Evening star., 1924-08-15

scenes of that chill April morning,
nearly century and half ago, when
lone rider guided his tired horse
up the winding road to Mount YER
non and told George Washington that
| ne mad been chosen unanimously to
become Americas first President,
Calvin Coolidge was formally notified
last night of his own nomination in
Memorial Continental Hall
Charles Thomson. bearer of the
notifcatfon, was the only witness to
that historic ceremony of 1889, be-
SIDES members of the Washington
family and few faithful slaves.
But more than 5000 persons packed
themselves into Memorial Continental
Hall last night, $4,000 more stood out
/ side. while perhaps 25.000. 900 others,
| in the farthest corners of the nation,
heard every word over the radio.
Had Calvin Coolidge and the eerie-
looking horns and contrivances that
| carried his voice to every member of
that tremendous audience been sud
! denly whisked back to the time of
Washington, instead of the cherished
leader of great party, he probably
would have found himself securely
! locked in chains and stockade while
quaking sages hurriedly decided
means Of killing him for practicing
| witchcraft.
Scenes Reminiscent.
! Yet the scenes of last night were
| reminiscent of that very period. The
| ceremony of notification was held in
| the stately hall OF the Daughters of
the American Revolution. descend
| ants removed only a few short gen
.Ta%
! swept Washington into office by
| unanimous ballot. And the interested
! audience last night was literally sur
rounded by relics of colonial times
| that must have watched in dazed
wonder the elaborate scenes that
! were enacted around them.
More than an hour before the time
for the doors to open a line Of men
and women stretched back from Me-
mortal Continental Hall two blocks.
and by 1880 o'clock every seat in the
galleries. which had been reserved
for the general public, was filled.
Most seats on the lower floor were
reserved for invited guests holding
tickets, but Is minutes before the
ceremony opened all vacant seats
were distributed indiScriminately.
BOY scouts Aid Police.
seldom mas so cTO"u
handled in such an orderly manner.
The police took complete charge of
the building and every official of
the department. from Maj. Sullivan
down. was present TO direct affairs.
Precinct captains and division in
Spectors acted as doorkeepers and
members of the Fire Department as
sumed the duties of ushers. The
only exception of this rule was on
the ground floor where 10 Eagle
Scouts. youths who had won highest
honors in their organization. assisted.
The doors to Memorial Continental
Hall were closed l5 minutes before
the President arrived. Amplifiers
carried the voices of the speaker
and the cheers of the crowd to the
$4,000 that filled the Mall with a
distinctivene that was not sur
passed even in the stately auditorium
itself. In fact, the speakers found
themselves in the peculiar position
OF nearing their own voices come
back into the hall from the ampli-
herS out front.
Marine Band Plays.
In the colonial museum. a wing of
the auditorium, the United States
Marine, Band sat amid carefully pre-
served relics of the War of Inde-
anu pidSe pdtrlOtlC airs
until the President arrived
Mr. Coolidge Cheered.
The appearance of Mrs. Coolidge
and her guests in the left-hand stage
box was the first intimation the audi
ence had of the Presidents presence.
Dressed IN becoming gown of white,
trimmed with black. the First Lady
of the Land smilingly accepted an
ovation in her honor. The band was
supposed to play Hail to the Chief"
as the President entered the hall
But no one but the musicians know
whether it did. The applause was so
overwhelming that even those seated
one or two rows from the band could
not hear the music
For five full minutes the ovation
continued. Mr.. Coolidge standing the
entire time. Although the President
smiled. it was plainly evident that he
was surprised at such an overwhelm-
ing demonstration. A few minutes
before Secretary of State Hughes. just
! back from a trip to Europe, had been
honored by the throng. When it
seemed that the reception to the
President would be intefminable, Mr.
Hughes stepped forward and shouted:
Three cheers for Calvin Coolidge
Hip, hip
MOndel First Speaker.
"Hurrah. Hurrah. Hurrah!' came
the laundering response of the audi