The display of patriotic bunting in the business part of the city was very liberal yesterday. Flags were flying from the tops of the City Hall, the Court House, all of the Federal buildings, and many of the large business houses down town. The inauguration was the main topic of casual conversation, and in the business exchanges and in most places of public resort there were manifestations of unusual excitement. Street vendors conformed to the spirit of the day by offering for sale portraits of President Cleveland and Vice-President Hendricks in great variety.
    The Custom House brokers who supported Cleveland last Fall practically took possession of the great rotunda at the Custom House late in the afternoon, and disported themselves with much enthusiasm and noise. Nearly 100 of the brokers marched into the rotunda with flags and giant firecrackers. They were led by W. T. Woodruff, who was their Marshal during the campaign. The songs "Climbing Up the Golden Stair" and "Auld Lang Syne" were sung, and Mr. Woodruff made a short speech from one of the balconies. He assured the clerks employed in the rotunda that the new President was a sincere civil service reformer, and that he probably would not sanction the removal of competent and faithful clerks in any branch of the Government service. Firecrackers were then lighted and distributed impartially in every part of the rotunda causing some fears that the woodwork would be set on fire. Collector Robertson's attention was attracted by the noise and confusion, and he emerged from his private office just in time to hear three vigorous cheers for President Cleveland. His appearance caused a temporary cessation of the racket, and he said: "Boys, I am willing that you should have a good time but please don't destroy the property of the Government." Three cheers were given for the Collector, three more for ex-President Arthur, and a third round for President Cleveland, following which the crowd sang "He is a jolly good fellow," changing the usual refrain to "for they are all jolly good fellows."
    During the day neat little packages were sent to the desks of some of the well-known Republican Deputy Collectors. Harry D. Stanwood, a nephew of James G. Blaine; Col. N. B. Bartram, Mr. Wyncoop, Mr. Quackenbush, and Andrew Green of the Naval Office, were among the recipients of these anonymous tokens. Upon opening his package each man found a lifeless crow.
    The Cleveland men in the Stock Exchange devoted about 10 minutes at noon to a noisy demonstration in honor of the new President. Daniel T. Worden proposed three cheers for Mr. Cleveland, and they were given with much energy. Several of the brokers locked arms and marched across the board room shouting "Grover! Grover! Grover Cleveland." In the Produce Exchange 50 or 60 men in the grain ring stopped trading at 12 o'clock just long enough to cheer for the new President. The demonstration in the Cotton Exchange was participated in by a very large proportion of the members who happened to be in the board room at noon. R. C. Allen opened the demonstration by beating loudly upon a big gong. Business was suspended and cheers were given for President Cleveland and ex-President Arthur. There were similar manifestations of enthusiasm in the two oil exchanges.
    The sentiment of mild festivity which seemed to prevail among men who bustled around down town did not extend to the proprietors of the principal restaurants and barrooms. They missed 5,000 hungry stomachs and thirsty throats. Familiar faces were gone, and so many of them at once as to cloud the smiling faces of the nimble-fingered cashiers and fill their souls with a sense of personal bereavement. The white-jacketed bartenders missed familiar coat sleeves and looked anxiously around all day long as though some one had disappointed them in keeping an appointment. In the Court House people grew weary of being told, "Oh, he's in Washington."
    The "Phillips Democratic Jollification Club" held a social gathering last evening at No. 36 West Twelfth-street to celebrate the inauguration of a Democratic President. The house was brilliantly illuminated. Fifty guests sat down to the tables, and the following toasts were responded to. "The President," "Ex-President Arthur," "An Honest Reform of the Civil Service."
    An attractive pyrotechnical exhibition was displayed in Park-avenue, between Eighty-sixth and Eighty-seventh streets, last evening. There were rockets, bombs, and colored lights innumerable and some elaborate set pieces. Two or three thousand persons witnessed and applauded the exhibition, which was conducted by the Cleveland Pioneers of the Twenty-second Assembly District, and was designed to celebrate the inauguration of Cleveland and Hendricks. Cheers for the President were given before and after the display. The Committee of Arrangements was as follows: Robert T. Creamer, Chairman; William Chrystie, Thomas Leahy, James Mulvihill, James O'Conor, and Edward Rigney.

Source:

Unknown, "Cleveland Men Rejoicing," The New York Times, New York, N.Y., Thursday, 5 March, 1885, p. 3.