“The Ministers of foreign countries.”

The Senators again rose, and in walked the Ministers, and were ushered to their seats.

All wore the full diplomatic costume, which, as you will see, varies considerably according to the Minister’s country.  The Chinese Minister wore a slate-colored, figured silk, his official hat being of black 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 Judges, Senators, and Congressmen had taken their places on the stand provided for them, Chief Justice Fuller came forward to the little enclosure which had been railed off and fitted with two great leathern arm-chairs for Major McKinley and Mr. Cleveland.