New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

INAUGURAL halls Tho Inaugural ball Of to-day In
the one feature of decoration alone Is reveal
ton of artistic magniiCence never drealneo VI
In Washington's day and generation
President and Mrs Washington danced the
stately minuet. and people OF their DAY were
wont to tread it's measures. But President ana
Mrs. Washington and people of their DAY knew
nothing of the Inaugural ball. The nearest they
ever came to II was Just one hundred years ago
when tho first President retired from the freS'-
dcncy and a ball, that was made more OF great
banquet was given I'm honor Of General ana MIS-.
Washington by the Philadelphia merchants, at
q tavern in the Quaker city. where Emusic and
a magnificent painting enlivened the occasion"
THE FIRST. INAUGURAL BALL
The first Inaugural ball is a memory Of eighty
eight years back to the first Inauguration Of
President Madison, when the ceremonies of the
dav wound up with grand ball at Longs
Hotel attended by more than four hundred
guests. including the President and his Cabinet
Ministers. ex-Presdent jefferson and all the
Diplomatlc Corps It was by far the largest and
most brilliant ball ever known in Wash
irgton" Not loss brilliant was the ball at Pres-
dent Madisons second Inauguration given at
Davis's Hotel now the Metropolitan, where "all
society was represented to do homage to the
President and other high officials present" At
both balls the Presidents wife, the charming
Dolly Madison, was radiant and sociahe as
usual" and the dancing Of the mos. popula"
mistress Of the White House on this occasion
was "the very poetry Of notion Four years
later. at the same hotel. after 5000 people had
Witnessed the Inauguration of President Mon
roe" there was splendid ball. at which were
present the President and eX-President and their
ladies', and the usual official satellites"
The ball following the Inauguration Of John
quincy Adams, at the Assembly Rooms in
Eeventh-st., seems to have left little impression
for gayety or splendor The era of good cheer
however. began and was rife in the eight years
Of President Jackson's stay in the White House
The hero Of New-Oreans' never affected any
airs of state dignity, and when he went into the
White House he invited his friends with hearty
vehemence to wander at will through it's vast
ness They took him at his word. and on the
day Of his Inauguration the crowd awaiting his
return from the Capitol became dsordery
mob. breaking glass and china, and climbing on
the damask satin chairs. the better to see the
new President There was no ball that evening
but later on "Old Hickory" was persuaded Ca
give one in the White House. To which his guests
would Doe invited. thereby avoiding the promiscu-
Gus crowd Of "A public lcycc. The guests as
scmblcd az . o'clock. dancing was I'm the east
room and supper was served IN the state dining
room al II O'Clock. But alas Tor the protection of
eXcusivencss, When the President with Mrs
Forsyth. the wife Of his Secretary OF state went
In To- supper the crowd rushed past him and
literally excluded him from the table.
Well" he exclaimed, this is the FIRST time I
yyas over shut out from my avn table and IL
shall be- the last Hut still worse was the Of
fence given 10 those not asked. and the crlti-
cisms of the newspapers of the day. which de-
clared THE scale established by the President
is peculiarly arbitrary For instance, clerks with
$1,000 salary invited to the exclusives. those
OF $1,000 arc excluded; nADdyey t4q First WILL