Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-05

"Jayne's hall, !" in Philadelphia, the proprietors
Of which had agreed to loan them for the occa-
sion. Mr.. John Alexander furnished the deco
rations Of the ball building, and to Mr.. Chas.
Gautier was assigned the task of preparing and
| serving the supper. Everything was arranged
on grand scale; but the result failed to come
up to the expectations Of the gentlemen who
had undertaken it, and heavy loss was the
| consequences. Norwas the ball, In social point
OF view, the success It had been hoped 1t would
be. critical period had arrived in the history
OF our country, and IT seemed as II no one-not
even the gay butterflies OF Washington sea-
son-were in humor or spirits to thoroughly
enjoy themselves The civil war cast Its shad-
ows over the ballroom, and many OF the then
leading and prominent persons In politics and
society, whose presence had been expected for
certain. tailed TO put In an appearance. The
pecuniary deficit was borne BY the gentlemen Of
the committee OF arrangements, some OF whom
lost quite heavily.
THE SECOND LINCOLN INAUGURATION BALL,
which came of in the ''model-room' Of the pat
ent office, was more of a success, both socially
and financially. 1t was, however, chiefly re-
markable for the confusion which prevailed in
the cloak and hat rooms after the ball was over,
when everybody wanted. apparently, what
everybody else had got and what nobody could
give. Such turmoil and topsy-turyy state OF
affairs has seldom been equalled anywhere. The
Washington hatters made a rich harvest on the
been equal to the emergency In the supper
room the scanty accommodations and conse-
quent tanning and crowding was also serious
drawback.
GRANTS FIRST INAUGURAL
was crush that will be long remembered by
those who were present. IL was held In the
north wing of the Treasury department. Bar
ring the crowding, consequent upon the small
rooms and limited accommodations, 1t was an
ENJOYABLE n fnauciallV.
Nearly $4,000 had been realized after all expen-
ses had been paid. which sum- 1t was by resolu-
tion of the managers resolved to donate toward
the erection OF monument to President Lin
coin. As this ball 200O tickets had been sold,
admitting one gentlemanand two ladies' and 1t
was estimated that 5000 persons were present.
The jam in the passages and on the stairways
was terrific. The arrangements for checking
and evering hats and coats were Detective
NAM waited hours for the redemption OF their
cheeks. and were then compelled to go away
hatless and coatless. Horace Greeley was
damned for two hours awaiting the delivery Of
his white overcOat. and, it Is said. ''he swore
good deal In the oldest and most miscellaneous
style" The disagreeable features of the oeca-
sion sprang largely from the fact that the access
to and exit from the lunch and cloak rooms
were by the same door.
THE TERRIBLE COLD
that came upon Washington on the occasion Of
Grants second Inauguration prevented the ball
from being one of historic tame for its brilancy.
No such extensive preparations had before been
made. A building $50 feet BY $50 feet was
erected on Judiciary square especially Tor the
purpose. The interior arrangements and deco
rations were pronounced superb. excelling those
purposes. The ball room was 800 feet long by
100 feet wide, and was lighted by 2. 800 burners.
On the pendant supply pipes and below the
burners were hung crimson, blue and gold
aprons. Beneath these were cross streamers
in every conceivable variety, stretched from
chandelier to chandelier over the entire room.
The walls to the height of twenty five feet were
covered with white muslin with deep cornce
painted in blue and pink. Around the cornce
was continuous chain of laurel wreaths loOped
up with rosettes of red. white and blue. In
deed, the national colOrs appeared everywhere
At the north end was radius of red white and
blue, with gold rays diverging from the center
IN every direction upward. and terminating in
large gold letters forming the name washing
ton" The balconies for music were handsomely
decorated with flags and red. white and blue
trimmings. 1t was the aim Of the ball man.
ayers to cover the entire woodwork and make
the whole building an Illuminated mass of deco
ratiOns. The Presidents reception platform
was covered in front with red. white. blue and
gold glazed muslin. was richly carpeted and
provided with suitable furniture. The supper
room. into which there were twenty entrances,
was also highly decorated. 1t was hung with
four miles OF laurel-leaf rope. Hot and cold
water was conducted to the kitchen in pipes
Everything for the supper was cooked in New
York under the direction of former chief cook
of Delmonico's.
THE RESULT
But all the labor and expense incurred were
made of small effect by the outrageous behav-
Tor Of the thermometer. Those ladies who
braved the weather ignored all vanities and ap-
peared in the warmest wrappings they pos
sessed. The gentlemen showed partaty for
hats and OyercOats. The cOnveniences supplied
for taking care Of wraps were more than suffi-
Client to meet the demand. There was great
rush at the supper table for hot drinks but the
other dainties were neglected An army Of ca
nary birds had been provided for the ballroom
but the weather was too much for them. The
music froze In their Threats. and they devoted
themselves strictly to the task Of keeping warm.
In short, the cold neutralized all the results Of
the labor of weeks. and prevented the brilliant
success which would otherwise have been a GER
tainty.
There was no ball following President Hayes
inauguration. as there was not time after the
decision Of the electoral commission was an
nounced to arrange for one.
THE GARFIELD INAUGURAL BALE
had the advantage of a grand hall and every
necessary convenience in the National Mu-
scum building. 1t is estimated that about
$500 people attended the reception and
ball. People began to arrive before o'clock
There were so many carriages that the line ex-
tended outside of the Smithsonian grounds and
far down the street. The grounds were lighted
with calcium lights an0the facilities for getting
In and out of the building were looked after
with care. Opposite the hall where the Presi-
dent held his reception band of sixty musicians
was stationed In the galleries. The dancing
music was furnished by another band Of one
hundred musicians.
THE LAST BALL.
Mrs. Cleveland did not have the pleasure of
attending her husbands inaugural ball. She
was then the pretty Miss Folsom. In compensa-
tiOn for this she has the honor of being the
bride OF the White House.
More brilliant than any Of its forerunners
was this ball on the evening OF March 4, 1885.
The construction Of the Pension building had
reached that stage which made 1t possible
for the structure to be used as q ballroom
The committee In charge OF the affair had q
temporary wooden and felt roof placed over
the great open court and a superb dancing
noor was put In to cover the unfinished tile
work. The decorations were Of the most
elaborate and artistic description. The eight
mammoth pillars, IS feet In circumference
were each covered with white cloth and then
entwined with a chain Of evergreens and trim
med with palm leaves and pennants and flags.
The balcony, which extended around the en-
tire hall. was draped with deep crimson tap
estry and garlanded with vines The myriads
OF smaller columns around the hall, support
ing the balcony. were likewise decorated with
palm leaves at the base, and rich national ban