Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1913-02-19
| W !


| District OF
Columbia. The capital was a NOV
able affair. a good deal like the head
quarters OF a travelling photographer.
| Evidently the statesmen in power
considered II wise to pass the seat OF
government from one city to another,
SO that there would be no jealousy,
the result being that New York. Phil
adelphia. York, Pa, Baltimore and
Annapolis were at various times the
| capital OF the United States
But. as has been stated, the first
Inauguration took place at New York.
and Washington had to journey all
the way from Mt. Vernon to take part
in the ceremony. In those days such
n journey was not n matter OF small
moment, nor was IL TO be accomplish
ed in a night while the traveller lay
In Pullman berth. But IL Washing
tons trip was a long one 1t was also
attended by many incidents that must
have been eminently pleasing to the
first president. The following account
of it, taken from an old record. will
convey an idea OF the manner in
which II was accomplished:
"Washingtons journey was one
continuous triumphal procession.
Cities, towns and villages turned out
on masse. The road for many miles
was lined with people from the adja-
cent country. manifesting their JOY
by shouts. by laughter and by tears.
Mothers who had carried their babies
many miles held them up so that they
might in after years say they had
seen George Washington. The sick
and the aged were carried to the
road along which the general passed
and given favorable places from
which they could see him az he rode
along
Guns were fired and triumphal
arches were erected in the towns,
while flags and bunting were support
| ed by ropes stretched from tree to
tree across the roads which he trav-
eled. At Gray's Ferry. across the
Schuylkill, Washington rode through
a long avenue of laurels, that formed
q continuous arch above him AS he
was about to emerge from the laurel
| covered avenue a crown OF laurels
was ingeniously lowered upon his
head greatly to his surprise and en-
barrassment. but amid the deafening
shouts OF the multitude"
Early on the morning of April %
the booming Of cannon and the ring
ing OF bells announced that Washing
ton had arrived at Elizabethport. N.
J. Here he was met by committee
OF congress sent to escort him TO
New York. The trip from the New
Jersey side was made in n handsome
/ ~ decorated barge which somewhat
resembled the state barges in which
the kings and queens of England
were accustomed to show themselves
on the Thames. As this barge moved
slowly up the bay other barges. and
/ vessels OF various types fell into its
wake, and n splendid procession was
/ formed
On reaching Manhattan Island the
presidentelect was met at the ferry
stairs by Gov George Clinton or New
York. Such crowd as greeted Wash
! ington when he stepped ashore had
/ never before assembled on American
soil. Cannon doomed. bands played
\ and the people cheered. SO densely
were the enthusiastic citizens packed
/ together that great difficulty was ex-
! perienced IN forming for the process
| sion to Franklin Square whore Wash
| ington was to be domiciled during his
! stay In the city Every house along
| the route was decorated: every win
| dow was filed with people who
/ shouted and waved flags and handker-
/ chiefs. Flowers fell in the streets
and upon the head OF Washington ia
showers and at the house which no
was to occupy in Franklin Square
notable gathering Of foreign minis-
ters. distinguished citizens and poll.
ticians who were willing 20 assist him
in administering the government, &C
corded him another enthusiastic re-
| ception.
On the 10Th the committee of the
two houses Of congress reported an
| elaborate plan. providing that General
Webb. Colonel Smith. LIeutenant-Col-
onel Fish. Lieutenant-Colone Franks.
Major L'Enfant. Major Bleecker and
Mr.. John r. Livingston serve az aids
and assistants; that chairs be placed
In the senate chamber for the presi-
dent and vice-president, the senators
/ sitting on that side where the vice
PRESIDENTS chair was placed and the
| representatives on the other side.
with the speaker at their head: also
that seats should be provided in the
enate chamtor for she late president