Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1915-01-20
LETTER FROM MRS. KATE GAL
~! PIN PERKINS.

LETTER FROM MRS. KATE GAL
lG PIN PERKINS,. r.
With the Inauguration Of Governor
G. w. Clarke, the 36th General AS
sembly is we'll under way. Already
the reformer Is in evidence on al
sides and bills from all quarters anG
embracing a multitude Of subjects
are in course Of preparation. Thurs
day, the 18th, was given over to- In
auguration ceremonies. By 2 'clocl
the Halleof Representatives was
crowded from floor to galleries, and
T. Fred Henry's orchestra was dis
coursing sweet music. Suddenly "a
fanfare of trumpets sounded, :, and
down the aisle, between, the staff in
full uniform, the Governor-elect was
escorted to the platform amid tu.
multi Of cheers. Then, followed a mu'
sical program consisting OF a number
from the male quartette Of Drake uni
versity entitled my Wild IrishRose"
Frances Clarke, daughter of the
Beautiful Land'', in clear, sweet
voice, and the audience could hear
every word, which added much to
the beauty of the. song. The oath OF
office was then administered. to the
Governor and. Lieutenant Governor by
Chief Justice Horace E. Deemer,. at,
ter which the Goveror. delivered his
Inaugural address. It was a master
ly production and clearly showed the
astute statesman, the eloquent schol'
ar and Christian gentleman. He was
warmly applauded many times and
at the close the band struck up the
"Star. Spangled Banner and all
that vast audience rose to its feet,
and amid a storm Of clapping hands
the Governor retired. :.
Later, we of the Senate, retired to
the senate chamber where some sur
prises were in order. Early Thurs
day morning, the stork had left a
little daughter at Lieutenant Hard
ing's home and the Senate, through
it's committee, had purchased an ele-
giant, cradle of solid mahogany as a
gift TO- the little stranger. A lot of
toys, woody dog, rattle, ball and
nursing bottle-Which were present
ed with appropriate remarks by the
senior bachelor of the Senate. Reso-
lutions were passed censuring the
president for naming his daughter
Barbara Esther without the knowl-
edge and consent Of the Senate and
especially condemned him for trying
to conciliate the "drys' by calling
her Barbara, after his defeated op-
ponent. A bogus telegram from Oys-
ter Bay, congratulating Mr.. Harding
and his attitude on race suicide,
signed Theodore Roosevelt, was pre-
sented and the '"Old Maid" Of the
Senate gave few rules on the
raising of children. After much fun
and good deal OF honest good feel
ing had been voiced, Mr.. Harding re-
sponded and the flag which covered
the beautiful cradle was removed. We
did not leave the Senate Cham Der till
after: five O'Clock and we were to
re-assemble there again at half-past
seven, so there was not much time
left in which to get supper and dress
for the evening. We are right across
from the East door Of the Capitol
and as we had a little the advantage
of those down in the city, we were
among the first to arrive. The Capt..
tol never looked prettier, decorated
with>its wealth Of flags and pennants
and one blaze of electric lights from
dome to basement. A. large band
stand had been erected ON the floor
OF the 'Rotunda where T. Fred Hem
ry s. band filled the whole building
with appropriate musical selections
all the evening. The Governor s. suite
where the receiving line stood, was
beautifully decorated with palms
and roses and southern smilax drap-
ed the walls. The chandeliers with
their soft golden globes were draped
with smilax and, combined with the
gold trimmed uniforms of the staff
and Skinner gowns OF the ladies',
it made a brilliant scene At eight
o o'clock, the grand procession wound
down the Governor stairs, passed
the receiving line and out into. the
rotunda, to greet friends and listen
to the music. For almost three hours,
the stream passed in and out. :
heard they danced later in the 5ev-
ening but not being dancing people
we did not wait ito trip the Eight
fantastic toe'': 49," 'En'3t,
= Friday afternoon, In the Governor IS
decorated rooms, the ladies of the
Legislature held their initial recep-5
tion for welcoming new members:
Each lady haa her name pinned: on
her dress which made it easy to be-
come acquainted, as no one waited
for an introduction. = -
We, ladies Of the Legislature, ex-
pect to have many pleasant and
profitable meetings during the ses-
sion, to gain new ideas and broad
er outlook, to go to our homes more
than ever imbued with the idea Of
the greatness of our state and with
a. preatar detarni inatipD tn a. work
more earnestly for an advancement
all along the line.>
Kate Galpin Perkins.