Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-02-20

at-arfrs procession Is formed It r.
led by the marshal OF the supreme
court and the marshal of the District
of Columbia arm in arm. These OFF,
Gals are followed by the Justices of the
supreme court, after whom come the
president and president elect and the
incoming vice president. and in this
instance. there being no retiring vice
president, the president pro tenn. OF
the senate, escorted by the committee
on arrangements. Next in line are
the diplomats. headed by the ambas-
sailors. and following them are men,
bers OF the cabinet. representatives OF
the coming house and high officers of
the army and navy. The spectators,
descending by the stairs from the gal
leries, join the parade, four abreast
The march proceeds southwark through
the main corridor OF the capitol and
then, by way of the rotunda. to the pill
Jared marble portico on the east
From the portico wonderful spec
tacle Is presented Along the middle
part of the east front Of the capitol an
immense platform and grand stand
have been erected, with rows on rows
OF chairs for occupancy by those who
have been fortunate enough to obtain
tickets
The Oath Administered.
Down the middle Of the great flight
OF marble steps Is a passageway.
Through this the president elect de-
sends until he arrives at small plat
form bearing a sort of kiosk In the
kiosk he stands. looking down upon an
immense sea of upturned faces, while
Chief Justice White OF the supreme
court administers to him the oath.
Then he begins the delivery OF his in
augural address, which has already
been for some time in type In the office
OF every important newspaper in the
country. Before that speech is finish
ed 1t Is in the newspapers and on the
street in nearly every city of the Unit
ed States.
This part of the program over, the
presidential party lunches in the SEN
ate wing. 1t is hurried meal for in
the meantime the procession is form
ing for the march back TO the White
House, and hundreds and thousands OF
people along the route are impatiently
waiting. Crowds throng the sidewalks
to the curbs, which are protected by
ropes under vigilant guard by police
men, and the shabby mile Of Pennsyl-
vania avenue is for the nonce made
beautiful by profuse decorations. every
building being adorned with flags and
bright coIored bunting.
Arriving at the White House. the
new president seats himself in the box
at the foot of his private stand and
reviews the procession. a task which
must be somewhat wearisome, for it
takes something like three hours to
pass. and he already has had a IA
tiguing morning.
This will end the ceremonies incident
to the Inauguration of the twentysev-
enth president of the United States.
The fact that ii does end here eStab-
fishes d precedent which is likely to
be followed for all time. Heretofore
world famed inaugural ball, and II
had become an occasion that every
one dreaded The new president and
his family approached the event, aft
er already having spent n hard day at
the ceremonies incident to the inaugu-
ration. with the same degree of pleas
ure that marks a visit to the dentist.
Time and again have incoming presi-
dents been on the verge Of calling OFF,
the ball. They hesitated TO create the
precedent of abolishing a time estab-
lished institution" But Mr.. Wilson
concluded that II he were going 10
get his nine hours sleep every night
during his administration he might as
well start in right and not stay up fog
ball the first night. Then, again,
the ball kept the pension clerks out OF
work for two weeks. SO he dropped
the gentle hint that the ball ought TO
be dropped. And 1t was dropped