National Republican., 1885-03-05
FORMER INAUGURAL BALLS.

hA ununTnmnnt hack |
,;rs ~ tho frat nroqident This country
tiuit " '
ever hse
The ouSsom originated with tho second
inauguration cs Gen. Washington in
Philadelphia in 1875, the following in
vitation being published at that time
"The members Of the senate and the
house of representatives Of the United
States arc respectfully invited to ball
on the 4th Of March, 1893, to be given by
the dancing assembly, In honor OF tho
unanimous reelection Of George Wash
ington, the president Of the United
States, the anniversary Of the present
and parting leave with the members OF
The present congress- -
IL was ON the occasion Oh tne Ihaus
sion @ OF James niauison 10 iio''"' :"
loVS that the
FIRST BALL WAS GIVEN HERE
1t was given at Longs hotel, and declared
70 be the most brilliant affair ever seen in
l. this city. 1t was attended by ex-Presi-
dent Thomas Jefferson and tho foreign
ministers, 1t was estimated that over 400
persons were present, which Is quite o
modest number in comparison with the
balls of the present time.
At the Inauguration of President James
Monroe, in 1921, the ball was given under
tne mhuhHouubub VI bhc NhoulhkbVh ho-
semblies, and that also was considered q
grand affair.
Tho ball closing the Inauguration cere-
monies of John Quincy Adams was held
at Carusi's saloon, on Eleventh street,
now variety theater, but which in those
days was the fashionable ball room Of the
city.
The ball given In honor Of the first in
1 huguration Of Andrew jackson, in 1899,
4 kyaa Al ,tn haN hts
bnd inauguration Central Masonic Hall,
\ G1N Louisiana avenue, WAS used. Upon
Nrtion of Martin Van Buren,, as his
~ Htn 1887, the management re-
tco cARUsI's SALOON
TO ~ tho hall Tho attendanoe was
Il ouit,Oargo and tho hall was found To be
growing too ANAL for tho purposes for
which Il was desired. and when William
Uenrv Harrison. his sueoessor was in
nuourated tho old theater ON Iouisiana
nvenno was bronpht into roouisition. IL
was nurcbased by a committee. consisting
of four public spirited gentlemen of this
community, completely gutted and re-
modelled inside; suitable dancing fioor
was laid; supper dressing, and retiring
rooms were arranged, aud no expense was
saved to mako the old building look as
Attractive as possible. The ball proved
hHranu succoSs, oOth sOOiuily huu PoOuhi
arily, for, after paying all expenses Of
purchasing and reftting the building,
and all other incidental expenses, a sur
plus Of about $1,000 was left, which was
N divided between the Protestant and
Catholic orphan asylums Of the District.
4 The building in which the ball took place
was subsequently somewhat changed in
n its interior arrangements, when, as the
washington Assembly Rooms" it be-
came famous as the scene Of some of the
most pleasant sociables and reunions
II which grace the annals of our city.
For third time, and on the occasion
OF tho inducing of James X. Polk into
the presidential chair, the ball came back
to Carusis saloon. The tickets were
limited to 600, still tho crowding was 50
great as to make the guests very uncom-
Portable; and while 1t was q success finan-
cially 1t was obvious that the place was
entirely too small, and future balls OF
this kind would have to be held else
where.
When the gentlemen entrusted with
arranging the ceremonies for the
INAUGURATION OF ZACHARY TAYLOR
began 70 make preparatiop. the procurinp
of n suitable bnildinp in which to give tho
bali was discussed, and IL was decided tc
erect temporary structure for that pur
pose. After some deliberation Judiciary
SQUARE was chosen as the site, and
wooden building erected in the rear o
the city hall, with which it communi
Gated through covered passages. Thi.
structure was splendidly decorated ant