Evening star., 1925-03-01
Inaugurations Differ Widely
In Their Ceremonial Character
of of
FromW Dayo the Present Time
BY VICTORIA FABER STEVENSON.

BY VICTORIA FABER STEVENSON.
r INAUGURATION day invariably
turns national attention to the
White House and to Washington.
Il Because President Coolidge de-
sires simple ceremonies the
parade will not be as long as on
many former inaugurations, but
Washington will turn out en- masse
and visitors from all parts of the Ma
tion will unite in paying respects to
the President as he rides up the
Avenue.
inauguration day is the only date
on the calendar when the Republic
every four years centers its interest
on its President and becomes reminis-
cent of the official and unofficial lives
of its former Presidents And So
while hailing Mr.. Coolidge as the
twentyninth man to be the Chief
Executive, interest also extends back
to Washington. the first.
Though his Inauguration was nearly
two months late, both the parade and
inaugural address were instituted at
that time. The first Wednesday in
March, which happened to fall on the
4th, as 1T does this year, was set for
commencing proceedings" under the
new Constitution. 1t was impossible,
however. to obtain a quorum of the
first Congress before the 9Th of April,
1889, as many of the members were
owners of farms and plantations and
were unwilling TO leave their homes
until after the Spring planting.
After the electoral vote. was count
ed committees were appointed to
notify Washington and Adams of
their election. Finally Washington
arrived at Gov. Clinton's home in
New York city from Mount Vernon
ta nf nri1 ntsf-
ed by a short civic and military
parade to Federal Hall, where he was
received by a special inaugural COM
mittee.
AS he stood on an outer balcony
of this hall Chancellor Livingston ad-
ministered the oath of Office to him in
view of the whole assembly of
people.
The first March 4th inauguration
took place in Philadelphia, when
Washington, alighting from his coach
and six, went into the Senate cham
ber and took the oath which made
him President the second time. The
ball given that night by the Phila-
delphia Dancing Assembly to the Sem
ate and House of Representatives, in
honor of the Presidents reelection,
was the precedent for inaugural balls.
Though Adams was also inaugurated
in Philadelphia and lived there for
most of his term, his short residence
in the White House, from October,
1900, to March, 1901, gave him the
distinction of being the first occupant
of the Executive Mansion.
1t takes a stretch of imagination
to see John Adams at one of his re-
ceptions in knee pants, long, richly
embroidered coat, vest, stock collar
with ruffie, silken hose and slippers
ornamented with large silver buckles.
In his frequent walks about the
city he so often engaged in converse
tion with strangers that Mrs. Adams
constantly reminded him that he was
President and should be more re-
served. But Adams, hale and hearty
in his Goth year, liked plain people
as well as he would have liked to
wear plain clothes at all times.
X X X
WHEN Jefferson succeeded him he
came to the White House In
blue coat with gilt buttons, blue
pantaloons and practical American
shoes tied with leather strings, indi
eating that he had cast off "aristo-