Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-04
BALLS OF FORMER DAYS.
Festivities Attending the Presidential
Inauguration.

BALLS OF FORMER DAYS.
Festivities Attending the Presidential
Inauguration.
THE BALLS GIVEN FROM wAsHINGroS's TIME
DOWN To THE PRESENT-JUDICIARY SQUARE
FAVORED PLAcE-BALLs THAT HAVE BEEN
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 brillancy and attendance. In years
past there has always been difficulty in secur-
Ing hall large enough for the ball. and fire.
quently temporary structures have been erected
Tor the occasion. The new Pension building,
with its vast interior court, however affords an
ample hail, and ii is probable that, the pre-
cedent having been established, that building
will, for many olympiads 10 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 1t happened sometimes that two and even
three balls We're given on the night of the in
auguration day. and all claimed the title of the
inauguration ball
THE FIRST INAUGURATION BALL.
The custom of giving inaugural balls origi-
mated on the occasion OF the second Inaugural
'ioh vi pSii. " tt>illlsIoD, III Il lllauClpnla IN
1898. This ball was given in pursuance Of the
following card, which appeared in the Philadel-
phia papers:
THE members of the Senate and the House
of Representatives of the United States are re-
spectively invited TO "A ball, on the 18th OF March.
l .9S. 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 govern
ment of the United States and parting leave
with the members of the present Congress"
PRESIDENT MADIsoN'S BALL.
The first inaugural ball given in this city was
on the evening of the Inauguration of President
Madison. in 1909. The ball, which was given al
Longs hotel, declared to be "the most
brilliant and crowded ever known in Washing.
ton. EX-Pre>ident Jefferson and President
Madison were present and all the foreign min.
listers in 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 ball given at the
Inauguration of John Quincy Adams in 1895.
Were Gen. II. c. Weightman. ThoS. Monroe, w.
w. Seaton. w. 4. Bradley Richard Wallach
father OF eX-Nayor Wallachl Daniel Brent and
other prominent citizens. The ball was held as
were all the fashionable affairs of the kind I'm
Theatre Comque.
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 BUREN'S
inaugural ball 1880 was given at Carusi's
saloon and was a notably brilliant event. II
was found, however, that the ball, though quite
spacious, was rather cramped for an occasion
OF this 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 committee, consisting OF
four public spirited gentlemen Of this commu-
NIFTY, completely Quilted and remodeled inside;
a suitable dancing floor was laid: supper, dress.
ing and retiring rooms Were arranged. and no
expense was saved TO make the old building
look as attractive as possible. The ball proved
q grand success, both socially and pecuniarily,
Tor, after paying all expenses of purchasing and
refitting the building. and all other incidental
expenses, a surplus of about $1,000 was Ieft
which was divided between the Protestant and
Catholic orphan asylumS of the District. The
building in which the bail took place was sub
sequently somewhat changed in its interior
arrangements, when, as the "WaShngton As
semb!y Rooms" it became famous as the scene
OF some OF the most pleasant sociabes and re-
unions which grace the annals of our city. Still
later, during the war, it was again turned into
a theater, and such terminated its career as n
victim TO the flames. A Peoples Tippecanoe
Inauguration BALI was also given on the occa-
sion of President Harrison's Inauguration al
CarusiS saloon; also a Native American Inau.
guratlon Bali at the (then) Masonic hall.
PRESIDENT POLK.
The Inauguration ball of President Polk took
place in Carusis saloon, and, though the ex.
IRENE crowding was an annoyance (notwith
standing the tickets were limited to 600, it was
on the whole, very pleasant affair. 1t was
conspicuous for the gorgeous toilets of the
ladies and the number OF uniforms. the corp,
dfptomdtfque and army and navy being repre-
scented in full force. Like its predecessors, il
proved a success, financially; that is, there was
no loss.
PRESIDENT TAYLOR.
1t having become evident that there was nc
hall or building in Washington which could
give entire satisfaction as ballroom on such
great public occasions as presidential Inaugural
tfons, it was determined when Gen. Taylor was
inaugurated to construct a temporary building
| for the accommodation of the guests and dan.
GERS After some deliberation Judiciary square
was chosen as the site, aud wooden building
erected in the rear of the City Hall, with
which il communicated through covered pas
sages. This structure was splendidly decorated
and furnished with all the comforts and con-
Veniences OF the period, and, to add still further
Spiendor TO the event, the celebrated Austrian
band OF Prof. 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 q
successful speculation, for, after settling all bills
there was a very handsome balance on hand,
which was divided between the two orphan aSy.
lums which had already been benefciaries 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 q building SINH.
lary constructed on the same site. The rooms