The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-03-08
Olr Olin.
FORMER INAUGURATIoNs.

'Perlcy," the accomplished correspon-
dent Of the Boston Journal, furnishes some
"reminiscences of the various balls given
upon the occasion of the entry upon Office
Of the different Presidents, commencing
with the first:
Washington was inaugurated at New
York on the Both of April, 1889, and on
the 9Th of May grand ball was given in
honor of the occasion ut the City Assembly
rooms. President Washington, Vice Pres
ident Adams, many Senators and Repre-
s,ntativos, the Minister Pienipotcnti.ry of
France, the ERcdrgddO de Negocios of
Spain, the Cabinent, and other distinguish
edpersonages were present. General Knox
was the Presidents right.hand man. (as
General Babcock is now of President
Grant, and he and his wife were said to
be the largest couple in the city; the burly
Boston bookseller was, however, general
favorite, while the brilliant conversation
and unfailing good humor of his wife
frightened every circle. Alexander Hamil.
ton, bright, high-toned gentleman, had
also charming wife, who was a daughter
of General Schuyler. Aaron Bur's wife
(who had been Mrs. Provost, the widow of
British officer did not 20 into society,
but she was at the ball, fascinating and
conqusring. Charles Carroll, of Carrollton,
then an NJ. c., there was no c. NJ. in
those days was present with his family,
and Attorney General Randolph, 'the first
gentleman of Virginia" who afterward
proved to be no gentleman, was accom-
panied by lank, awkward, addressed boy
famous afterward as John Randolph, of
Roanoke.
When Washington was reinaugurated
ut Philadelphia, in 1893, the first regular
Inauguration ball was given, in pursuance
of the following invitation, which was pub
lished in the newspapers "The members
of the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes of the United States are respectfully
invited to u 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
United States; the anniversary of the
present form of Government of the United
States and parting leave with the men,
bers of the present Congress"
The ball was a great success, for there
were present, in addition to Mrs. Knox,
the charming Mrs Theodore Sedgwick, Of
Massachusetts, the magnificent Miss VOL
colt, of Connecticut, and other Congress
sional bellies, those intelligent danes and
demoisellcs of Philadelphia who had been
praised by the gay Marquis dc Chastellux,
aud complimented by that witty Parisian
visitor, the Duke de Lauzun. Even Mrs.
John Adams, who was not demonstrativc,
wrote II have not seen lady in Eng
land who can bear comparison with Mrs.
Bingham, Mrs. Platt. or Miss Hamilton.
Whom John Adams was inauguated as
President at Philadelphia, in 1897, a ban
quot was given instead Of ball, which
was rather parting ovation to Washing
ton than compliment to his successor.
When Jefferson was inaugurated at
Washington, he endcavored to create po-
litical capital by affecting Democratic sim
plicity Of manner, aud there was neither
display at the Capitol or a ball in the
evening, The "levees" were done away
with, and the four-horsc equipage at the
White House was sold, as the President
preferred to ride about Washington on
the pacing saddle-horse which he had
brought from Monticello. But in time
the White House was newly furnished,
the President gave state dinners and re-
ceptions, and when be was reinaugurated
there was an Inauguration ball at Davis
Hotel, then the fashionable scjourning
place.
Mrs. Madison, (who. az Miss Dolly