The Baltimore County union., 1884-01-19
The First Inauguration.

The New York Herald prints a de-
scription of Federal hall, the building
before which Washington was first inaug-
urated President of the United States.
Immediately behind the balcony, says
the Herald, was the chamber appointed
for the sessions of the Senate. 1t
measured forty by thirty feet; the arches
of the ceiling were painted light blue,
and all authorities agree in praising the
beauty of the mantelpieces, which were
of American marble and ofvery elegant
workmanship. The room for the house
of representatives was much larger, and
had two galleries for visitors, speakers
platform surmounted by crimson can
opy and separate desks for all the men,
bers. 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 80, I77o. His journey to New
-. X. <--.-.. 49, Mount Vernon had-l-ss.a-asa
triumphal progress. His arrival in the
city had been signalized 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 crowd =
Washington had driven in coach and
six to the building. He was received
by the two houses of Congress in joint
session and at once led to the balcony
to be sworn in. The patriotic Chan
cellor Livingston, when the popular
piaudits were exhausted, administered
the oath, and, as Washington kissed the
Bible, great shout rent the air. Liv-'
ingston stretched over the railing and
exclaimed, "Long live George Wash
ington, Preident of the United States!'
As with one voice, the populace took
up the cry. Then the inaugural speech
was made and the President retired
from the balcony. He devoted the
rest of the day to reception. In the
evening the city was illuminated.
1t is interesting to know that on this
occasion both Washington and John
Adams, the vice-president, were clad
entirely in goods of American manufac-
ture. Washington wore plain suit of
w'-~cloth, with white silk stockings
and the simplest form of silver buckles
on his shoes. His hair was powdered
and worn in queue. Adams was also
plainly dressed in dark cloth. and wore
a wig. Livingston wore his flowing
silken gown as chancellor.
Ladies may be more interested in the
costumes which their great-great-grand-
mothers wore at the state ball which
brought the Inauguration festivities to
close, and which was postponed until
the middle of May to await Martha
Washington's arrival in the city. 1t
took place at 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 conducted, My
persons thinking too much attent
was paid to etiquette for a 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 Steuben. The
ladies appear to have been wonderful
concourse of beauties. Very little jew
elry was worn by them, but in ali other
respects their costumes were elaborate
and rich. Some wore gowns of light
blue silk, with white satin petticoats,
lace handkerchiefs about their necks,
and had their heads bedecked with
strange globular structures of gauze and
satin, while their curls fell over their
shoulders. A favorite dress was a perriot
of gray taffeta, with dark stripes, over
yellow corsage with broad blue bands.
This was worn with a collar of yellow
and white, fringed with blue. 1t was
often accompanied by Spanish hat of
white satin. Still other ladies-of
palmer taotc 1t would r5r4te+4tea
themselves with gray silk dresses, trim
med with rows of gauze points, and
such wore on their heads plain caps
of gauze somewhat like those of nuns,
and on their necks handkerchiefs of the
| finest lace.