Evening star., 1917-03-04

~ II RS. EMMA DENT CASEY of
tNMl Washington, sister-inlaw of
uWII President L. s. Grant, gives
oVS an interesting account of the
two inaugurations of her brother-in-
law. During eight years Mrs. Casey
was a constant companion of her sister,
Julia. the first lady of the land, in the
White House. Her husband. Col. James
Pinnie Casey, was collector of the port
,of New Orleans during the reconstruc-
tion days, and after his death Mrs.
Casey moved TO Washington. She is
now eighty-one years of age. She
says:
1t is almost impossible for me to
realize that one-half a century has
passed since the first inauguration of
Gen Grant and this second inaugura-
tion of President Wilson. Forty-eisht
years ago this spring my husband and
were guests of Gen. and Mrs. Grant at
their L street house. a large and beau
tifully furnished home which had been
presented TO the general by the men
and women of the north
"At that time i young enough
and romantic enough to enjoy with all
my heart and appreciate with all my
senses each days pleasure. Although
my husband was closely related TO
President Zachary Taylor, this connec-
different. for was ii not my own be-
loved sister who was to be the mistress
of the White House?
LAS the 4th of March drew near. the
members of Gen. and Mrs Grants
families gathered in Washington. 1t
was like great and joyous gathering
of the clans in Scotland. We were
many. Gen. Grants father was there.
his brother. Orvil, and his sister, Jen-
ME: also my father, my husband and
Gen. Dent, Col. Dent and Judge Dent,
my three brothers, and their respective
wives, and my other sister, MRS. Snarp,
and her husband.
Gen Grant was known as a grave
man, but he was also as witty and
charming and affable in manner and
speech as any man 1 ever knew. I met
him for the first time when l was only
.seven years of age, and / knew him
well through all those years. Now. his
happiness seemed unbounded, for the
war was over and a nation had favored
him with its highest honor.
The 4th of March. 1869. was typical
of inauguration day. The morning
broke gloomily with lowering skies and
occasional showers, which later settled
into a steady driZzle.
Gen. Grant. with his military aid.
Gen. RawIins, left the house quite
early for his headquarters at the cor
ner Of 18th and F streets. Soon after
ward Mrs Grant and her guests left for
the Capitol. The streets were filled with
a hurrying crowd moving toward Penn
sylvania avenue. We drove to the
north entrance of the Capitol and were
escorted to the Senate gallery. Below US
on the Senate floor was gathered an i'm
posing sight that grew more impressive
with each passing moment l was awed
Ty,t- ~
gathering of senators. the Supreme
Court of the United States entered.
wearing their sonber official robes.
shortly after this. Gen. Grants staff.
among whom was my brother. Gen.
Frederick Dent. all in full uniform. en-
tered and were shown to seats. Next
came the diplomatic corps In their brill
liant costumes. Then Gen. Grant and
eorted by member of the Senate. The
general was not in uniform. but wore
a black suit. much to the disgust, so l
heard later, of a noted painter. who
washington. in all his brave trappings
of war. taking the oath of office. No
doubt you have often seen copies of
Sthis same painting.
made. to which / did not listen. The
Vice President took the oath of Office
and the assemblage adjourned to the
stand built over the east front of the
heart went out to the waving, cheering
mass of upturned faces below me. Soon
after we were seated Gen. Grant ap-
peared and approached Chief Justice
Chase to receive the oath of office.
During the war i had been within the
dread sound of capnon fire. but never
before had it sounded music to me.
Now. the cheering and handclapping and
booming of cannon was quite deafen-
Ing. However dreary the day. there was
wild song of JOY in my heart When
quiet was restored the general deliv-
cred his inaugural address in a clear
but not very loud tone of voice.
After the ceremonies at the Capitol
the procession, with the President and
: Senator Craigin in an open carriage
et the head. moved toward the White
House. Although it had been freshly
brushed. Pennsylvania avenue was not
the smooth. clean street it is today
and our carriage swayed and rocked