Evening star., 1941-01-19

1909, were not so bad overhead, but
as a wit once said, There were not
many going that way The walk
ing, however, was something aW-
ful.' This was due to a heavy
snowstorm that set in on March 3,
and in some places in the Eastern
States was like a blizzard in fury.
The storm continued throughout the
night into the early morning of in
auguration day, when the sun came
out strong and clear, and in a few
hours the mercury climbed 40 or
more degrees. The result was an
impossible Pennsylvania avenue
until narrow lane had been made
through the slush and snow by an
army of laborers, just sufficiently
wide for the presidential party and
the few who attended the meager
procession to and from the Capitol,
where the President-elect had to
forego the usual ceremony of max
ing his address and taking the oath
OF office on the east front of the
Capitol, and did so, instead, in the
Senate chamber. On account of the
railroads running into Washington
from the North and Northwest be-
Ing tied up by the storm, thousands
who set out to see this usually spec
tacular event never arrived in time
to do SO, and some, under the cir
eumStances, never made the supreme
attempt by continuing on their
journey.
Cleveland Favored.
OF course, if We 60 back into
history we shall find some other bad
days-and many fine days. too
since the first Inauguration of
George Washington in New York on
April 80, 1889, but the changing of
the date from March to January 90
Is like swapping the devil for the
witch, so far as the prospect for
good weather is concerned.
According 10 the writer's personal
recollectionS and opinion, the inaug-
uration of Cleveland and Hendricks
on March 4, 1885, was the outstand-
ing one of all for good weather and
display. The Democrats had not
been in office since the Civil War.
and they did not let the occasion
pass without whooping it up. The
city was profusely decorated for the
occasion. and, as usual, grandstands
were erected all along the Avenue
Tor those who had the price. But
the writer recalls very clearly having
witnessed this particular parade
from perch on one of the old
fashioned street gas-lampposts at
the southwest corner of Ninth street
and Pennsylvania avenue.
Those who have resided in WASH
1ngton since prior to the general in
PRODUCTION Of electric lights will no
oouot recall the cross-arms near the
top of the lamp, as we'll as the recess
caused by the widening of the post
ABOUT 212 feet from the ground
which helped to give the bows q
toehoid when they wanted to climb
the post to light their cigarettes
during windy weather or when
matches were scarce.
The writer was then a lad, and his
familiarity with climbing these
lsmpposts undoubtedly suggested the
selection Of this unusual place To get
an unrestricted view of the parade
II was the greatest inaugural parade
ne ever saw, and without doubt all
you who saw it will agree with him
In the files of The Star this state
ment appeared a day or two after
the inauguration:
III was the most brilliant, eniov-
able and generally successful occa-
SION OF the kind in the history of the
Government
Lee Made Picture.
lhere are certain things which
impress themselves upon the human
mind, especially the youthful mind
tnat even time will not erase. and
one OF the features Of Cleveland's
nrst inauguration that the writer
mas never forgotten was the wonder
1ul appearance of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee
as ne led the third division of the
parade from the Capitol to Seven
teenth street. He was mounted on
a coal-black charger, borrowed, it IS
SAID, from some one in Alexandria,
and the rider and charger, together,
produced a picture long to be re-
membered. Indeed, a handsomer.
or a nobler looking man on horse
back would be extremely hard to
hnd. Gen. Lee at that time wore
heavy black beard, which he dis
carded by the time he went to CUBA
with the American Army. and pic
lures OF him taken after the Cleve-
land inauguration usually show him
wearing just mustache.
Another feature of this parade
was the great reception accorded
Vice President Thomas A. Hen
bricks. Where Cleveland was only
slightly known outside of the State
OF New York, Hendricks was known
FAR and wide. He was not a young
man, then being about 66, and he
had been before the public for years,
vas popular with the masses, and
when his carriage came up the Ave-
nue.. the applause was tumultuous
The grand old man of the Demo-
cratic party was kept continually
bowing to the unprecedented crowds
which lined both sides of the Ave-
nue.
The Vice President did not live
the year out, but died very suddenly
at his residence in Indianapolis on
Wednesday, November Is, 1885, at 5
pm. The news of his death proved
q distinct shock to the people of
the country, irrespective of party
afnliations
AS the Senate was then controlled
by the Republicans, there was al
ways a fear among the Democrats
that something might happen to the
President, which would throw the
power of government into the hands
Of the President of the Senate pro
tenn. Congress later more specifical-
ly provided for succession to the
presidency in case of the death or
disability Of the President and the
Vice President, and now nothing