Evening star., 1948-12-26

Fireworks Like Those
OF First Inauguration
To Be Shown Jan. 70
(Stry on United Nations seals
for Inauguration on Page A-8.)
A fireworks display, including fea-
lures like those used at the inaugu-
ration of George Washington in
1789,, will be presented at the big
outdoor celebration inauguration
night, January 20.
Plans for the event on the Monu-
ment Grounds were outlined last
night by Melvin D. Hildreth, gen
eral chairman of the Inauguration
Committee. Expenses Of the cele-
bration will be taken care of by a
gift of $500 received yesterday
from group from Chicago, Mr.
Hildreth said
The program will include a re-
production of the fireworks display
presented for President Washing
tons Inauguration in New York and
demonstration. to dramatize the
Star Spangled Banner.
1889 News Account Quotea. ~
Detailed description of the Wash
ington celebration has been found
in the Maryland Gazette of May l.
1889, Mr.. Hildreth said. At that time
the fireworks included burning of
"transparencies" to represent Gen
Washington and the Senate and
House. The "transparencies," now
known as set pieces" will be re-
produced here.
The account in the Gazette said
in part:
In the evening was exhibited,
under the direction of Col. Bauman,
very ingenious and splendid show
Of fireworks. Betwixt the fort and
Bowling Green, stood CONSPICUOUS a
superb and brilliant transparency,
in the center of which was the por-
trait of the President, represented
under the emblem of Fortitude: on
his right hand Justice, representing
the Senate of the United States,
and to his left Wisdom, representing
the House of Representatives.
The Arms of the United States
and several figures and decorations
were painted with great taste and
judgment"
Anthem to be Dramatized.
The National Anthem will be
dramatized at the monument lot by
red rockets bursting in air, while a
huge American flag 40 by 30 feet in
size. carried by a blimp, will be
spotlighted from the ground. Music
will be provided by 200-piece band
being sent here for the inaugural by
Gov. Folsom of Alabama.
Meantime. another feature has
been added to the gala" celebration
the night OF January 19 at the Ar,
mory, Mr.. Hildreth announced. This
will be the singing by big chorus
of the music presented to Gen.
Washington as he was greeted at
Trenton, N. j., en- route to his New
York Inauguration. A copy of the
words and music has been found by
the Library of Congress, Mr.. Hill
dreth said.
Insertion of the features of Wash
ington's Inauguration into the Tru-
man ceremonies. Mr.. Hildreth said,
is in line with the policy this
year to give public expression to
the belief of Americans in the
continuity of democracy and of
the office of the Presidency"
How the public reacted to Presi-
dent Washington was aptly de-
scribed, Mr.. Hildreth said, in a
History of the United States written
by Richard Hildreth, his great-great-
grandfather.
Washington desired to proceed
to New York in the most private
said the historian in Vol
lme 4, of his six-volume work on
the early life of this country. but |
The flow of veneration and gratitude
could not be suppressed"
Clergymen Selected.
In addition to the plans men,
toned above, further details of the
at the Capitol January
20 were disclosed by Leslie Bif11e,
secretary of the Joint
Congressional Inaugural Committee.
The Rev. DR.. Edward H. Pruden,
pastor of the First Baptist Church,
which President Truman attends,
will deliver the invocation and the
Most Rev. Patrick A. OBoyle, Arch
bishop of Washington, will offer the
Archbishop O'Boyle and DR.. Pru-
len are cochairmen with Rabbi
Norman Gerstenfeld of the Reli-
,ious Participation Committee in ]
he 1949 Inaugural Committee {
which is in charge of the civic
celebration. of the Inauguration. {
Vice President -elect Barkley will +
axe the oath of office on an old ]
amily Bible, Mr.. Biffie said. 1t had
,een announced previously that Mr.. J
Truman will use one that has long t
'een in his family's possession. 1
More than $4,000 requests have L
cen received for the upwards Of d