Evening star., 1917-03-04

had been four years ago. Now, many
of those assembled were intimate
friends.
The inaugural proceedings were
much the same as they had been four
years before. The Senate of the Unit
ed States was assembled. the supreme e
Court entered in their robes. the PreSi =
dent and Vice President appeared next.
the heels of the diplomats came others.
who quickly filled the room There
were several speeches. but. as I could
read these to better advantage the
tened Below me sat Sir Edward
Thornton. the British minister. look
ing most gallant in his decorations.
II waved to Lady Thornton. sitting
nearby, and with whom | had but re-
Gently dined. who sent back a teie-
graphic response. And there was Conk :
Iin.A looking proud as peacock ana
quite as handsome: and Logan of the
leonine hair; and Blaine, who was later
to be known as the plumed knight.
and who. indeed. was truly knight in
deferential courtesy, and Senator Sher-
man, Gen. Sherman and Gen sheridan.
and so many, many gallant men Whom
| knew well. Now they are all gone. .
LAS on the previous Inauguration. the
oath of Office was administered on
grandstand built over the north en-
trance to the Capitol In 1873 the
inaugural stand covered the stairway
only. Our seats on this stand were
somewhat sheltered. but it was bitter
cold and a high wind drove the icy
chill through ones thickest wraps. The
soldiers must have suffered frightfully.
Those who were not enforced spec
tators, as the troops. were brave indeed
to face that frigid blast. But when
Chief Justice Chase administered the
oath of office and Gen. Grant bowed
his head and reverently kissed the
Bible the tension of the great crowd
was broken and cheer upon cheer
drowned the bowling of the wind. But
l was well pleased when again | found
myself seated in the carriage, warmly
wrapped, with hot brick at my feet.
ION the return to the White House
the streets were crowded. The gayly
decorated stands along the Avenue
were not SO popular. To keep ones
body warm one had to be most active,
and a grandstand seat is no place for
exercise. / remember the triumphal
arches, flags and bunting that spanned
the way at various points. with here and
there immense banners and pendants
fluttering in the gale. Truly 1t was a
riot of color.
"As Cincinnati and Egypt the gen.
erals saddle horses during the war,
hauling Nellie and Jennie. turned up
the Avenue at 18th street, they stepped
with no less dignity than was. dis
played in the bearing of the negro
coachman and footman. Albert Haw-
kins and Jerry Smith. who always
drove the Presidents four-in- hand
about Washington. l believe no other
President used four horses to his Of
fetal carriage, and much criticism
was heaped upon the Presidents head
because he used two horses more than
others thought necessary.
by the time we were seated in the
stand in Lafayette Park across from
the White House. the procession was
coming down the Avenue. 1t was
long time in passing, but the march
ers looked a great deal warmer. and
even the middies and cadets strobe
gayly by.
That night every one was worn out,
but we went to the inaugural ball. A
temporary wooden structure was built
in judiciary Square for the occasion.
Though a little crude outside, it was
beautifully decorated within. and. for
normal Washington weather adequate
ly heated, but the night or March 4,
1873, was not normal. and every one
who went to the ball had reason to re-
member it for many day.
The ballroom was spacious and the
decorations of numerous flags and
streamers, shields and garlands were
gorgeous. AT one end of the room was
raised platform for the use of the
President. the cabinet and their fami-
lies and friends. Here l shivered. when
l was not dancing or walking, but.
frankly, to keep warm l danced the
greater part of the evening. ana In my
wraps at that.
II remember, too, there We're many
cages hung about the room. hiled with
birds These birds were supposed to add
to the joyous music of the orchestra,
"The next day there was another mill
tary parade, but I did not see 1t; was
in the care of physician