The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1865-03-18
The cred, Inxaration Ball,

Never had such preparations been made
in Washington for grand ball in honor Of
the President as on the occasion Of the late
Inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln, and never before
either had there been such ball. The New
Yo.k papers abound in descriptions of it, from
one of which we copy the following as a fair
sample of the whole. The writer has desorib-
ed the "aristocracy' that honored the occa-
sion with their presence, and then turns to
what he calls candy Johnson's plebians ~
There were numerous outrageous costumes
to be seen. The faded "wall flowers" were
in very strong force. There was one lady
who wore the dress of her grandmother, an
old fashioned brocade with big knots of yell
low ribbon, without any crinoline, number
of ladies in plain black silks, others in NOUS
lin delains: one with brown merino dress
with black cloth cloak and black hat; one
with a faded calico, evidently from Tennes.
&c. =: another with a carriage cloak. At
| least a dozen ladies wore bonnets more or less
| inappropriate to the festive scene. Several
gentlemen elbowed their way through the
crowd with stove pipe hats IN hand, and
wearing their winter overcoats as though they
expected q snow storm in the Arctic regions
/ There we're gentleman with all manner Of
scarfs, bright and fancy culors, as we'll as
dingy black displaying glittering pins of all
manner of devices. Andy Johnson's plebians
outnumbered the aris,ocrats at least twenty
! to one. They threw shoddy and petroleum
completely into the shade. The dancing OF
/ these people was marvellous. The men threw
their legs around like the spokes of a wheel /;
the women hoped, skipped and jumped
! about in manner which would have made
a French dancing master commit suicide
They introduced the figures of quadrille in
to the lancers, and breakdown into quad.
rifle They appeared to think that every
other dance was n waltz, and acted accord,
ingly The galop, the schottische and varso-
vicnnc. the Danish and the redowa were all
Greek to them. They understood nothing,
but plain waltz and a plain quadril.e, and
appeared to think that they were exhibiting
! the greatest science when they kissed up
the most dust. Those of the plebians who
did not dance gathered around the doors OF
the supper rooms, and remained there from
nine clock until the time that the supper
room was opened.
Jus, before twelve O'Clock the President
was notified that supper was ready. The
Presidential party then retired in the same
order as they entered. and rush was made
to follow them. Policeman kept back the
crowd and the party got safely out OF the
ballroom and were ushered in the supper
room BY private entrance. Then the doors
W, re thrown open 10 the guests, who rushed
, ia pel-mell in dreadful confusion ladies be-
ing crushed against the walls or dragged half
fainting through the crush. Mea tired to
tear down the temporary doorway. The
table was cleared almost in moment, anf
after the first ten minutes tn. walters could
bring nothing except for fee. In an hour
there was nothing left to bring The floor
was covered with the debris of the supper
( All the dresses which escaped spoliation be
/ low wer. spoiled here. The ladies' were very
angry-so were the men. Some bullied some
. brbed the walters, and some ate the remains
/ of other peoples suppers. The mass surged
! to and fro like n sea. Plates were broken by
dozens. There was a general mess. The
( Presidents party Toasted al the upper end o!
{ the hall and having finished, attempted 10
pass out: But ANDY Johnson's plebeians
/ were savage with hunger aud would not make
way for ANYBODY. The Presidents party
/ we're thus forced to enter an alcove between
I the cases Of models, climb up stairs, and
emerge upon sort of balcony above the
/ l.o ads Of the crowd. whore they CORD look
down upon the struggle for viands. Nobodyt
cared u follo~it them now. The President
and others of the party spoke in severe terms
| of the disorder. Mrs Lincoln said it was a
scramble well" said the President, 81
/ appears like very systematic scramble
This was his only little joke during the eve
ming. After that he grew serious and wan
ted to go home. The party crowded along
the narrow balcony, descended another fiigh,
OF stairs, and passed out quietly, without be.
ing noticed. They at once proceeded to their
dressing rooms, without re-entering the ball.
room. and without being attended by a single
outsider. In ten minutes they were dressed,
I and at precisely one o'clock they left the
/ building by side door. Their departure
/ thus ancere noniously excited no common,
among the -avenous throng inside.