Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-03

Festivities Attending the Presidential
Inauguration.

Festivities Attending the Presidential
Inauguration.
THE BALLS GIVEN FROM wAsHINGroN's TIME
DOWN To THE PREsENr-JUDICIARY SQUARE
FAVORED PLAcE-BALLs THAT HAVE REEN
FINANCIAL SUCCESSES, ETC.
Inauguration balls have a history as long as
the history OF the Constitution. The first ball
was given in honor of General Washington
The ball tomorrow night in the new Pension
building promises TO excel all its predecessors
In point of brilliancy and attendance. In years
past there has always been difficulty in secur-
ing a hall large enough for the ball, and fire.
quently temporary structures have been erected
for the occasion. The new Pension building,
with its vast interior court however, affords an
ample hall, and Ii is probable that. the pre-
cedent having been established, that building
will, for many olympiads to come. have the
honor of being the chosen place for holding in
augural balls. The bail tomorrow night will be
the sixth held in Judiciary square. In former
days ii happened sometimes that two and even
three balls were given on the night of the in
auguration day. aud all claimed the title OF the
inauguration ball
THE FIRST INAUGURATION BALL.
The custom OF giving inaugural balls origi-
mated onthe occasion of the second Inaugural
ton Of Gen. Washington, in Philadelphia, in
1898. This ball was given in pursuance OF the
following card. which appeared in the Philadel-
phta papers:
..Thc members of the Senate and the House
OF ErNrcSon' attVcs Of the United States are re-
specftEeiT inN itCd 10 bail. on the 4th Of March
1IH.;, - Re given 10y TIC Dancing assembly, in
a. nor OF the n1NnimoHS reelection OF George
Washington, the President Of the United states;
the anniversary OF the present form OF govern.
mcnt Of the United States: and 4 parting leave
with the members ofthe present Congress-
PRESIDENT MADISoN's RAIL-.
The first inaugural bali given in this city was
| on the evening of the inauguration Of President
Madison E,..Ii n,
Longs hotel was declared to be 1.-The most
brilliant and crowded ever known in Washing
ton" ENPreSident Jefferson and President
Madison were present and all the foreign min.
listers i'm Washington. The company present il
was estimated, exceeded four hundred not a
very large number according to modern ideas
PRESIDENT MONROE.
A ball was given on the occasion of the second
| Inauguration of President Monroe in 1921
which was carried out under the auspices OF the
managers of the Washington assemblies.
JOHN quincy ADAMS.
Among the managers Of the bali given at the
Inauguration OF John Quincy Adams, in 1925
were Gen. II. c. Weiehtmau. Thos Monroe. w
W. Scaton, W. A. Bradley, Richard Wallach
Gather of eN-Mayor Wallach), Daniel Brent and
other prominent citizens. The bah was held, as
were all the fashionable affairs of the kind in
that day, at Carusi's saloon, now known the
Theatre COmique.
PRESIDENT JACKSON.
On the occasion of Andrew Jackson's first in
auguration, in 1929, ball was given at this
place. At his second Inauguration, in 1888, a
ball was given AT the Central Masonic hail. on
Louisiana avenue.
PRESIDENT VAN BURENS
inaugural ball QS37l was given at Carusi's
saloon and was notably brilliant event II
was found, however, that the ball. though quite
spacious. was rather cramped for an occasion
OF TINS character, and at the next inauguration
that of
PRESIDENT HARRISON,
the managers having that in charge determined
to make a Change, and the old theater on Lou
isiana avenue was secured for this OCCASION II
was purchased by a committee, consisting oi
four public spirited gentlemen of this commu
nifty, completely Quilted and remOdeled inside
suitable dancing floor laid: supper, dress
ing aud retiring rooms were arranged, and nc
expense was saved to make the old building
look aS attractive as possible. The ball prov ed
| grand success, both socially and pecuniarily
for. after paying all expenses of purchasing and
refitting the building. and all other incidental
| expenses, q surplus of about 81. 900 was left
which was divided between the Protestant and
Catholic orphan aSylumS of the District. The
building in which the bah took place was SUBJ
sequently somewhat changed in its interio,
arrangements, when as the "Washington As
sembly Rooms" il became famous as the scene
OF some of the most pleasant sociahleS and re-
unions which grace the annals of our city. Still
| later, during the war, it again turned into
| theater, and as such terminated its career a
victim to the flames. \ peoples Tippecanot
| Inauguration BALI was also given on the occa
sion OF President HarriSon's inauguration al
CaruSlS saloon, also Il Native American Inau
| gGration Ball at the (then) Masonic hail.
| PRESIDENT POLK.
The Inauguration ball of President Polk tool
| place in Carusi's saloon, and, though the ex
| IRENE crowding was an annoyance (notwith
standing the tickets were limited to 600) IL was
| on the whole, very pleasant affair. 1t was
conspicuous Tor the gorgeous toilets of the
ladies and the number of uniforms the corn.
dtptomdttque and army and navy. being repre-
scented in full force. Like its predecessors, II
proved aSTccess financially; that is, there wa.
no loss
PRESIDENT TAYLOR.
1t having become evident that there was nc
hall or building in Washington which could
give entire satisfaction a ballroom on such
great public occasions presidential Inaugural
tions it was determined when Gen. Taylor was
1naugurated to construct a temporary building
for the accommodation of the guests and dan
GERS. After some elaboration Judiciary square
was chosen as the site, and wooden building
erected in the rear of the City Hall, with
which 1t communicated through covered pas
| sages. This structure was spendidly decorate ed
and furnished With all the comforts and con.
venences of the period, and, to add still further
splendor TO the event, the celebrated Austrian
band OF Prok Gungl was engaged to furnish
the dancing music, it having then Just arrived
! in this country. The expense attending this
| feature was very considerable, but it proved a
successful speculation for after settling all bills
there was a very handsome balance on hand
W mdS DelAetD lilS lNoOTpnall dSN
lumS switch had already been beneficiarieS upon
a previous occasion. Two other inauguration
balls were given on the same night, one AT Jack.
| son Hall and the other at Carusi's saloon.
President Taylor visited all three of the balls in
the course OF the evening.
PRESIDENT PIERCE.
The ball which followed the Inauguration OF
Franklin Pierce took place in a building SINH.
larly constructed on the same Site The rooms
in theiCity Hall We're temprorily vacated, and
were occupied as dressing, reception and cloak
rooms, communicating with the ball building
through covered corridors. A gay and splendid
tnrong OF pleaSure-SeekerS assembled to do
honor to the occasion, and it was one of the
most joylal inauguration balls SO far on record.
BUCHANANS INAUGURATION BALL
was also splendidly gotten-r1p affair." in fact too
splendid, perhaps, under the circumstances, for
when the accounts came to be squared there
was a small deficit, which was made up by the
gentlemen composing the committee having
the matter in charge. A temporary building in
Judiciary square, had been erected and fitted up
in splendid lie. The dancing and promenade
music was furnished by the then celebrated
Germania band, and socially, though not
financially, the affair was decided success.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN.
The ball which attended the first Inaugural
ton Of Abraham Lincoln is still remembered
by many of our citizens. For many days before
1t came off Mr.. Seward had expressed great
anxiety that 1t should be an affair worthy of the
great occasion, and he was indefatigable i'm his