Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1873-03-22
Miscellaneous.
Former Presiient'l Tnaugurations.


or of the occasion at the city Assembly
rooms. President Washington, Vice Pre-
sident Adams, and many Senators and Re-
preseptatiyes, the minister Plenipotentiary
of France, the Encdrqado de Negocious of
Spain, the Cabinet and other distinguished
personages werepresent. Gen. Knox was tine
Presidents right-hand man, las Gen. Bao-
cock is now Of President Grant, and he
and his wife were said to be the largest
couple in the city; the hurley Boston book
seller was however, general fayorite,
while the brilliant conversation and unfail-
ing good humor OF his wife frightened evc-
ry circle Alexander Hamilton, q brilliant
high-toned gentleman, had also charming
wife, who was d daughter of Gen. Schuy-
er. Aaron Burr's wife, twho had been
Mrs. Provost, the widow of British off,
Ger did not 60 into society, but he was at tho
ball, fascinating aud conquering. Charles
Carroll, of Carroliton, then an NJ. c., there
was no &. NJ. in those days. WAS present
with his family, and Acknowledgement
Randolph, "the first gentleman of Virgi.
MIA, who afterwards proved himself to be
no gentleman, was accompanied by lank,
awkward, addressed boy, famous after
ward as John Randolph, Of Roauoks,
THE PHILADELPHIA INAUGURATION.
When Washington was reinaugurated
at Philadelphia, in 1893. the first regular
inauguration ball was given in pursuance
OF the following invitation, which WAS pub
tshcd in the newspapers 4:
The members of the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United States arc
invited to ball on the 4th of March,
1893, to be given by the Dancing Assembly,
in honor OF the unanimous reelection OF
George Washington, the President of the
| nj ItnI Stntn ha mi, - 81
sent form Of government of the United
States and, a parting leave with the men,
bers of the present Congress-"
This ball was great success, for there
we're present, in addition to Mrs. Knox,
the charming Mrs. Theodore Sedgwick, OF
Massachusetts, and the magnificent Miss
WalcOll, OF Connecticut, and other Con-
gressional bellies those graceful and intelii-
gent danes and Gcmoiselles of Philadelphia,
who had been praised by the gay Marquis
de ChastcleuX, and complimented by that
witty Partisan visitor, the Duke de Lau-
zun. Even Mrs. John Adams, who was
not demonstrative, wrote II have not
seen q lady in England who can bear Il
comparison with Mrs. Bingham, Mrs. Platt,
or Miss IIamiltoG,''
When John Adams was inaugurated as
President ut Philadelphia in 1897, ban
was rather parting ovation to Washing
ton than compliment to his successor.
INAUGURATION BALLS AT WASHINGTON.
When Jefferson was inaugurated at
Washington, be endeaYored to create po.
litical capital by affecting Democratic SIM
pliCity OF manner, and there was neither
display at the Capitol or ball in the even
ing. The 'levecsn were done away with,
and the four-horse eduippage at the White
House was sold, as the President preferred
to ride about Washington on the pacing
saddle-hOrse which lie brought from Mon
ticello. But in time the White-House was
newly furnished, the President gave State
dinners and receptions, and when he was
re-inaugurated there was an Inauguration
ball at Davis hotel, then fashionable So
iourning place.
Mrs. Madison, {who WRR Miss Polly
Payne, and afterwards a Mrs. Todd, had
been Philadelphia belle, did much to sof-
ten Jetfersona assumed Democratic
brusqueness while her husband was his
Secretary of State and when she in turn
became mistress of the White-H House, the
prcseut programme of Presidential hospi-
tality was adopted. l remember the lady
well, with her lofty white turban, her In
dia shawl and her snull.box, and | once
heard her describe the bal given when her
husband was iuaugurated, which Jefferson
attended. That ball, with the successive
ones for several years, was given at Q
Washington hotel.
The inauguration of Taylor was attend
ed with unusual p0mp, and in order to ac-
commodate the thrOug q temporary ediGce
was erected adjoining the city Hall, tor a
ballroom. Gen. Taylor was attended by
his daughter Betty and her husband, Col.
Bliss, whose remains now repose near those
Of "Oid Zach" near Louisville, Ky. /; shs
has married again. Madame de Badsco
was the belle of the evening, and looked
stunning" in her Russian Court dress of
crimson velvet, with white satin under
skirt and train, and regal display of dia-
monds. When Mr.. Buchanan came for
ward to present SONG lady friends to the
President, Gen. Taylor said: "Ah, Mr..
Buchannan you always pick out the pret-
tiest ladies.n "The truth is, Mr.. Presi-
dent" replied Old Buck, cooking his head
on one side like parrot, that your taste
and mine must agree in that respect"
"Well, =" replied Gen. Taylor, II have been
so long among the Indians and Mexicans,
that / hardly know how to behave myself.
surrounded by so many pretty women"
The beautiful banner of the Salem Taylor
Club, brought on there by Capt, Stafford,
WAS nOtICtlDie feature OF Inc GeCOf1lSOQ9
of this ball, and the nuisance thereof was
the dripping from the composition candles
in the chandeliers, which ruined many o
black coat, and made many belle in Q low
necked dNss shrek as the melted tallow
burned heI shoulder The Pierce and the
Buchanan Inauguration balls were also
splendid affairs, but controlled by the
leaders of southern society.
LincOln's inauguration was rather So
lemn affair, but Mr.. Seward had taken per-
sonal pains to have demonstration Of
Union sentiment, and lie was especially
anxious that the ball should be tfsuccess,
Mrs. Lincoln, who was handsomely dressed,
came into the ballroom leaning on the arm
of Senator Douglas, aud followed by Vice.
President and Mrs. IlamliD. Mrs. Samuel
A. Way, Of Boston, was one of the most
ladies, wearing black velvet,
with costly set of diamonds, while her
sister, Mrs. Cutting, wore black velvet and
pearls The South was unrepresented,a and
the sdngre dzul of that district remained
away, waiting for the day--soon TO arriye
as they thought--when President Davis
should come to the White-House.