Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1909-03-11
BLIZZARD CAUSED THE ABANDON.
MENT OF OUTDOOR
CEREMONIES.
7. R.. FIRST TO CONGRATULATE
Weather Clears and For Three Hours
Incoming President Reviews -
Parade-Announces for
R%ooscveit's Policies.

ne nrSt ch1ef cxecu.
tive to take the oath Of office In the
chamber Of the senate In &c years.
william Howard Taft, became presi-
dent Of the United States.
Accompanied to the capital by Pres.
ident Roosevelt and d guard OF honor
through the swirl OF binding snow,
Taft returned to the white House Just
as the sun began to force its way
through the clouds. A sudden blizzard
sweeping in from the northwest set
awry the weather bureaus optimistic
promise Of fair and somewhat cool.
err caused an abandonment OF tho
outdor ceremonies on the famous cast
front OF the capitol, much to Taft's
chagrin, and threatened for a time to
stop the brilliant pageant Of the after.
noon.
A passagcway was cleared along the
center Of Pennsylvania avenue, Row.
ever, and for nearly three hours Pres.
ident Taft and Vicc.Prcsident Sher.
ma reviewed a passing columns
which was repletc with martial splcn
dor and picturesque with civic dis
play.
Following the inaugural ceremonies
In the senate, Theodore Roosevelt,
again a private Citizen. babe an affec.
tiOnate adieu to his successor, whiio
all In the historic chamber looked on
In silence. and then he hurried away
through a side dor to take a train for
New York. AS he passed out OF the
chamber Roosevelt was given an 0va
ton quite the equal Of that rendered
the new president. Outside the zap.
itOl the retiring chief executive was
met by 800 members of the New York
committee and under their escort was
driven 10 the union station, three
blocks away.
President and Mrs. Taft were the
ccnters Of interest at the eliminating
feature Of the day-thc inaugural ball
In the pension building. The scene In
the cayernOus building, which had
been transformed into q canopicd
court of ivory and white, was another
Of the brilliant pictures which arc
quadrennially painted here by the
gathering Of a vast and brilliant as.
semblagc from every section Of the
country.
With all the color and movement OF
q military spectacle, with the soften.
Ing influence of dclicately tinted gowns
and the interest OF n personnel seldom
equaled at a social function. the In.
augural ball holds a place unique in
the history making Of the day.
While the ball was In progress In.
doors, a display OF fireworks on the
monument lot In the rear Of the White
House marked the end Of the outdoor
celebration. For hours the thinly.
clOuded heavens were alight with rock.
cts, with sun clusters that challenged
the briliancies OF day, with fiery cob
ras' and all the fantastic creations
OF modern p%yrotechnic skill.
Aerial salutes, floating festoons, II.
lumincd balloons and scores OF other
features made the display visible from
n end Of the Capital City to the
other.
Prior to his visit to the ball. Presi-
dent Taft had entertained at tea In
the White House the members OF the
Yale club; had dincd with Mrs. Taft
at 7 o'clock. and had stopped in ct
the Metropolitan club to say a few
words at the diner Of the class OF
rs at Yale.
Taft's day was one of continuing
cheers and plaudits from the moment
he first appeared OF the White House
porticO to go to his inauguration. until
&C returned late at night, al unwili.
ing leave taker from the inaugural
ball.
Mr.. and Mrs. Taft were the guests
of the Roosevelts at the White House.
setting a new precedent In the cour.
tesies OF the executive mansion. as
| they did again when Mrs. Taft accom-
panied the new president and Sher.
man. the new vice.president. from the
acpitol at the head Of the imposing
| parade to the White House.