The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-02-28

Mild but overcast ......... 10
Cold and damp ...... Even
Very cold and very damp 80. to )
Snow, hail, etc .... 10
Blizzard ........ Is to !
The cold mathematics of historical
record would indicate such adds TO be
fair. It is an even bet that Mr. Harding
will need heavy overcoat when lie rides
TO the capitol and three chances out of
five that someone should be nearby with
an umbrella and overShoes. It seems
TO be safe at IL to that Mr.. Harding
will not experience the perfect spring
day which greeted Mr.. Wilson on the oc-
casion of his first inaugural.
On three occasions Washington has
given the inauguration crowds a weather
welcome in which warmth was conspic-
uously absent. President Grants second
icles of that day recorded, the wind be-
ing of the ''keen, fierce" kind.
Young cadets parading without over
coats were removed inSenSible from the
lines" says one account which describes
the quadrennial ball as "a most dismal
affair" at which the various cham
pagnes We're found frozen"
Mr.. Harrison met with a bleak and
bitter cold day with u raw wind blow
ing" but the historians neglect tn men
ton the conditions of the liquids
The climatic climax, however came
with the inauguration of Mr.. Taft when
q blizzard howled ou1 of the north. Grip
pling telegraph wires, Stalling trains and
utterly spelling an elaborate program,
Thousands of spectators waited in the
railway cars in cold drifts miles from
Washington while AIR. Taft was being
sworn in the senate chamber, the FIRST
indoor ceremony in 10 years, il the his
torian will ignore the more or less in
formal inaugurationS of Tyler. Fillmore
johnson, Arthur and Roosevelt for I'M
expired terms.
The fierce naturao Of Washington's
weather gods has led TO many movements
to change the INAUGURAL dates-the pro-
ponents of later date being about equal
TO those who believe that the induction
follow more closely the verdict of the
polls" Tradition only. is responsible
for the maintenance Of March as the
time for the ceremony, it is said care
full research of legislative records failing
to reveal the specific naming of that day
Two theories are prevalent as to the
manner III which the present date was
selected. One is that the revolutionary
fathers, after an exhaustive computa-
ton, became convinced that March I
would not fall on Sunday in any lean
year Somebody evidently enormously
eFauatefl their quantity. in that
case. for March has como on Sunday
three tires since WaShington's inaus-
ural in New York s
The second theory is based on the
minutes of the first constitutional ron
vention where the delegates (under date
of Sept. -. 1881 "did resolve dnanI
mously that tho first Wednesday
in January be the day for appointing
electors in the several states: that the
first "Wednesday in February be the day
for the electors to assemble in their re-
spective states and vote for president.
and that the first Wednesday in March
next, be the time and the present seat
of congress the place for co1,1ntenting
proceedings under said constitution >"
The first Wednesday, in March
next. happened 10, bo tho 4th. accord
ing to thosa holding with tho second
idea, and March 4. thenenforth. weather
Notwithstanding. has been 1.-THE day Cor
commencing proceedings -