Staunton Spectator

Staunton Spectator.
Wednesday, March 4, 1885.

The Inauguration To-day,
It is estimated that one hundred thousand people will witness to-day the imposing quadrennial ceremonies of the inauguration of the Chief Magistrate of the United States. The cannon will boom, the city will be in holiday attire, and the crowd, well dressed, happy, and contented, will accord a very warm reception to President Grover Cleveland whose quiet demeanor and kindly, placid countenance win the hearts of all. The scenes of this great drama of our national life will be interesting and impressive, and will be, perhaps better rounded in completeness and be accompanied by more enthusiasm than similar events of former years.

The National Democratic Committee some weeks since appointed a general committee of Washington gentlemen to make arrangements for the inauguration ceremonies, and many sub-committees were subsequently selected, consisting of five hundred members, who have performed their work well. The general committee has in its members Col. James G. Barrett, Mr. W. W. Corcoran, and many other distinguished citizens of Washington. The Congressional Committees, a senator and a member of the House from each State, and other Committees all working in harmonious preparation for the occasion will render it one of the greatest pageants the country has ever witnessed.

The platform which will be occupied during the administration of the oath of office, which will be by the Chief Justice, and delivery of the inaugural address by President Cleveland, is in front of the main portico of the capitol. Commencing at 12 m, as soon as these services are over, the president will be escorted to the White House.

The parade will be a grand feature of the day. Chief-Marshal-Major-General Henry W. Slocum, of New York; chief of staff, Brevet Brigadier-General Albert Ordway, United States volunteers: marshal of first division. Brevet Major-General R. B. Ayres U. S. Army; marshal of second division, Major-General John F. Hartranft, National Guard of Pennsylvania; marshal of third division, Major-General Fitzhugh Lee Virginia volunteer militia; marshal of fourth division, Mr. Thomas J. Luttrell, of Washington, D. C.

Crowning the grand events of the day will be the inauguration ball at night in the Pension building which has been lavishly and tastefully decorated. The ball room floor is 316 by 116 feet and will accommodate 3,600 in the square and 9,000 in round dances. The dancing programme is an extensive affair of sixteen pages and furnished in envelopes.

The ball ticket of admission is a modest affair. Of the separate ball invitations twelve thousand were struck off. Each was 7 by 10 inches, large enough to be used as a fan by the ladies. It is a copper-plate engraving, executed at the Government bureau, and shows a medallion of Cleveland on the left side and one of Hendricks on the right side. Below these medallions are leaves connected by a knot at the centre. Behind each of the medallions the American flag is draped. Immediately below this drapery there are on each side two columns, upon which are engraved the names of the General Committee. In the upper right-hand corner there is a picture of the Washington Monument The inscription is as follows:

Inauguration Ball.
March 4th, 1885,
Commemorative of the
Inauguration of
Grover Cleveland and Thomas A. Hendricks, President and Vice-President
of the United States.