The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1869-03-19
sufferinga at tue inauguration ball, Tas fcls

~ Instigated by the devil, and persuaded by
two angelic faces. j went to this most beastly
exhibition Of all that disfignred the inaugu-
ration OF General Grant. Into the narrow
corridors and small rooms of the Treasury
was packed to suffocation u crowd of men
and women, pushing, struggling, fainting
and almost fighting. Over 1000 tickets
had been sold, and each ticket averaged
three people, There were men in swallow
tailed coats. white chokers and tight
breeches, and women in all sorts of cos
TUNES, of which the bare neck and arms,
with immense trails, predominnted
We climbed fonr flights of stairs, to the
ladies' dressing rooms and gentleman's 3 cloak
rooms. We gave-unsuspecting mortuIs ns
we were-our coats and hats to the recon-
| structed, receiving u piece of pasteboard,
| with n number on it, in exchange. A dark
suspicion crept over my prophetic soul that
L had parted with tile and and coat forever.
Sandwiched between two lovely females, I
began the descent A stream of humanity
was rushing up the winding star-a stream
OF humanity was pouring down; and, by
the watch, it took me one hour to reach tho
last step at the bottom. Here we fell into q
tide setting heavily Westward, good deal
ngitated by Il etream of stout policemen,
cotton gloved, colored walters, and some
feeble minded young men, with hair parted
in the middle, that made n pretty strong
hour, and my convoy whirled in an eddy,
caused by o projection at n corner. Escap-
ing from this, we fell into midstream, and
made steady, but slow progress.
lsuppose that by morning we might have
reached the end of the corridor, had we
not encountered q cross sea, made up of the
diplomatic corps and some military pumps,
that carried us into q reception room, where
the President and family stood firm.
violence, made more fearful by stout man,
who bawed ont, Don't shake hands, don't
shake hands, as tho President and Vice
President kept violating this order. I
could not understand the meaning of it,
unless the man was the court physician,
and feared we or General Grant would catch
the itch.
This was varied by weak females in tight
dresses fainting ut intervals of five minutes
And the character of the officials may be
gathered from a conversation I heard be-
tween the husband of lady, ill from the
heat and fatigue, and functionary. He
had carried her out, and fortunately found
q vacant space in Il hall, where there was a
little fresh air, and while he held her up,
some servants passed with chairs.
| He made an earnest appeal for ono of
these, but the stupid fellows refused. at
last he seized one, and was about seating
his wife, when an official came mt him, de-
manding the chair. The poor man cx-
planned, but the fellow replied that he had
his orders-the chairs were needed for m
other purpose. The husband bade his wife
sit down, and then said:
| "Now, if you take that chair, you must
take it from under my wife, and l hardly
| think that will be @ healthy proceeding"
You can gain your purpose in that way"
exclaimed tho fellow, white with rage; 'but
if your wife is sick. you had better take her
home"
"You are an insolent hound" roared the
husband, land if you will give me your ad-
dress, I'll smash your dirty mouth to NOR
row, when there are no women to protect
yon."
was told that the sceno in the supper
room beggared description The doors were
opened to the entire crowd, and in two
minutes the rooms were packed to snfroca-
| tiOn. To eat was impossible. but to stir
up the temper and destroy dresses was the
rule.
The long trails, of rich material suffered
at every step. While trying to get to the
supper-room / felt. for some time, under
my feet what seemed to be q soft carpet. I
found, in Il few minutes, that it was the
trail of q lady some distance in advance
What guys women can make of themselves
when they try. L saw some youthful female
donkeys, with their heads plnstered over
with white powder and pomatum. as if their
dear little selves had terminated in an
apple dumpling.
When at last, tired md disgusted, we
sought the dressing rooms for our wraps
l found that we were pinned to the place
for two days. Fortunately, after invading
the ladies' dressing-l oom, very improperly,
found their cloaks, and then l ascended
for mine. l found n crew actually fighting
in the hall above. At the hole in the door
of the cloak-room, an idiotic face made
mouths at US in the most exasperating man
ner. Long lines were formed by the police,
and scarcely formed before broken ND.