The New York Herald Newspaper, March 4, 1873, Page 3

INAUGURATION EVE ——— nr is Edmun? Yates and Don Piatt on the Preyarations in ‘the Capital. 4 -y 7) 7 " : a 4 paitisd, aNd YANKEE WoTIoWe. Experience of the Novelist on a Night Trip to Washington. SOME AMERICAN NOTES. ‘A Sunday Morning Survey of the City of Magnificent Intentions, A PEN PICTURE OF THE BALLROOM. The Orush and Orowd in the Hotels and on the Streets on Inauguration Eve, BLACK DOMINOES AT THE WHITE HOUSE. English Cfficial Hauteur and American Courtesy Contrasted. A SCENE AT THE TREASURY. Interviews with Sheridan and Sherman and a Reception by the President. ELE THE HAND OF ULYSSES. Features of Former Inavgurations and To-Day’s Compared. PATRIOTISM AND PEANUTS. Lamentations of the Hon. Jeremiah Black » in a Hotel Bathroom. pi ereven! ae ey “DAR AIN'T ROOM FOR A TAILOR, SAH!” Startling Rumor of a Base Conspiracy to Blow Up the Ballroom aud the Board of Works. MR. EDMUND YATES’ ACCOUNT. ——- WASHINGTON, March 3, 1873, Accustomed by long experience to the gyration of the sleeping car, indifferent to the sudden pull up which, with one jerk, sends my chin against my feet, and the equally sudden start which long draws out my linked sweetness, and, regardless ot the slightly stifened pocket handker- cmef unanimously designated a pillow, dashes my skull against the headboard; unvexed by the nasal masic of the surrounding company and rather soothed than otherwise by the monotonous arm exercise oi the bootblack, I siumbered peacefully ou Sunday night from the time of our departure from Jersey City until daylight did appear. Then I was awakened by vocierous shouts of the name of my favorite picturesque novelist, “Oui, da!” and by the vision of a mule’s head with the eye fuli of the melancholy and re- signed expression peculiar to that noble animal, regarding me through the car window. THE MONUMENTAL CITY. (3 We were in Baltimore fh the act‘df accomplish: ing the overland Journey from termixus to ter- Minus, through the principal thoroughfare of that hospitable and terrapin loving city. Her streets, no longer flecked with patriotic gore, but ankle deep in hali-melted snow, were deserted save by shivering policemen and an occasionai face ata bedroom window, which plainly expressed its dis- gust at having been summoned by the noise of the passing cavalcade from the warmth of the pleasant biankets and its determination to return to them at once. The hint was not to be misconstrued, aod I too gauk back into the. arms of Death’s twin brother, Sleep, and for the next two hours remained obtuse to the knuckles of the ticket collecting conductor and the more respect- ful, but not less urgent, application of my colored brother, the porter. . TERRIBLE REELROTIONS IN A SLEEPING CAR. , It required thé exercise of strong powers of voli- tion to convince myself that the narrow bed, in which I Igy supine, was not my coffin, a supposi- tion strengthened by the fact that the black and sliver ornamentation of the lower portion of‘ the upper beith above me on which I gazed was hideously like acoffin plate which had slipped out of its proper piace. But at length I recovered my- self, and by the performance of an acrobatic act, greatly creditable to a man of my size and weight, found myself on the floor of the car. It has always Struck me that the pursuit, even under the most trying circumstances, of that virtue which is next to godliness, is essentially characteristic of an American citizen, No matter that the car bounds and springs beneath his feet like the chamois of the “Alps, no matter that she roiis and groans like a Cunard steamer in the trough of the sea, he will still dip the end of his nose In the common basin, dry it on the common towel and manulacture that persuasive roll over his noble forehead with the common comb. On this occasion my fellow passengers were unani- mous in their sacrifice to the graces, and with the exception of four Chinese gentlemen, who could not muster g scrap of profile amongst them, Wao were irresistibly remindful of tea chests and paper lanterns, and who looked terribly bare about the nape of the neck, where the pigtail ought to have been, and unjolly, we all looked passably decerous., A PUFF FOR VANDERBILT. _ We were two hours behind time, of course, An experience of six months in this country hag taught me that, with tne exception of the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad ({ hold two shares in Commodore Vanderbilt's enterprise; and what is the use of being a writer for the press if you cannot say a kind word fer institutions in which you are interested?) I have never yet known one train on time. But there were reasons for the delay, The whole of New York was pouring itself into Washington; and the train, as the conductor asseverated, consisted of the ener- mous number of sixteen coaches. Ah! the biessings of compulsory education! In an instant a gentleman sitting just oy burst into the following rapid calculation: “Sixteen coaches, one ‘thousand passengers, ten thousand five hundred doliar train. Good for them!” And he looked round as if to see who should say it wasn’t. For- tunately, at that moment a general tightening of the brakes, and a consequent propulsion of the passengers into @ tangled heap in one cerner of the car, proclaimed that we had arrived at our destina- tion, and the hackmen claimed us for their own. AN RARLY VIEW OF THE CAPITAL. Ihave nb doubt that Washington is, or rather will be when it is built, @ fine city, but to a person NEW YORK HERALD, TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 1873—TRIPLE SHEET, who has been upall night tt scarcly looks to Its best advantage in the midst o: @ binding snow- storm, ‘she colored population 100k well under such circumstiness from the gq€er force of coatrast, but the “whites 4"3-mean. Sunday; too, 18 an unsavorable gay. “With the exception of ee Tragyists the stores were all closed, and | though thgra was @ certain amount of bunting ih. @ piayeil, 1 Mung ie-and pacid jn the diving det It Was too early for church, tuo late fer pre -kfast parties, and teo unpropit.ous for general Circulation, 80 that the sireets were deseried and | presented a very forlorn appearance, ., ‘The fa her who had taken his sons for a plefure excursion told them he had brough théfa out to eujoy themselves, and that if they~didn’t begin at once he would give tem a good licking, I have come to Was ington to see the inauguration and to describe its preparations. There was Np QUESTION OF WEATHER IN THE CONTRACT, Let us begin at once. En route for the tempo- rary outlding, in w ich the ball ts to be given on Tuesday night. It is on E street, and in its present Tough-kewn, Unfinished st te looks like the chr; sa- lis of & huge railway shed. My conductors took me to a sual wicket gate, and, being asked by the attendant custodian if we were members of the committee, became apparently endewed with the Spirit 0. Auauias, and blithely responded that we were, This is TB PRESIDENT’S ENTRANCE, . and doubtless by Tuesday night the path from the wicket gute tu the ballrvom will be made practica- ble. Wf it be lott in its present state of slimy mud, soaked savings and so/den, slippery plank, I would recommend the President to wear tue gum shoes of which the late Mr. James Fisk was 80 em.nent a patron, and have horrible Misgivings as to Miss Neilic’s satin slippers, In size the ballroom is simply magnu.ficent, being 300 feet long by 100 feet wide, but its noble propor- tions are somewhat cut and curtailed by inter- woven festoons and streamers, which are hung needlessly ‘ow. The sides of the hail are covered With an imm ‘ns2 quantity of bunting, the Stars and Stripes being elegantiy fluted and festooned with banners aud pennons of ancient shapes and quaint dev'ces like the tavards oi medieval heraids. ‘The dancing portion of the ballis lit by forty-four peudaut gas corona duly decorated; the side aisle on the leit, twenty-five feet wide and extending the whole iengtao tie buiiding, is set apart for supper, the kitchens, cellurs, &c., for the supply of which are in itsrear. The opposite space is lor TUB PRESERVATION OF COATS AND HATS, @ department to which particular a‘tention has been paid iu co sequence of tie wild contusion Lre- valent at the last inauguration ball, during which Mr. Horace Greeley lust his head covering, and is saul to uave per-ormed the wonderful feat o: golng away in @ woise hat than that wiich he wore on arrival. A gvod sized square pigeonhole, duly numbered, is now set a,art ior cach cout deposi- tor. Tuere will be two bands to discourse eloquent music, each numbeiing aoout torty performers. The Annapolis Navy Band will devote itself to the dancers, while the musiciaus irom West Foint and the United States marines will play marches, &c., during the interval. The President’s reception, witudrawing and supper rooms lead off the private eutrauce, but his place during the greater part of the evening wik be on @ raised dais at the far end of the room, re- verved jor himself, his friends and the aiplomatic circle, ‘This dais is edged by huge gas standurds, while at its back is an immense, tan-shaped screen, seventy-five ieet in breadth and thirty-five feet in he ght, representing tie setting sun, witi the American.cagie at the top soaring aloft into the blue empyrean. (Please observe tuat 1 am gradu- aliy accustoming myseli to the national style.) WASHINGTON AND GRANT AND WILSON IN GAS, Acrosa tiis fam are to be in gas the names of Wasiungton and Grant and Wilson and the word “Peace.” I saw this last gas emblem lying on its back amid the shiv.ngs and looking very torlorn. Poor, dear Peace! How every one trots her out om al! occasions! “DiEmpire c'est la pati? said Louis Napoleon, while pre- paring for italy and Mexico, “Her land had peace,” remaiked Mr. Tennyson, in dedicating his book vo Quesn Victoria, just beiore we plunged into the Crimean war, But anyhow, it 18a nice soft-sounding word and looks weli in gas, and there is no apparent reason why, in this country, at least, peace snould not reign for many years to come. Before taking leave of the ballroom let me remark that the decorations, which are very creditable, have been executed under the direction of Mr. McPherson of Philadelphia, and that the regulation of the dances has been handed over to Mr. Solo- mon; why lam unable state. David, we know, by historical precedence and by Byron’s lines— Not decent David, when before the ark His grand pas seul excited some remark— was a terpsichorean peri er; but Solomon 18 supposed to have been more engaged in cuitivating extensive domesticity. However, on Tuesday night “we shall find “°° * SOLOMON IN ALL HIS GLORY, boxed up in alittle niche, where he will receive the reports of the heads of the six sections inté which the ballroom is divided, and whence, by the touching 6f an electric bell communicating with the, -O¥chestra, he will give the signal for the,’ 7 dances to commence, slacken And cease, The des- perate weather, and the fact that it was Sunday, rendered it impossible to go through much sight- seeing yesterday; but this morning the sun was shining brightly, the snow had almost entirely disappeared, and from an early hour the streets were thronged, ‘principally with strangers,’’ say8 my companion, as we go elbow- ingin and ont among the crowd, “and very few Washingtonians among them.” What a motley mass! REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTRY. Bostonese, with an air of calm and conscious superiority, as though saying, “We are from the seat of virtue and learning, descendants of the Pilgrim Fathers and readers of the Atlantic Monthly; \ook on us and be happy;’’ Chicagoites, equally retiring but with their modesty expressed in a different way in the cock of their hats and the swagger of their stride, in the rich color and plentiful supply of the tobacco juice which they shower refreshingly about, and the looks of scorn which they cast at the bare spaces and com- mon buildings in THIS UNFINISHED CITY OF MAGNIFICENT INTENTIONS seem to convey that there would be swinging der- ricks across the street and growing piles of marble palaces if the seat of government were only moved a few thousand miles out West. Now hurries by a laughing chorus of West Point cadets, looking won- derfully neat in their gray uniforms—neatness omy to be improved, if one might suggest, by the aboli- tion of shirt collars, which, to the unaccus- tomed eye, look unmilitary andout of keep- ing. Of course there are the irrepressible and omnipresent bride ana bridegroom— she in all the colors of the rainbow, half. blashing and half-proud; he in crumpled white overcoat, mauve tie, fawn-colored trousers, con- siderable watch chain and looking as if he couldn’t help it—which, perhaps, he could not. Nowa lot ofNew Yorkers, a banker, a journalist and a man of fashion, without whose prominent figurehead the window of the Union Club must look quite bare; our colored brethren in swarms, the elder ones goping and grinning while the younger scramble for cents thrown to them from a window at the Na- tional Hotel. “Say, General, this is to be a right smart show.” ' The General apparently has no opinion on the sub- ject. THe has seen several such smart shows, and nis only remark is one strong expletive in con- demnation of the shower of sawdust which ts blown over him from the wooden seats in the course of erection in front of Mr. Pifilps’ book store. ks THE COST OF STANDS AND SEATS. ‘~ These extempore stands are being put up every- where along the whole line of the procession, and seats in them are letting fit prices varying from five dollars to fiity dollars. The Cameron Club, of Philadelphia, is said to have paia $160 for the second floor of the Washington Hotel; nor have the sharp dealers neglected to profit by the occa- sion, In one establishment I find the “Grant hat” extensively advertised, and many of the Chinese lanterns with which the stores are hung are con- trived to pay a double dept—that of decorating the building and announcing its trade. Judging by the posting bills, too, trere will be no lack of amuse- ments to-pigh}, Those who so wish cun r ‘nice at in the performance of Charlotte Cushman, while those w th more retined taa‘es can visit the “Maim- motn Woman,” who, if she be anytaing like the same 6 ze as her counterieit presentment, must be comtiterah'y tee ‘arge fer ere house tm which she ison show; & they can take a lesson trom “Dexter,” the educated pig, who is said tghe as clever a hand ateuchreas Ah Sin himge):, Now ‘ora run throngh the hotels. Cae Cons¢ript Fathers are at the Gapito!, and the hall of Willard’s is tited with ‘uniam|iiay . At the Ebpitt House crowds ot West Folnt calets are huddied togetner In every room, At caci caravansary we visit we find CLERKS AND PROPRIETORS DRIVEN PRANTIC by the impogs.bility, of accommodating besieging crowds, and even the stately Arlington seems to have participated in the general shock. There, However, in an inner sanctum, { find one whose faine is werld wide and whom I have long desized to see— GRMERAL SHERIDAN. In figure and face he is wonderfully like the First Napoleon in his younger days; but his manner, un- like that of hig prototype, is irank and hearty. “Sheridan’s Ride’ this morning has been irom Chicago, whence he has just arrived. With him, bright, handsome and soldier-like in bearing, is hia chief of staff, Colonel Forsyth, whom the red skin warriors know and fear, and another fiend, keen, blue-eyed, clear-headed ex-Collector Tom Murphy, who in ofice in New York never allowed any man to do his duty, The hearty geni- ality of General Sheridan I find repeated in Gen- eral Sherman, whom I next visit, and who, in out- ward appearance, is much more like the typical American, as we picture him to ourselves. AMERICAN VERSUS BRITISH OFFICERS. One thing that must strike every Englishman coming to this country is the ease with which men in high position are approached, and the courtesy and affabiiity which they display. A civilian attempting to seck an interview with the Duke of Cambridge, who occupies a similar position with us to that held by General Sherman in this country, would probably be either sent to a lunatic asylum or be beheaded on Tower Hill for high treason, A gentleman having business at our Treasury would probubly never see anyone higher in rank than a second class clerk, whereas this morning I saw Mr. Boutwell seated at his desk and engaged in an animated business con- versation, whiie scores of people, not even mak- ing a pretense of having any oficial communica- tion to make to him, but were MALE AND FEMALE LOAFERS, strolled at their ease through his apartment, glared at him from the so‘as on which they had flung themselves in easy attitudes, and passed loud criticisms upon the furniture and great won- derment at what the monogram U. 8. T. D, worked in the carpet could possibly stand for. Easy of access, forsooti ! What could have been the shock to my preconceived notions on the sub- ject oi dignity when my companion next pro- posed to take me to the White House and introduce me to the President? We found the steps of the White House converted into the appearance of dominoes by being dotted over wita a large number of black men, who were swarming all about. Such very black men dressed in solemn garb. Many were in white chokers, and looking additionally ludicrous by the gravity of their faces. I was irresistibly reminded of a certain performance of the Christy Minstrels, who When they first came to London sang a very dole- ful ditty called “We’re a Band of Brothers,” IN IMITATION OF THE HUTCHINSON FAMILY. The originals were not among us, but the song and the gesticulations with which it was en- hanced were so {rightfully absurd that ithad a great success. Making our way through the crowd and through the loungers collected in the red and green drawing room, we came into the East Room, where my first glimpse was the back view of @ little man beiug violently shaken hands with, When my turn came my con- ductor advanced and said a few words of introduc- tion. Tne President (it was the President, though his beard was grayer than in his portraits and he had not a cigar in his mouth, as in his caricatures) was polite enough to say that he knew me well by name, and gave me his hand to shake, HOW THE PRESIDENT SHAKES HANDS. They say that Presider4 Lincoln used to gripe the hands of his visitors until they screamed for mercy. General Grant's hand-shake is of a very different kind. He places in your’s a soft, yielding hand; it may be the main de ser dans le gant de velours, but it is supple and delicate. A few more Pleasant speeches and my interview is at an end. With it terminated the general audience, and the President, with one hand in the hind pocket of his coat and the other on the smallof his back, was merged in the crowd. So much for to-day. My chronicle of the great events of to-morrow shall be duly sent to you, vi \ af MR. DON PIATT’S ACCOUNT. prideessaniear antenna WASHINGTON, March 8, 1873, Patriotic citizens, actuated by some curiosity and a good deal of office-seeking, are crowding into Washington at a fearful rate. The trains run hourly are emptying their loads upon the streets, and the hotels, filled to overflowing, turn hundreds away to wander about in search of lodgings. -Last night a crowd from Illinois, failing to find shelter even in rooms to let, with premeditation and malice aforethought Knocked down a policeman and won accommodation with quarters in the sta- tion house. The price imposed by Justice Smell this morning was so much less than a hotel bill that it is feared the practice will become general, and the police be rendered incapable of attending to the pleasing duty on the fourth of caring for the safety of the gentleman who is to swear upon a Bible he never read to sustain a constitution he cannot understand. That lofty, elegant creation called the room clerk of the liotel, grows more dig- nified and indifferent as the suffering crowd in- creaves, and aiter permitting each inferior creature to register his nav looks with calm indifference upon the surging throng, leaving the waiters, who brush with the power of locomotives and the tire- less continuance of a debate in the Senate, to in- form the tnfortunates that ‘the elevator and the water closets have all been taken long ago and DAR AINT ROOM FOR A TAILOR, SAH.’ The force of this will be appreciated when one re- members that the tailor is supposed to be the ninth part ofaman. Along the halls and in the public parlors, cots, borrowed from hospitals, fearfully suggestive of smallpox, straddle their insecure legs, that make one seasick when occupied, and have mattresses that feel as if they were stuffed with doughnuts and grasshoppers. About those cots wander no end of influenzas, quinzies and epizoots; and sixteen times a night the unfortun- ate occupant is aroused to a general engagement with some drunken wanderer, who insists upon turning in with boots and hats on and « cotton umbrella under his arm. The lobby has made a demand upon Congress to devote the Rotunda to 4 lodging place for the patrietic people unable to find shelter else- where. The lobby has lost much of its influence since their Crédit Mobilier scandal has been inves- tigated, or the Rotunda would be given up. Itis calculated that the Rotunda will hold five thous- and patriots if packed with any regard to sardine possibilities. A night in such a tomb is terrible to contemplate. le THE UNRULY WINDS IN THE ROTUNDA. In this Rotunda unreconstructed winds from the South get in, and, encountering loyal winds from the North, the two sorts blow about, whistie to and fro and fight each other, while it is as calm as a Summer day on the outside. All night long the doors woula be banging like thun- der to coming and departing lodgers, letting in the ice cold from without and making the unfortu- nate sardines nearest the entrances howl like In- dians in their wrath. But think of a lodger awak- ing from @ nightmare to gaze at that gorgeous representation of old George at @ heavenly picnic, or even tosee Wiliiam Powell’s De Soto or Pocahon- tas committing matrimony, or the landing of Co- lumbus, where European legs 80 dominate, the astonishing family of Mr. Lo, or Trumbull’s historic monstrosities, where all the noses of the Fathers are precisely alike! Only the devil could get some useful h’nts tor the improvement of the infernal regions trom this diabolical suggestion, LAMBNTATIONS OF THs HON, JEREMIAH BLACK. called upon the Hon, Jeremiah Black at the Arlington. Ttound him in a so-called bath room, with notony abe taercin, but a cot, The ven- erable jurist Was stretched upon the first named, and I haited him trom the outside, Hullo!" cried I. “Do you meaa to say that nore than one occu pies thisden?” “Only two,’ he re ponded, “I and my Fifteenth amendunent;” meaning thereby his colored servant, George Washington, “Climb over and speak,” he continued. “Why, Judge, this isa growa, I said. “Yos indeed,” he replied. “I Was Wakened up last nigit to know it | could not accommodate Dick Yates. I responded that he could sleep with George. He has done 80. much for the nigger the nigger ought to do something sor Dick. But he did not respond.” From all this you may learn that a fearful crowd ts gathering in the national capital. No such gathering at an inauguration lives within the memory of the oldest inhabitant; butas his memory “went up” long since the testimony does not amount to much. It is caused, says the official organ here, by ‘the great joy elt over the success of tuts truly good man, U. S. Grant. It is pure patriotism.” Well, let us hope 40, I am pleased to believe that of the Bowen House transaction, the Black Friday, the sale of French arms, the St. Do- mingo scheme, the Crédit Mobilier, the Treas- ury speculations in Wall street, the Louisiana interference and a bundred and one dark transac- tions tue sublime figure of the great and good Ulysses rises like the central goddess of a trans- formation scene of @ popuiar spectacle, amid rose lights and blue lights, rockets and music by the band, It is the biggest crowd, and, Beau Hickman says, the meanest crowd ever cullected ona like occasion, He says they ALL HAVE CARPET BAGS AND NO MONEY. By —, mr, Congress will have to make an appro- priation to get them away. Poor Beau! He lives by contributions levied on the masses, and he knows this intelligence is bad for Washington. The city lives considerabiy by these attractive dis- plays. The peanut stands on the Avenue are re- newed every four years in their stock from inau- gurations. It would be terrible were the peanut stands to go into bankruptcy. If the Beau is right ruin stares us in the face. I saw this morn- ing A DARK CLOUD IN WHITE CHOKERS moving on the White, House, and made one of a curious crowd to see what the demonstration meant, Ilearned from oue of the white chokers that it was a delegation from the Methodist Con. ference (colored), now in session here, going to pay their respects to the President, Wishing to see how colored respects were tendered I en- tered, with 600 others, and an interview was improvised in the Kast Room. The President, sustained by a stai of tne sleckest looking men I ever saw, slouched into the room, and a tall, solemn son Of Christianized America stepped forward and aduressed His Excellency. The colored brother was filled with thankiuiness. He thanked God for everything, but especially ior our Chief Magistrate. The pious delegation evidently thought our excel- lent President a precious boon—a special provi- dence, as it were. His Excellency has imprinted on his intellectual countenance a perpetual expres- sion of bore. On tis occasion it deepened into one intense bore, ana, with his heavy, dead eyes fixed on the Speaker, he seemed to be gazing througn and far beyona into a dim distance, Wuere unknown Cabinet officers may be fouad, He was too full for utterance, at least nothing could be understood, although I have no question but that a handsome response ‘wiil be gotten up and printed to-morrow. As we came out I heard one white choker say to another, “I does thank de Lord for His mercy in sparin’ to dis aMicted country dat good and great man,’? My soul was bound in humble thank/uluess, and I said, “Amen. MILITARY PREDOMINANCE IN TIE FETE. The demonstration has one pecuilar ieature—the military predominates, At all other inaugurations the Philadelphia firemen made the feature. What connection the Philadelphia firemen had with inau- guration always puzzied the will and confounded the understanding. This time the firemen succumb to the soidiery, We have not only the cadets trom West Point, and are to have the incipient Jack Tars from Annapolis, but all the independent volunteers able to pay hall-fare are here in force. The Stanton Guards and the Washington Rinemen and other local organizations aré ali the time welcoming the Bungtown Bagles, tle Boston Buck- tails or Noodletoosy Sharpshooters, and their ga. fancy uniforms remind me of the sunny afternoon when ON A RIDGE OF BULL RUN I saw broken lines of baggy breeches and yellow pants and swallow-tails disappearing in the dis-. tance as if the Devil was aiter them. And so he Was, when I come to think of it. Some captious creatures are objecting to Belknap’s fetching the West Point cadets to Washington on this great occasion, How absurd this is! What graver or more important lesson could be taught these youthful roosters than to exhibit to them this hero, who was once a West Pointer himself, and then writing home to their loved fathers over the name Hampden:—Ulysses give eloquent words to his patriotic sentiments near the monument to Kosciusko, where he lamented the fall of that patriot while fighting for our lib- erties. There was a slight historical inaccuracy in the statement, but the sentiment was beautiful. Are they not to be taught, these little game cocks, that through slight historicat inaccuracies and noble sentiment each one may yet be President? The rotund Robeson has ordered up the incipient Jack Tars from Annapolis to inspect the competi- tive models for the Farragut monument. This is all right, and when they see Little Vinnie Regm and little Vinnie’s model of ola F.’s nose won't they exclaim, ‘Here the wonder grows how one small head could carry all his nose.’ And when Vinnie shakes her locks at them won't they be unanimous and enthusiastic for Vin- nie! It is said to-day that Chandler, the great war Senator, will have charge of the honored sailors. ‘This is appropriate, as the great Michigander is all the time “half seas over.” and therelore very naughtycal. To-night THE NEW BALL ROOM is to be lighted. It is claimed to be the largest ball room in the world, built by the citizens with an eye to commerce, stimulated by the Board of Pub- lic Works. That Roosevelt, the enemy of man, aided by Crane, Ordway and other villains, have been busy circulating the report that the ball room 1s insecure, and may fall and kill some of the patriotic admirers of the administration. This is a weak invention of the enemy, and the Board and citizens have employed pay director Cunningham, who is ubiquitous, to contradict the report. THE MOST STARTLING RUMOR is that Ordway, Crane & Co. intend to tie a can of nitro-glycerine to 8 rat's tail and chase it in under the bail room at the moment the Board welcomes the Administration. The Hon. Henry Wilson hi taken the hint and will not be present. Old Proba- bilities has promised us a clear day to-morrow, the crowds increase and the excitement is intense, BEOEPTION OF THE WEST POINT CADETS ‘The West Point cadets, General Upton command- ing, will be received by the Seventh regiment at the Battery on Thursday, at nine A, M. The rules of the Military Academy forbid the acceptance of courtesies other than military ana General Upton has, therefore, declined the invitation of the Seventh to the Corps of Cadets to breakfast at one of the princtpal hotels. Colonel Clark has issued the following order for the parade :— oeead reas Raat, Ho, 8 nal wil parle Ral eee te 1. regimen’ ar in unilol aay, Watthe Orns cocork to tho Corps of Cadets of the United States Military Academy. West Foint. | Assembly at halt-past seven A. M. The officers and members of this regiment will be prepared to parade in overcoats in case of inclement weather. The line of march will be from the Battery, at nine A. M., up Broadway, Fourteenth street, Fifth avenue, Twenty-third street and Kighth ave- nue to the Thirtieth street depot. he howitzer section, Lieutenant Dominick, com- ‘will assemble at'the armory for pubiie drill, in full tatigue, artillery cap and sabre, on Saturday, March 2%, ateighto’clock P.M. The voluntary services, ay well as the proficiency in artillery practice of the officers And members of the howltzer section, deserve special notice and commendation. b wen dias abit mo tat oe ee ft i thence Colonel EMMONS CLARK. are Fitzoeravp, Brevet Lieutenaut Colonel and Ad- tan 2. The manding, MOVING ON WASHINGTON. The Military Leaving Gotham for the {cone of the Inaugural Fete, The Noble Fifth Shivering Two-Hours in the Cold While Waifing or the Coming of the Second Connecticut—The Escort to Jersey City—Departure of the Old Guards— The Perennial Youngsters Patriotic and Jovial. For the last few days the military circles of the City have been filled with excitement over the sub- ject of the Presidential inauguration an® the re- Spective parts which were to be taken by the dif- ferent bodies of valiant warriors in the great ma- tional séte, Yesterday things came to a crisis, or “to a head," as the old-fashioned tea-table ladies would 8: It cannot be said with safety that there existed no envy among the regiments nega- tively elected to stay at home by their more for- tunate brethren in arms who were bound for Wash- ington, the scene of honors, pageantry, revelry and pleasure; but there can be no Aoubt, from the generous nature of most of the ‘boys’ of the rank and file of the State Guard, that they see their comrades go away with hearty good wisnes, and even may have felt so highly good natured as to have been willing—were the times as ripe as they were once for such superstition—to throw old boots after them for the sake of luck.. Bodies of men from other cities, Whenever they have paused in New York for even the shortest length of time, have never had reason to complain of lack of courtesy and Welcome on the part of our own brave fellows. The latter seem, however, to have been slighted by the Bos- ton Lanciers, who arrived in Jersey City on Sunday morning, and immediately proceeded thence to Washington, The West Point Cadets likewise coolly avoided onr hospitable armories, and were taken in the loving embrace of a government transport, as soon as they arrived, to Jersey City, where they again embarked for the South. The Albany Burgesses Corps, although they did not treat us with contempt, discovered thereby a very good reason for doing so in future, as they marched through the city on Sunday with no escort and un- attended, except by the imevitable crowds of ragged gamins and vagabonds who howl their de- light or Jeer their malignity with diabolical wild- ness, . A BRILLIANT MILITARY PAGEANT. Yesterday, however, there was given to the idlers on Broadway, after the hour of dark, a brilliant display of military pageantry, and of what may even be called self-sacrificing hospitality. The visit of the Second Connecticut infantry regiment to Gotham last Summer created a great sensation because of their splendid discinsine, fine appear- ance, perfect organization and attractive uniforms, and the impression has not yet faded from the metropolitan mind albeft so much used to sights and wonders. It was telegraphed that the New Haven lads would again be in the city for a short. time on their way to Wasiington, and friendly as- surances of a hearty welcome were sent them in return, Indeed, a regiment of this character is worthy of exciting feelings of pride in the breast of every member of the National Guard, as it is un- questionably the best in drill and organization in the country. They have made for themselves, by their ‘manly qualities, a warm place in the estima- tion of the Gothamites, Therefore, there is some disappointment that their last visit could not be longer than a mere transitory arrival and de- parture, as it was vesterday. THE SECOND CONNROTICUT arrived at the Grand Central depot at half-vast three in the afternoon. They were 600 strong, and bore in thetr faces the expression of a determina- tion to carry the capital either by storms of war or by more gentie arts. They found waiting tor them the Colonel and staf of the Seventy-first regiment, in unliorm, and by them were escorted down Fourth avenue te Unien square. Below Fourteenth street and stretching south to Eleventh street the Fiftn regiment filled Broadway trom curb to curb with a sea of gleaming helmets, conspicuous among which, with its loity white plume, that could, like that of King Henry’s of Navarre, be seen (rom afar off, was that which graced the brow of Colonel Charley Spencer, and which cost $150 of his hard-earned money. On its front emblazoned two silver eagles, whose talons have a chronic and eagerly avaricious clutch, The regiment waited here from four o’clock until five with most heroic fortitude, notwithstanding the fierce charges of the bitter north wind ti swept with tcy anger through yr ors —F P ares EROWDED THOROVGAFARE. The men _ were iaced in double column on the sidewalk on the west side of the street, and were amused with orders which resounded in the clarion tones that have so often smote the ears of discomfited wit- nesses in Court, and in reference to which they were expected to confer upon their country the slight favor of shifting their arms again and again without complaint or murmur. When the muskets were at the rest it was curious to note how many of the helmeted and belted warriors would silentiy steal away to the sequestered precincts of the “sample room” on the corner, where their superior officers were Rina re eae ap” with mang doses of stimulus, Then the bugle note woul sound “To arms! to arms!’ and there was hurrying to and fro, but no mounting of steeds in hot haste, for even the strutting Colonel had none to mount, and however much haste had been in- dulged in the arrival of the regiment from the Nutmeg State would not have been hastened, Ugh | how bitterly blew that terrible wind and how it stole with malicious intent through one’s heavy clothing and froze the marrow of one’s bones like a fatal nightmare! The militia-men were without overcoats, and yet they steod the cold nobly. Whether the fact was due to the remarkably gen- erous quaiiti¢s of the beer which they drank or not. Great crowds collected and biack forms shiver- ingly stood upon every eminence, from a stoop to @ garbage box, and EACH COIGNE OF VANTAGE was made a sentinel height of ovservation. The innate patience of humanity might be earnestly and glow. ly commented on, for the waiting was long, and the mischievous small boys, who were turned into imps of devilment, excited innumer- able false surprises and occasioned disappoint- ments the most disgusting by shouting in the most innocent manner, “Here they come! Here they come!” Then the bugle wouid be svunded again; the men would rush to their ranks, but in vain. At last the Second came. In front marched Colo- nel Vose and staf, of the Seventy-first regiment; then the drum corps and band of the Kecond Connecticut els which together comprise about one hundred men. Colonel Stephen R. Smith and Staff came next at the head of the main body, which marched in com- pany columns three deep. They were all of them noble looking fellows; the lines were straight and unvarying, and the step steady and uniform. THE SIMPLE BLUE DRESS with black knapsacks, with red bi its rolled up and 6 ped on top, and white shoulder straps cross! the breast, 18 both tasteful anu conspicu- ous, ant any. large body of men thus attired must resent @ fine appearanct i As the Second passed Fifth the latter saluted and cheered in their gruff German manner. Colonel Spencer became excited and one would really have taken him to have been of Teutonic birth. eyes gleamed with agine frenzy, and his arms waved wildly. The nd then formed to the right of the Filth, oa Broadway, and the latter marcied by them in like manner, receiving @ sa- lute. The procession was then formed in regular order of march, and started at about six o'clock from Twelfth street, amid the cheers of the motie; shed nets, a je seen’ bs eed during the war, when our more earnest sce: boys in blue were “moving on to Washi a”? in earnest, and@ many of them never to return. At seven o'ciock beth regiments reached the depot in Jersey City, and the train, when loaded, soon started forth, amid the cheers of spectators. THE OLD BOYS. Another event occurred yéaterday of military importance and one which for un- mixed feelings of sympathy. The Old Gu: the veteran crack eorps of all the coi the State, marched from the armory of the Seven- ty-first regiment down Broadwa: Canal, down ‘anal to Desbroases street, and down Desbrosses to the Jersey City ferry, where they embarked for the present city ef the pilgrims—Washington—and carried with them any number of good wishes. The old fellows, with their whiskers and splendid uniforms, looked particularly patriotic, jolly and proud day, and were cheered all the a to the ferry. e old familiar faces in the ranks were special! taken note of. There, for instance, was “Wid Sandy” Slater, a model private, with a soldtery form and imperturbable Cage “Handsome Fred Mon- tague,” Mollineaux Bell, “the gay Lieutenant,” Harry Ferris and Sergeant Foster. THE “NEW BOYS” or “N, B.'s," the reand hetrs to paternal fra- ternity, wére numerously present. The line to be drawn in order to make a distinction of this sort must, however, be a very vague one, and, in fact, all of the guards—even “Old ‘Sandy” him- self—it is said claim to be youngsters, and at times their behavior is such a8 almost to justify the claim. Gray hairs do not count. Witness Lieuten- ant Ben Gurney, who is really one ef the young- sters, and has three white lines in his whiskers. At one o’ciock the train carrying the Old Guard, who were about eighty strong, started, with a cheery godspeed, Ma'or Mclean is tn command of the battalion. ‘Ihe Fi st company is corymanded by Captain Fredertck Allen aud ‘we eecond by Liew tenant Ben Gurney (captain commanding), whose first and second licutenants are Webster and Davis, Among the distingushed privates in the Old Guard cong to Washington are General Funk, Coloned Rockalelier and Brigasier Genera: Hatileld, An other gentleman, who wears @ colonel’s hat and goes wherever there 18 gcou champagne and lob- eter Ballad better thao his OWD, Was aiso along; but he cannot be said to be d.sunguishcd, except in ag unenviable way. Has any old fellow got mixed with the boys? . Af there is, turn him out without making @ noise) “FOSTER’S DOOM.” No Decision from Gover- nor Dix As Yet. . The Judges of the Court of Appeals in Consulta« tion with the Executive—Preparations Being Made by the Sheriff for Foster’s Execution. Day by day the fatal Friday approaches on which! William Foster is to suffer the penalty of the law on the gallows tor the murder of Avery D. Putnam. Unless Governor Dix should interfere very shortly, if he interferes at all, which is doub:ful, it will be too late to save Foster. This morning Sheriff Brennan will issue invita- tions to a jury of twelve known and reputable citizens to act as a jury and to about a dozen phy-: sician8 who aré to attend the execution of Fosters Beside this a number of representatives of the, press will be invited in the gutse of “special” andi “sworn” deputy sheriffs, in addition to all the judges, police and civil magistrates of the county,/ even to the District Court, the justices who are in- cluded by statute among those whom the Sheriff, i» compelled to issue notices to attend the hanging. Up to twelve o’clock last night Governor Dix, who Was at the residence of his son-in-law, Charles. F. Blake, at No. 3 West Twenty-first street, had given no decision up to that hour, and refused ta give any information whatever to the press, with the exception of stating that he was gptertaining the case and giving it due consideration. Yesterday a'ternoon and evening Governor Dix had a long and private conierence with Judges Allen, Kolger, Andrews and Rapallo, of the Court of Appeals of this State, the last and highest tribunal befure which Foster’s case was adjudicated, There are seven Judges of the Court of Appeals, the other three being Chief Justice Sandiord E, Churen, Judges Grover and Peckham. Four Judges of tais Court make a quorum, and, as they bad come to town in regard to makin; arrangements ior holding @ civil term of the U.urt of Appeals, Governor Dix seized the opportunity to consult with the Jadges of the Court of Appeals, to whom the connsel of Foster made hia last ap-’ peal. The conference was rizidly private, and no inkling o1 the proceedings was aliowed to go out. ‘ A reporter called on Judges Folger and Allen ati the Fiith Avenue Hotel, where the conierence was held last evening, and having s nt up hia card tor iniormation there, the two latter gentie- men sent down word that they were ‘not in.’. Another call was made on Judge Charles A, Rapallo, of the Court of Appeals, who resides at 17 West Thirty-first street, und this gentleman ob- served in his demeanor the same ofticial’ air of mystery in regard to the conierence at tie hotel with Governor Dix. He said that tie latter, was “entertaininz’’ the case very “seriously” and had not come to any conciusion as yet. A call was made on the counsel of the condemned man at 78 roauway, but this gentleman refused to give any information what- ever. in regard to the matter, It is known, however, that he has been working desperately and with some slight hopes of success with the Judges of the Court of Appeals aud the Governor fer some time in hope that his client's lie might not be forieited to the law, Foster's coungel has a large pamphiet printed, in which letters are given [rom tion, Hamiiton Fish, Wiliam M. Evarts, Abraham R, Lawrence, Henry F. and @ great number of leading Episcopalians In favor of saving the llie of koster, it is probable that Governor Dix will let the Sheritf Know his decision beiore he goes to Albany ' by letter, or send it bv telegraph aiter he reaches the gubernatorial mansion at Albany. Should he foilow the former course it 18 understood that he will give a iul! explanation o! his course and de- cision. Hts letter, it is said, has been prepared for Rote The erection of the scatfold will begin on ‘Thursday morning. Fosterspent the day, a8 usual, sitting in the cors ridor talking to his wife almost corstantiy and oc- jonally conversing with his iriends or astray clefgyman. He sits near the stove to keep himself warm; but as the time approaches on wiich he is to suffer he seems to be losing his firmness, and he is evidently getting nervous and fidgety as day by day of suspense goes-by with the sword of Damocies hanging over his head. DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN VESEY STREET. See The Building of the United Stated Tea Company ‘Completely = Destroyed—= Loss $120,000—Narrow Escape of Five Men—One Seriously Hurt—Inadequacy of the Water Supply=The Wind Too Strong for the Pumping Force. At twenty minutes past ten last night a fire broke out in the five story butiding occupied by the United States Tea Company in Vesey street, twa doors from Church street, Andrew Gilmartin, of the Fire Patrol, first aiscovered the fire in the root of the building and gave the alarm, In a moment, almost as quick as it takes to tell, the fire engines were rushing to the spot, and engine 27 was before the building not ‘five min- utes after the first alarm was. sounded, Others soon arrived on the spot, and three streams of water were put on the fire. The strength of the wind was so great that in spite of the force of the water, as it came from the nozzles, it was scattered in all directions before it reached the fourth story of the building, and in this way was of but little effect. To remedy this the firemen managed te make their way to the roof and en- deavored to carry the hose with them, but even this was found impossible to do. They therefore tried another plan by putting up ladders against the walls. All this time the fire was still confined to the, w floor apparently. The first three floors of tie building were occupied by the United States Tea began which had vast quantit! it tea and sugar stored in ¢ floors above. Five of the men _ belonging to the Fire Insurance Patrol broke down the door leading up stairs and ascended to the third floor, with the in- tention of saving a8 much of the stock as ~ could. They were at work on the third floor, ani already had some of the goods ready to be taken down stairs, when suddenty there was a sound as of thunder, and the roof the two upper floors ave and came down to ali appearances upon fie heads of the devoted firemen. They had been warned, however, by the previous crashing and had made the best of their way down to the strect. The crash came, however, when they were on the second floor, and they rushed into tlie | room off the staircase. Sut here their position was almost as , for the floor above them gave way at the same moment, ‘The firemen in the street saw the danger of their coi an rusned to help them. The men wi all finally dragged out, two of them ingens! and one hurt rather badly internally. His name is Lowery. The others—Hamilton, Weteell, Retily and Glastater— were more or less frightened, but not hurt. tain Hull, of the Insurance Patrol, was struck wit! a piece of falling coruice as he was coming out of the building aiter helping his na he was hurt about the arms. One man, @ citizen, was so frightened that he fainted in the street ‘amd was taken in an ambulance to the Park Hospital. This gave rise to the report that a man had been killed. the floors fell in the whole building wasa f fre in a moment, and it stretched from Débement to root. It was then apparent that not a fraction of the whole could be saved. The fire at one time stretched its devastating arm to the building of the American Tea Com; , next door, ands portion of the top cornice was burned and the fire spread through the roof to the top floor. Here its pregress was stopped sonar The though nothing could be saved. least expected, it was found to have stretched round in Church street, and at first was supposed to have it a new building; butit was a part of the same and gave entrauce to the upper floors, Here the fire burned down to the t floor and there was arrested. The two floors of the United States Tea Company on Church street were the only part saved, two upper floors of the were occu- pied by the Christian Leader and Pelletrea printer, stationer and lithographer. It was to eat extent the heavy lithographic stones falling hrough that broke in the lower floors, The si of these was completely destroyed, The loss is estimated at $45,000 on the building and: fixtures and $75,000 on the stock, making a total of $120,000, The insurances could not be ascertained, though they are said to cover considerably the loss. OBITUARY, Dr. Cochrane. Dr. Cochrane, who was the first introducer Tallroads into peg Baws to since at Janeiro. He was an En; man and, by marr! with @ Bragiian widow, alliga vo the Alewear family, ‘