The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-03-11
YuE BIRTH NIGHT

TRIA, on the ever to.be honoured anniver-
saTy of his birth. On this, the ninety.
eighth return Of that auspicious day, we
have been favoured with an Extract from
the "Private Mcmoirs,' embracing "the
| Birth Night" and WAsHIsGToN's habit oi
attending Theatrical amusements, which
memoirs, we cannot but believe, will prove
| acceptable TO our patrons. .---NatiOnal Intel.
hgencer.
THE BIRTH NIGHT BALL was Instituted
1t the close Of the Revolutionary War
and It's first celebration, we believe, was
in Alexandra. Cele brations of the Birth
Night soon became eneral in all the towns
and cities, the 22d of February, like the
18th ofJuly, being considered Ma tiona
Festival, while the peculiarly attending
the former was, thet It's parade ana cere.
monies always closed with the Birth Night
| Ball In the larger cities, wh ere public
Balls were customary, the Birth Night, in
the olden time, rs now, was the Gala AS
sembly of tho Season, attended by all the
beauty and fashion, by the Foreign Am
/ bnssadors, and strangers OF distinction al
the seat of Government. The First Presi.
dent always attended on the Birth Night.
! The etiquette was, not 10 open the Ball
until the arrival Of Him in whose honour il
was given; butt so remarkable was tho
puDctualIiy of Washington in all lis en-.
| gagements, whether for business or pleas
ure, that he was never waited for a mo.
mcnt IN appointments for either. Among
| the brilliant illustrations of Birth Night
Of FIVE and thirty years ago, the most un.
| ique and imposing was the groups or young
and beautiful Ladies, wearing in their hair
bsndesus or scrolls, having embroidered
| thereon, in language both ancient aud
MODERN the motto Of "LiUe the President"
The Minuet, (now obsoete) for the
graceful and elegant dancing of which
WAsuINGToN was consplcuCus IN the Vice
Regal days OF Lord Botetourt, in Virginia,
declined soon after the Revolution. The
Commanderin Chief danced, for his last
time. G minuet, in 1881, at the Ball given in
Fredericksburg, in honour Of the French
and American Officers on their return from
the trlumphs OF Yorktown The last
Birth Night attended by the venerable
Chief was in Alexandra, 22d February,
1898. Indeed he always appeared greatly
10 enjoy the gay aud festive scene exhibit.
ed at the Birth Night Balls, and usually 10
remain 10 late hour, for, remarkable as
he was for reserve. and the digni6ed gravi-
ty inseparable from his nature, WASHING.
TON ever looked with most kind and favour
ing eye. upon the rational and elegant
pleasures of life.
THE First President was partial TO the
amusements ofthe Theatre, and attended
some fyo or six times IN 4 season, more
especially whore sotne public charity was
to be beuedttcd by the performance.
The habit was, for the Manager 10 wait
on the President, requesting him to com-
maud ray;t the pieces so commanded par.
took of bu, little variety, bot must be admit
ted TO have been in excellent taste; the
"School for Scandal" and Every one has
his Fault" for the Plays, and Of the After.
pieces, there wos almost a standing order
for the "Poor Soldier" and "Wiguel's Oar
by" The Old American Company, COM
prisng Italian aud Henry Harper, Wig.
nel; and Old Morris, first played in 1859,
IN the Theatre, John Street, and nothing
more truly showspur transccndcnt march
| To empire, than tie contrast between the
humble, nay barnlke Theatre, which the
First President attended forty years ago,
and the no,c various and magnificent tenn
pies OF Thesps, which adorn the nov
great and splendid City of Now York.
"The Company moved with the Gov.
ernmcnt to philadelphia, and performed in
the Old Theatre, Southwark, in which
was some scenery, said TO have been pain.
ted by the interesting and unfortunate Ma.
lor Andre, until the erection Of The House
in Chestnut Street, where we believe the
curtain fell upon the exits Of the last rem
nants of the Old .ime,fcan Company
"(By particular desirc,)" at the head Of
the Play Bill always announced that the
President would attend, and on those
nights tho House would be crowded from
top to bottom, as many to see the Hero as
the Play. Upon the Presidents entering
the stage box with his family, the Orches.
ira struck up the Presidents March, (now
Hail Columbia composed by a German
named Files, in 80, and called the Presi.
dents March, in contradistinction to the
March ofthe Revolution called Washing.
toms March. The audience applauded on
tho entrance Of the Presidcu,, but the Pit
and Gallery were so truly despotic in the
early days of the Republic, TINT sosoon as
Hail Columbia had ceased, Washingtons
March was called for by the deaiening din
of an hundred voices at once, and upon lis
being played, three hearty cheers would
rock the building to its base. Indeed, five
and thirty years ago there could not be
gotten together any large public assembly
without considerable spice of the Revo
luton being among it. The soldiers and
sailors of the War of Liberty abounded in
all public places, and no sooner would
their Old Chielappear, than offcame each
hat, and the shout of welcome rcsounded,
pure, spontaneous, direct from the heart.
From he Cusiis' Recoiieeiions and Pm.
rGte Memoirs ofths Life and Character Of