The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-03-11
Washington, d. c.

OF a great man as President the re-
suit is festival day not to be eqaalI-
ed under the sun in this present dav
and age. The writer has seen mons
ter multitudes on many occasions. in
Guiding the famous "St. Louis Day"
at the St. Louis Worlds Fair, and a
September Saturday night at Coney
Island, New York, but the indescrib-
ably immense throngs that choked
the streets of Washington city last
Thursday belong in class by them
selves. Estimates vary from 200, 900
to 100000 additional persons in the
city on that day. For the real thing
in a great American crowd Inaugur-
alton Day holds the palm.
We had been told that the sight
seers ranks were composed mostly
of country bankers. Also that they
were composed of city sports" Also
that they were largely from the
southern central states. Also that
they came mainly from Baltimore
and Philadelphia. But when the
crowds actually arrived and the
Spectator attempted to assign them
to any one class of society or any
one region of the country, he was
forced to give l. up. The fact was
plain that the Great American people
had sent Representatives of every
variety The green felt hat of the
Bowery swell Knocked against the
stately Stetson of the Kentucky col
onel, and that in turn jostled the
Western sombrero and the trim der
b. of the Middle West. Farmers and
business men and machinists stood
side by side in the surging mass OF
humanity that covered every corner
of the Capitol Plaza and filled Penn
sylvania Avenue for solid mile and
half. 1t was truly national as
semblage.
BUT THE WEATHER. OH, MY!
The weather was outrageously bad.
After three weeks of mild and beauti-
full weather Washington had the mis-
fortune to see cloudy skies on Tues
day morning, rain all day Wednesday,
and soft suffociating snow all We'd
nesday night and Thursday morning,
which clogged the streets, stopped the
trains and broke down every tele-
graph wire out of Washington. leav-
ing the town dependent upon a single
wireless station ON the New Willard
Hotel. Mr.. Taft was forced to take
the oath and read his Inauguration
address inside the Senate Chamber,
because the health of the aged Chief
Justice Fuller could not be risked in
the snow-storm outside. Mr.. Taft,
however, stepped cut onto the. out
side platform for a few moments and
bowed to the crowds which had been
standing in the six inch slush since
early morning waiting eagerly for a
sight of him. Then Mr.. Roosevelt's
carriage set out for the Union Sta
ton, and the ovation which had greet
ed Tafts appearance was redoubled.
Mr.. Roosevelt's act in leaving town
at once instead of remaining to review
the great parade with Mr.. Taft was
one of great tact If Roosevelt had
stayed it seems probable that he
would have been the hero Of the day
instead of Taft
A GREAT PARADE.
Five thousand dollars were spent
in clearing the snow from Penn
slyvania Avenue between nine O'Clock
in the morning and noon. to make way
for the big parade, which commenced
about two-thirty and lasted until
darkness closed the scene President
Taft watched the passing of the great
pageant from his special reviewing
stand i'm the center of the Court of
Honor" behind the White House. All
along the two miles of the line of
seats cost from $3.50 to 500.
the latter price being exceeded In
scores of instances. Rooms with two
windows fronting on the Avenue rent
ed for $500. The parade was equal
to the occasion. President Taft was
escorted from the Capitol by Troop
A. of Ohio, composed of the flower
OF Ohlos finest young men from the
classes, and presenting an
appearance hardly to be matched by
any existing cavalry troop. Other
features were the Philippine Con-
stabulary Band, the sailors from the
fleet, the New York
headed by Governor
and the Taft Marching Club
Of Cincinnati.
PLEASURE AND DEATH.
In the evening the city emptied
itself upon the Eclipse" in front of
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