Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-25

81 w back to ls4l, when the
ilustrious grandfather
OF the present occupant
OF the Executive Mansion insugurated.
The procession on that occasion vas q grand
display Of military from Baltimore, Philsdel-
phia and other cities. and rendered unique
BY the number OF NppecAaoe clubs which.
with the parsphernalia adopted by them. during
the presidential canvass, marched in the pro-
cessIon- These clubs came, many OF them from
far ives tern states, and, OF course. the then
rather primitive mode OF travel for so large a
number made the journey a long and tedious
one. Some OF these clubs came in their own con-
veyances-those used during the csnvsss-for.
ref rrlng to the papers OF that period. descrip-
tons are TO be found where large bodies Of
wings traversed some Of the western states in
wagons and log cabins on wheels. drawn by
teams OF horses. Gen Harrison reached WASH
ington BY stage coach. coming by the way OF Fred
erick Nd. What in hat day was considered
large crowd would dwlnde into a very small
one in comparison to the thousands who will ill
Washington on the coming 4th OF March. The
only survivors OF the msr-hds | can recall OF
that dav are George II. Plant, John I. Given
! and Maj. F. A. klopher.
THREE ISAUGURArIoS BALLs
There were three Inauguration bals-one
held at the New Assembly rooms, late the Amer
lCan lueatet, LOUISIANA avenue. one At
Csrusi's saloon. "the Tippecanoe inauguration
ball. and the other, 1.-The native American in
auguratiun ball. which was given at the Masonic
Hall, corner OF Al street and Louisiana avenue.
The list of managers Of these balls contained
the names of distinguished officers OF the army
and navy and marine corps and many promi-
nent citizens of that period of which there is not
a single survivor. These balls were evidently
successful judging from the notices which app
peared in the -,GtiOn1l Iii,eIii yeRcer and the
Daily Globe. / can only speak OF the one L
attended at the Assembly rooms, which was
crowded with a very brilliant company. twas.
II WAS said. such a financial success that the re-
ceipt, paid all the expenses of the alterations
from the thoater to a very fine ball ROOM
There were some personalities INDUCED in about
| the disposition made Of the proceeds OF the
ball. which far exceeded the expenses.
In lSi5 when james X. Polk was inaugurated
there were two balls given, one at Carusis
saloon, where tickets were Sl0 and an oppo-i-
ton ball at the National Theater, tickets. IS.
Strange do not find any mention of the man
ayers Of either Of these balls in the Globe or
In'elligencer. The ball at the National Thester
was. however. rs 1 remember. and a reference
to the Daily Globe informs me, given under
the auspices of the Veteran jackson Democratic
Association and the Young Hickory Club"
The only survivors Of the period find in the
Globe are Col. L. Q. Washington and Mr.. NJ.
W. Gait. The ball held at Carusis was only
advertised as follows: After mature delibera-
tion il determined to pursue the course
adopted for the Inauguration ball of 1887 Mr..
Van Burens) and limit the tickets Of adj
mission to 600 A different course, owing TO
| the size OF the room and the number Of ladies
invited. it was deemed, would produce great
| confusion and disappointment. and would.
| therefore, be unjust to the public. The price
of the tickets fixed by the committee at
$40" This advertisement Is signed by 'Dr. c.
q. Fraiv. secretary" Ii created an opposition,
as it evidently intended to limit the admission
| to 1.-THE four hundred of that period, and Col.
| Cambloss Of the general land Office the Nc
AIlesar Of that day. The only survivor | can
recall of those who part cipated in the ball is
| Col. James G.. Berret. The ball was a very
elegant affair and Welded, over expenses,
1.l33 which divided between the two
| orphan asylums, and letters Of acknowledge
| ment from Mrs. Van Ness and Rev. Father
Matthews appear in the National Inteiii9encer
| and the Globe. There is no notice Of the fnan-
cisl result Of the ball at the National Thester,
but the papers of the day speak OF ii as a great
| success. One of the features of that ball WAS
! the appearance of Col korpony, the Polish
officer who introduced the polka in this coun-
try. He and a Mr.. Mclaughlin OF Baltimore
were the floor managers. 1 wish L could re all
the name of the laly who danced the polka
with Col. korpony on that occasion.
BURNING OF THE NATIONAL THEArEn.
On the 5th of March. the night after the ball,
the National Theater was burned The late
Nm r Rnrton was ,hs lossoa ,,a ,h.
.,.:,. -, 80 p."' ".
tnat thsnt was 'ne ouriesque OF beauty ana
tne Beast was In my customary seat with
nose veteran piaygoers, Dr. Thomas Miller,
John =. hNes ana others. burton, Charley
burke ana MS charming wlfe, mrs. Maggie
Burke, an inimitabie trio that has had no equal
on the American stage we're engaged in the
scene when the alarm OF hre was given Mr.
Burton came forward to address the audience
ana calm the panic, but the names spread so
rapidly that the large audience had barely time
to escape before the whole theater was sea Of
hre. This conhagration was very serious one
ana several houses were burned and others in
)ureo. Mr.: burton ana the company saved
nothlng. oali was given Few nights after
oy NUMBER OF prominent ciuzens which
Sieideo, L tninK, sum sumclent 70 reim-
purse In some measure the company
Tor their losses. MI. Burton took the
American Theater but occupied 1t only for
| brief season.
The Inauguration ball Of ls49. when Gen.
| Taylor took his seat in the presidential chair,
WAS the most brilliant and successful one ever
given up to that period. Anticipating Q large
crowd u ball room erected on the west side Of
the city hall The entrance was through the CITY
hall and the Offices of the corporation were
utilized as dressing and retiring rooms. The