The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-12-26
The First Inauguration.

| ton of Federal hall. the building before
| which Washington was first i~naugurated
| President of the United States. lmmc-
diately behind the balcony, says the
Weruld, was the chamber appointed for
| the sessions of the Senate. 1t measured
| forty bv thirty feet; the arches of the
| ceiling were painted light blue, and all
authorities agree in praising the beauty
of the mantclpicccs, which were of Amer
lean marble and of very elegant work
manShip. The room for the house OF
representatives was much larger, and had
two galleries for visitors. Il speakers
platform surmountcd by Il crimson cam
opy and separate desks for all the mem
bcrs. In 1880 Federal hall was still the
most magnificent building in New York.
On the balcony just described, Wash
ington appeared on the morning of April
30, 1919. His journey toNcw York from
| Mount Vernon had been as 4 triumphal
progress. His arrival in the city had
been signallzed by a general festival.
When at last the day arrived when he
was to assume the high office to which he
had been chosen, the people assembled
in the churches. and, after services of
thanksgiving, marched in bands to the
space before the Federal hall, which soon
was dcnscly crowded. Washington had
driven in a coach and six to the build
ing. Hc was received by the two houses
of Congress in joint session and at once
led to the balcony to be sworn in. The
patriotic Chancellor Livingston, when
the popular plaudits were exhausted, adj
ministcred the oath, and, as Washington
kissed the Bible. a great shout rent the
air. Livingston stretched over the rail
ing and exclaimed, Long live George
Washington. President of the United
States" As with ono voice, the popu-
lace took up the cry. Then the inaugu-
raj speech was made and the President
retired from the balcony. He devoted
the rest of the day to a reception. In the
evening the city was illuminated.
1t is interesting to know that on this oc-
casion both Washington and John Adams,
the vicc-prcSident, were clad entirely in
goods of American manufacture. WASH
ington wore a plain suit OF brown cloth,
with white silk stockings and the simplest
form of silver buckles in his shoes. His
hair was powdered and worn in a queue.
Adams was also plainly dressed in dark
cloth. and wore a wig. Livingston wore
his flowing silkcn gown as chancellor.
Ladies may be more interested in the
costumes which their great at-grand-
mothers wore at the state ball which
brought the Inauguration festivities. to a
close. and which was postponed until
the middle of May to await Martha Wash
ington's arrival in the city. 1t took
place ut the city assembly rooms, which
occupied the block on Broadway
between Thames and Cedar streets.
Some talk was caused by the
ceremony with which it was con-
Quoted, many persons thinking too
much attention was paid to ctiuncttc for
Il republican regime. Nevertheless, all
who were asked attended. and they at
least made no complaints. The affair
was very brilliant. There was no lack of
gallant cavaliers, prominent among whom,
the records say, was Baron Stcubcn. The
ladies appear to have been a wonderful
%concourse of beauties. Very little jew
clry was worn by them, but in all other
respects their costumes were elaborate
and rich. Some wore gowns of light
blue silk. with white satin pctticoats,
lace handkcrchicfS about their nccks, and
| had their heads bedcckcd with strange
globular structures of gauzc and satin,
while their curls fell over their should
crs. \ ~favoritc dress was Il pcrriot Of
gray t~atfcta, with dark stripes, over a
yellow corsagc with broad blue bands.
This was worn with a collar of yellow
and white, fringcd with blue. 1t was
often accompanied by a Spanish hat of
white satin. Still other ladics-of palmer
taste it would secm-contcntcd them
selves with gray silk dresses, trimmed
with rowso of gauzc points. and such wore
on their heads plain caps of gauzc some
what like those Of nuns, and on their
ncckS handkrrchiefs of the finest lace.