Evening star., 1897-03-05
INAUGURAL BALLS
Fetes of Former Days Given in Honor
of New Presidents.
TASHINGFON'SFIRSF IN PHILADELPHIA
Descriptions of Those That Have
Followed to the Present Time.
FUNCTIONS STHATA

The custom of giving inaugural balls
originated on the occasion of the second
Inauguration of General Washington in
Philadelphia in 1873. This ball was given
in pursuance of a card which " as published
In the Philadelphia papers inviting the
n embers of the Senate and the House of
Representatives to a ball ION the Fourth
of March. 11a8 to be given by the dancing
assembly in honor of the unanimous re-
election of George Washington. President
of the United States. the anniversary of
the present form of the government of the
United States and parting leave with the
members of the present Congress.
The first inaugural ball given in Wash
iTgton was that of President Madison in
1909. 1t took place at Longs Hotel and
declared to be the most brilliant and
crowded ever known in Washington, the
company present being estimated at ''ex-
ceedng 100 Ex-Presdent Jefferson, who
had tabooed the idea of balls on the occa-
sion of his inaugurationS. was present. The
next inaugural bail was that given on the
second Inauguration of President Monroe in
1A2l and was carried out under the auspices
of the Washington Assembly.
CaruSi's a Popular Place.
The present site of Kernan's Lyceum
Theater. which: was then Carusi's saloon.
John Quincy Adams was inaugurated in
1875. Carusi's saloon was then the Sherry's
of Washington and all important social
functions were held there. Among the man
ayers of this affair We're Richard WallaCh
father of the late ex-Mayor Wallach, Thorn
as Monroe W W Seaton. w. A. Bradley,
Danici Brent and Gen. r. c. Weightman.
President Jacksons first inaugural ball in
1Ss' was given al Carusi's. bur at his sec
ord inauguration in 1Se} tie entertainment
h..f. i
lana avenue President Van Buren's in
aUSural ball in 1887 was given at Carusi's
saloon and was brilliant event. A theatcr
ON Louisiana avenue was purchased for the
inaugural bail of President William Henry
Harrison 1t was completely reftted and
the old building was made 10 look as at
tractive possible. The ball proved a
grand success. socially and financially. and,
after paying all the costs of purchasing and
renting the building and all other incl
dental expenses. a surplus of 5000 was
left. which was divided between the Catho-
ne anu Protestant orphan asylums Of the
LStrlct IhlS building afterward became
the Washington Assembly rooms and dur
1lis the war vas turned into the Canterbury
Iheater. where variety entertainments We're
gwen. AT the time of President VIM. Henry
IiarrlSons inauguration a peoples Tippe-
canoe inauguration ball was given at Caru-
81 saloon and native American Inaugural
tian ball al Masonic Hall. President Polk $
fdil vas held in CaruSis saloon, and not
WIthstanding the tickets were limited 10
"". there was an awful crush. The affair
v as conspicuous for the briliancy of femi-
nine toilets and the number of uniforms.
the army and navy and diplomatic corps
turning out in full force.
The First Ball in Judiciary Suunre,
The first inaugural ball held in Judiciary
Square. which Low seems to he destined to
become the perpetual site for such affairs.
was that OF President Taylor. temporary
W10fiau h1tiI =
the city hall, with which communicate
was had through covered passages The
DECORATIONS Were splendid. and the reII-
brated Austrian Band of Prof Gungl hay-
ing then just arrived in this country was
engaged to furnish dancing music. Two
other inauguration balls were given the
same niSht-cne at Carusis and one at
Jackson Hall. and President Taylor visited
all thee Of them.
President Pierce's Inauguration ball took
PiaC@ in similar building on the same
sita. and was cne of the most joyial :naug-
uration tails en- record
Buchannn's and LincoIn's
President Buchanan's ball was spIen-
didly gotten up. and was held in a tempo
rary building in Judiciary Square. There
was lavish expenditure and a small de-
ficft resulted. which was made up by .he
gentlemen composing the general com.
r:ittee. President Lincoin's first inauEu
ration bail was held in the buildlns
erected in Judiciary Square. Everyth hine
was arranged on grand scale. but the re-
SUIT failed to come up TO the expecta tions
OF the gentlemen who had undert aken it,
and a heavy loss resulted. The war cloud
was lowering over the land. and no on
was IN humor to enjoy himself, and
many of the leading persons prominent ir
politics and society failed to put in an ap
pearance. The second Lincoln inaugura
tion ball was held in the model room OF tht
.TAiHs
iusl0l Wlich prevailed in the hat and cloal
room dni the scantiness of the suppei
room accommodations. There was mucl
Crowding. and general dissatisfaction wa:
expressed at the management of the af
fair
hhhs 4" 'rant We're Unfortunate.
the first Inauguration ball of Cen. Gran
was held in the north wing of the Treas
department. The jam in the passages ant
on the stairways was terrific, the entrance.
and exits TO the various supper and cIoaI
rooms being by the same doors The dane
ins took place in the present cash room
which vas then just completed, and th
crowd made movement almost impossible
For Gen. Grants second inauguratio,
ball the most elaborate preparations wer,
made. building $50 by 10 feet wa
erected on judiciary Square at the iunc
tion OF 4th and + streets The ball room
was 3pp by 100 feet and superbly decorated
and hundreds of canary birds in cage
were hung through it, There were 2Jy
gas burners The supper rooms were com
mOdious. and the supper was prepared il
New York by a former chef of Delmonico
There was u wonderful menu. but the in
tensely cold weather DESTROYED all comfor
and ruined the supper. Ladies danced il
their wraps with gentlemen whose over
coats we're closely buttoned up. Hot drink