The New York herald., 1921-03-05

panoply OF previous glittering occasions,
There was hardly any OF the carnival
spirit that Washington has known. No
long column of proudly marching mill
tary or civic organizations raised cheers
In, Pennsylvania avenue. Hilarity, and
especially the kind of hilarity that was
familiar in inaugurations before the
great drought swept over the country.
was absent.
The atmosphere or the cay. gaused
from a certain standpoint--the stand
point OF regarding an inauguration as
a great public show of noise ana color
and lavish display-was almost cold and
businesslike But for all Americans
there was tAue thrill in the simple
and solemn ceremonies that took place
III the Senate Chamber and little later
at the rotunda portico. and for those
who had ears to hear and eyes to see
there were episodes innumeraole,
sprightly and interesting, TO hold atten-
Lion and make the day worth while.
The business of replacing the Demo-
cratic party with the Republican party
in the control of Government, OF Great
ing a new Vice-President and President.
of retiring the Sixty-sixth Congress and
giving life to the Senate OF the Sixty
seventh, of confirming President Har-
ding's Cabinet selections, the whole
SWING ana scope OL lIt NAShh SNNSk
ordered by the people last November
took fewer than four hours.
At 1O:30 A. NJ. the Administration or
Mr.. Wilson still was functioning. his
Secretaries OF departments at their usual
posts, Mr. Wilson himself in the White
House.
At 2 80 p. NJ. Mr.. Harding was hav-
ing his first meal in the home OF the
President and his Secretaries OF Depart
ments had been confirmed by the new
Senate. over which Vice-President Coo
iidge presided.
The central and most significant cere-
mony of all. the inauguration Of the
new President, occupied less than three
quarters of an hour, even with the read
\ Ing OF the inaugural address.
Impressively Obvious Fact.
4 Throughout all of these linked occa-
\ sions there was impressively obvious the
stately fact that ceremonies such as
to-day's need not be carousal OF
hilarity, and the making of a new Pres
ident and Government Is not so much
+ a quadrennial carnival as the visible
act of the Republic renewing It's pledge
to its founde ers, of democracy justi-
flying It's right to live. That was the
true note OF to-days inaugural. and
the host who witnessed its episodes
seemed to catch the larger spirit OF the
occasion.
At s o'clock this morning there was
no other indication of an unusual event
visible than the flags that whipped
from the Government buildings, busi-
ness houses and private homes and
which decorated posts and pillars along
the avenue. The early morning throng
7 was not much larger than on an ordi-
nary day. II increased very slowly until
at about 10 p. NJ. Pennsylvania ave-
nue. was well filled with folk flowing
in one direction-eastward toward the
Capitol.
They walked In a gorgeous morning,
for Mr.. Harriing's famous weather luck
had held. Either that or the chief OF
the Weather Bureau is an utterly be-
loved Republican. Both made good. The
new President told his friends laughing
ly in the New Willard late last night
that he was not all concerned about
the weather, though the outlook was
none too good at that hour, because he
had q conviction that the sun would
shine. that the singular good fortune
that had chung to him from his nomina-
tion until his election would not desert
him when he needed II most.
Also Marvin. the weather man, stuck
I to his prediction of clear and cold, :"
4 and clear and cold II was. A savage
( northwest wind, which arose In the
I night, coming from regions where grape
. fruit do not flourish. swept away the
/! clouds as a housewife clears the cob
! webs from her ceiling, drove the damp
1 ness from the air, refined 1t, gave 1t
ozone and left the rest for the sun TO do.
Daylight came brilliantly therefore.
and Philander c. Knox. Senator from
Pennsylvania and chairman of the joint
Z Congress committee IN charge OF the
Z Inauguration, gave proper thanks as he
reached for hts tall hat. As the morning
4 grew older the wind subsided to a fresh
northwest breeze. little whimsical and
a little penetrating for folk without over
coats. but not really uncomfortable at
the worst and the mercury climbed from
the freezing point up to somewhere be-
tween 40 and so.
h AS the crowds got into motion and
began to fill the Capitol plaza, the great
space that sweeps eastward from the
Capitol. with the beautiful Library OF
Congress at its eastward boundary. those
/ in charge of the official and formal side
Of the inaugural began to stir Them
selves. The House of Representatives
went into session for its last time as a
, part Of the Sixty-sixth Congress. Sena-
tors gathered In their wing.
beginning of Ceremonies.
The Joint Congress committee. headed
by Senator Knox and Uncle Joe Can
non. set out to greet Mr.. and Mrs. Har-
ding and Mr. and Mrs. Coolidge at the
New Willard Hotel. At the White House
Preside ent Wilson. anXiously scruunized
by Mrs. Wilson and DR.. Grayson, was
preparing to 20 TO the Capitol and
maintaining his high resolution to par
ricipate in all of the official episodes
of the ceremony.
For such as had the privilege of ac-
cess to the Senate chamber the proceed
ings about to take place there were Of
the first interest. Admission was by
card, and was strictly limited owing &c
the small capacity Of the Senate gal
leries To every Senator has been as
signed two tickets and to every Repre-
sentative one. That made about zoe
without considering the privileges grant
ed to the outgoing and incoming Presi-
dents and without considering certain
rigidly reserved spaces such as the dip
lomatic gallery. There were at least
1900 crowded into the galleries to-day
as many persons found standing room
after ali seats had been claimed.
IA 10 A. NJ. the galleries began to fill
slowly and sedately. There were nc
Senators visible as yet and so early
Corners had little TO admire except the
gold arabesques and buff panels OF the
walls and the glass of the ceiling with
Its symbolism Of War, Peace. Union
Progress. the Arts, Sciences and Indus.
tries. Upon the floor there was sub