ack velvet
with a red silk crown. The Turkish Minister was dressed in black
broadcloth and white satin, all covered with gold embroidery, and wore the
national red fez as a hat. The Japanese Minister wore dark clothes
magnificently embroidered in gold. The Coreau Minister had a loose robe
of sea-green silk with a tortoise-shell belt. The Austrian Minister wore
the beautiful Hungarian costume, with the short cloak hanging from the
shoulder.

The Ministers appear from all accounts to have made a most gorgeous group
with their jewels and their gold embroidery and their orders and colored
dresses, making a strong contrast to the simple, ordinary dress of the
Senators.

After these persons, the Judges of the Supreme Court were announced; then
came the members of the House of Representatives, headed by their speaker;
then President Cleveland's Cabinet; and then the whole house rose to
receive the Vice-President-elect of the United States, Mr. Garret A.
Hobart, of New Jersey. He had no sooner arrived in his place, than the
usher made the important announcement of the day:

"The President and the President-elect of the United States."

Down the aisle came Mr. Cleveland and Mr. McKinley, side by side.

The whole assembly remained standing until the two Presidents had taken
their seats, and then the official proceedings of the day commenced.

Mr. Hobart took his oath of office as Vice-President of the United States.

The former Vice-President then made a farewell speech to the Senate, and
handed his gavel to Mr. Hobart. The gavel is a little ivory or wooden
mallet used by a presiding officer to rap on a table or stone when he
wishes to gain the attention of an assembly.

The first use made of the gavel by the incoming Vice-President was to rap
for order while the blind Chaplain of the Senate, the Reverend Dr.
Milburn, called for a blessing from on High.

The prayer over, the Vice-President made his first address to the Senate,
and immediately after administered the oath to fifteen newly elected
Senators. The little bustle of people leaving the galleries while this
latter was proceeding, showed that the great moment had come--and it was
time to inaugurate the new President.

The President always takes the oath of office on the porch of the
Capitol--in full view of the people--and so, the work in the Senate being
finished, the two Presidents walked side by side out to the eastern front
of the building.

As soon as the