The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-02-15

WASHINGTON. Fsb. li-speciai-'Ths
first inaugural bail - the United States
ras given By IRE citizens OF New York Il
honor OF The frs: president George WASH
irgto1- He was inaug1rstef or April -,
and the bah was given on the night Of May
7. ia what was known IS ne osfy assembly
rooms Nearly al the senator's and repre-
seutativss OF The new congress were pres
ert. as we're also the minister OF France
and the representative OF the Spanish gov
eminent.
Prcrninea. a. TITS ball was Alexander
Hamilton. brilliant and cultured, accom-
panied by bis charming wife. the daughter
OF Gen. Schuyler. Aaron Burr was there.
fascinating SIS ever. and coaQusring the
hearts Of women His Yifa. who was 4
Mrs. Provost, the widowsof n British off,
csr, did rot 60 into society az the time.
Charles Carroll, OF Carrollton, member o.
congress, was there. 700. with his family
and Attorney Gen. Randolph. the first
gentleman OF Virginia" accompanied hy a
lank. awkward. addressed boy. afterwards
famous as John Randolph, OF Roanoke.
Gen Knox. the presidents right hand
man. was there. with his wife. noted as
the largest couple IN WasShin gton.
When Washington was rs-inaugurated at
Philadelphia In i7ss. ths first regular in
auguration ball was given. The invitations
as follows:
The members Of ne senate and house
OF representatives Of the United States
are respectfully invited 10 = ball on the
sta or March. 1fs3. 10 be given BY the
dancing assembly Ia honor Of the unani-
nous reelection OF George Washington,
the president Of the United States. the
anniversary OF the present form Of gov
eminent OF the United States: and a part
ing leave with the members OF the pres
ent congress.
For many years afterward this bah was
spoken OF as "a great success" Many %
the most intelligent. highly educated. ac-
complished and witty men and women OF
the new world. and rot few OF the old
were present Mrs. Gen. Knox was again
central figure. surrounded BY other con-
gressional heles, Ike the charm
ing Mrs. Theodore Sedgwfck. OF
Massachusetts the proud and state
~ Miss Nolcott. OF Connecticut, and
those graceful and intelligent danes and
deanoSselies OF Philadelphia. who had been
praised by the gay Marquis de Chasteilux,
and complimenJed by that witty Partisan
visitor. the Duke de Lauzun. Even Mrs.
John Adams. who was not demonstrative,
wrote, IN describing this ball II have not
seen a lady la England who can bear COM
paris0n with Mrs. Bingham. Mrs Platt, or
Miss Hamilton"
No Inaugural bail was given in honor of
John Adams when he became president but
q magnificent banquet was spread by the
citizens of Philadelphia, rather as q part
ing ovation TO Washington than as a COM
pliment to his successor.
The Inauguration OF Thomas Jefferson
occurred in this city. and it is matter OF
national note that he eadeavored 10 create
political capital BY affecting an extreme
simplicity Of manner and doing away with
al seemingly lavish expenditure. This is
Is stiA pointed out as an evidence OF true
Democracy. Not only was there no dis
play At the capitol, and no ball IN the
evening. but the public '1evees' were done
away with and the four horse equipage al
the White House was sold. as Jefferson
much preferred bestriding his favorite
saddle horse, which he had brought from
Monticello. TO being tossed about in car
rage when driving over the rough and
oftentimes muddy streets. But IN short
time the White House was newly fur
nished and Jefferson gave receptions and
state dinners. and when he was inaugu-
rated for his second term, there was
bail given az Davis hotel, then the fash
ionaole sojourning place In Washington.
Mrs, Madison (who as Miss Dolly Paine,
and afterwards IS Mrs. Todd. had been
reigning BELIEF 9id much TO soften the as
sumsd Democratic brusqueness OF Presl-
dent Jefferson while her husband was sec
rotary OF state. and when she in turn be-
came mistress az the White House. she at
once adopted the system os presidential
hospitality which has ever since prevailed
Il remember the lady we'll" wrote Ben
Perley PoOre. the we'll known Washington
| correspondents. IN 1873 with her lofty
whits turhau her India shawl ana her
| snuI box, and I once heard her describe
the hall given when her husband was first
inaugurated. which Jefferson attended
| That ball. with the successive ones for sew
erai years, was given al a Washington
hotel"
Unusual ponp attended the iuauzura tion
| ofTaylor. and in order TO accom- M dste the
| throng. a temporary ediace adjoining the
| city hall was erected for q ball room. Gen.
| Taylor was attended By his daughter Betty
| and Der husband. Col Bliss. whose remains
| nov repose near those OF odd Zach." near
| Louisville, Ky. Madame de BodiSco was
| the belle Of the evening. and looked stun
| ming" las writer OF that day described
| herr IN her Russian court dress OF crimson
| vecvet, with a white satin unaerskirt and
| train. and regal dis play % diamonds.
| Il Is related that upon this occasion. when
| Mr.. Buchanan came forward 20 present
some ladies 20 The president. the latter re-
| marked:
All. zfr. Buchanan. you always pick out
The truth S., Mr. President" Mr. Blu
| chanan retorte1 your taste and mine
agree In that respect
"Well." returned Gen Taylor. ~ have
| bean 60 long among Indians and Afcxicans
| That I hardly know how 70 behave myself
| surrounded by - many pretty women"
Beautiful banners made BY the hands
| - patriotic American ladies'. were among
| the ro,iceahI features OF the decorations
! - Ills hall. while the biggest nuisance
| thereof was the irlppings from the candles
| ~ the chandeliers above. which rTined
many "a dress coat. and made many fas
! girl n low necked dress. scream with pain
/ a. the Aot ta-}ow found resting place
upon her aiahaster shoulders.
Ire Pierce and Buchanan inauguration
| balls were also splendid n their magulh-
| cence fer those days. but tire contr rollins
/ e,ement IN society Rad paS~ed from the
/ Norfg 20 me South. and North Carolina.
/ Georgia ard other states outshoues the New
I England and Na5le states IN the glory
/ 90 neau'i'aI snd wen-dresssd women
/ Laaeolr's Inauguration wss : rather
/ solemn AFFAIR, according - conten8p orary
/ writers. although Mr Seward Aad taken
personal pains 70 have q demonstration
I CT Cston sentiment. and ~ vas especially
anxious tEst ne bah should De q success.
/ Aceordtrg % pre-arranEenent. AFR. Lin
ce2 ,ook Mrs. SCI hsn a. Douglas upon
( sls arn1 an4 vas followed BY Senator
| LlrUglss- esoor-i-y re presidents wife.
| This 1rss tnts~,1e3 % - errbieTuatio Of The
] Jnto-f seaE3r7~-t - tha country ard the
! unineatton - ne people fn spite % ne
| previous elsz7erstons a. 80 roI-s- Vice