Jefferson's Inaugural

The statement that Thomas Jefferson rode "ii horsebaclc to liis inauguration, hitehed his horse to the capítol fence, went in and took the oalh of office and then came out unattended, unhitc.hed his liorse and rode away again, is a pure inytli. The "Aurora," the prominent Washington paper of that date. gives this account of that uiuch talked of event in its issue of March 11, 1801 : At au early hour ou Wednesdry, March 4th, the city of Washington preseuted a spectacle of uncommon animation, occasioned by the addition to its usual population of a large body of citizens froin the adjaeent di.stricls A discharge from the company of Washing tou artillery ushered in tlie day, and about 10 olclock the Alexandiia eompany of riflemen, witli a company of artillery, paraded in front of the president's lodgings. At 12 o'clock Thomas Jefferson, attended by a number of liis fellow citizens, amongwhom ere many meinber8 of congress, repaired to the capítol. His dress was, as usual, that of a (]ain citizen. without any distiüct ive badge of office. He entered the capitul under a discharge from the artillery. As soon as he witliirew a discharge from the artillery was made. The remainder of the day was levoted to purposes of festivity, and at light tliere was a pretty general illumnation. That is the true tale of Jefferson'snauguration. It is a pity to shatter uch pretty nivths as has been told and etold about the event until the people lave come to believe them, but the ruth will out.