The little black stone which the good people of Philadelphia rejected in 1792 has become the keystone of all our industries.
WHY MARCH 4TH IS INAUGURATION DAY.
The Principal Reason for the Selection of This Date Was the Curious Fact That It Seldom Falls on Sunday.
There have been many objections raised to the date upon which the Presidents of the United States are inaugurated, chief among them being the usually inclement weather which prevails so early in the spring.
The first President Harrison contracted the cold which caused his death, soon after he assumed office, at the ceremonies attending his inauguration; and anxiety is always expressed lest the unhappy incident should be repeated. There was a reason for choosing that date, however, which very few persons have ever heard of.
When the day was fixed upon the 4th of March, It was because that date seldom occurred on Sunday. But three times during our history has the inauguration day fallen on that day. The first was the second inaugural of James Monroe, the fifth President, March 4, 1821; the second was when Zachary Taylor was made President, March 4, 1849; the third was the inauguration of Rutherford B. Hayes, on March 4, 1877.
This will happen three times during each century, or one year after every seven leap years. Except when passing from one century to another, there is a slight variation, as will be observed in the following dates of the past and future inaugurations, of the first two centuries of the republic:
March 4 1821
March 4 1849
March 4 1877