909-03-04

Small hats and turDzns turned turtle,
and merry widows" assumed the attitude
OF umbrellas yesterday, but that could
not keep The countless thousands OF In
auguration visitors from swooplng down
and capturing a little real knowledge"
about the Capitol OF the greatest nation
on earth
From soon after breakfast the halls and
corridors were crowded. and during the
MONDAY hours II was next 10 impossible
for anybody TO set anywhere; that IS.
with any degree OF certainty as TO the
time required
The rain had but little effect on the
stream OF people. and they took the fall
ing drops OF water as one OF the things
among the ordinary-inauguration but
snee in four years in history. and to some
Of the people only once in a life time.
The guards and employees az the Capitol
who remarked about the crowds Monday
and Tuesday changed their topics OF cor
versation 70 the jams yesterday, and
later in the afternoon some OF them had
begun remarking on the crush. It was
crush the Ike Of which has seldom been
seen at the Capitol. and many Of the old
timers declared the crowd surpassed IN
numbers those attending any Of the
former inaugurstions.
Room for Only Half
Long before the opening Of the Senate
end the House OF Representatives ths
corridors around the galleries were filed
with lines Of people waiting for the doors
70 swing open 10 admit them. Finally,
when the gavei fell. and the stream OF
humanity was allowed 10 proceed. Il was
found that there we're seats to accommo-
date only about half Of them. The other
half did not turn IN disgust on their
heels and 90 TO their boarding houses
and hotels, mad because they were not
allowed to witness the proceedings Of
Congress. but made a Wild rush 20 the
hundreds OF other places OF interest about
the historic building.
Statuary Hall. the Offices Of the United
States Supreme Court. and the dome.
already packed with sightseers, received
as many as possible, while the downstairs
hail and the restaurants took care Of
the overflow. It was a great day. said
ali Of the guards; the greatest Of the
great days, suggested many Of the
tired 'know-ails" who have TO answer
questions. whether they know the right
answers or not
The dear constituents OF Vice Presi-
dent Fairbanks and Vice Presldent-elect
Sherman crowded the Offices OF the two
~ -.
with great difficulty that they were able
to attend to any business. or course,
they had TO turn away a great many. but
both Mr.. Sherman and Mr. Fairbanks ac-
cepted as many congratulations as they
possibly could (They had a little work to
dOl
Lunch At the Capitol.
The fad OF eating lunch at the Capitol
has come well into practice this inaugu-
ration. and seems TO be more popular
Z than in former years In the restaurants
IN the Senate, the House, and IN the
House OF Representatives Office building
we're more than a hundred special parties.
! One OF the most interesting groups was
that Of which Representatives Bourke
| Cochran, Nicholas Longworth, and Fos-
ter. Of Vermont were members. This
party took luncheon in the membe res
tsuraat on the House side, and smaller
groups Of eaters would have enjoyed
life II there had been nothing else 10 en-
tertain them except the bright sayings OF
these members Of Congress.
The Taft .'BiIlikin' seemed to be about
the most interesting OF the festivity max
ers that the crowd Of sightseers found
yesterday. II is made OF light chalk. OF
clay. and Is very similar to the Billikin,
the god OF good luck, that has grown so
popular throughout the United states IN
the last few months II IL a splendid Ike
ness. a earicature, OF course. OF The Presi-
dent-eIect, and Afforded a great deal OF
amusement 10 the crowds az the Capitol.
The Capitol was the rendezvous IN the
afternoon for hundreds OF college boys.
many OF them in groups and wearing
their uniforms There were also hun
dreds Of soldiers and marching men,
bers who wanted 20 get one good look
/ at Congress and see the Capitol
Rain Is Forgotten.
Many OF the girls schools and young
ladies' seminaries in Washington forge:
the rain and sent out delegations 10 the
OaptloA teStetudss dllu tllSlt AclC d41o
several bunches Of small children from
public schools Most OF the public
school children arrived late in the after
noon. just when the crowd was the big
gest. and. unfortunately for them, they
could gain admittance to but few OF the
places they had counted on visiting The
60oTkeepers did the best they could. how
ever, and wherever there was a chance
to let them into the galleries or TO other
places Of interest they were taken care Of.
Getting the crowds out Of the Capitol
last night was = task the guards and pO-
! iicemen had not counted on IN their list
OF things to do. After many Of the cor
ridors we're closed. the crowds broke
through. and It was no easy thing %
explain that all OF the Capitol would not
be kept open ell night.
Several large parties seemed unduly dis
appointed because they were not allowed
20 go up 70 the dome when the guards
were ready 70 block that passageway. but
il couldn't be helped. and, as the guards
told them. they viii have to come an
other day.