The Iola register., 1901-06-07
The INAUGURATION BALL.
beginning of the Terms of
the Presidents.

ed States, in 1883, a ball has been a
recognized feature of the inaugura-
ton ceremonies. The first inaugura-
tion ball was given by the exclusive or
ganization known as the New York
Assembly; but, owing TO the pressure
of other demands upon President
Washington's time, it did not take
place until May z. Four years later,
says the New York Sun, a card was
published in the Philadelphia newspa-
pers inviting the members of the SEN
ate and house of representatives to n
ball ION the 4th of March, 1893, to be
given by the dancing assembly in hon
or of the unanimous election of George
Washington, president of the United
States, and a parting leave with the
members of the present congress-"
There was no ball at the inaugura-
tion of John Adams, or at either of the
inaugurations of jefferson. The first
inaugural ball in Washington was that
of Madison in 1909. 1t was held at
Longs, then the leading hotel of the
capital. President Monroe's first ad-
ministration was ushered in with a
ball at Davis hotel. His second in
auguration day was inclement, and the
ball given at Brown't hotel was less
brilliant than the first.
John Quincy Adams Inauguration
1all was held at Carusi's, which occu-
pied the southeast corner of Eleventh
street and Pennsylvania avenue. In
the same place were given the dances
at the inaugurations of Van Buren,
and Polk and Jackson. The second
jackson inaugural dance was held in
Central Masonic hall, in Louisiana av-
enue. For the one in honor of william
Henry Harrison n theater in the same
thoroughfare was purchased and COM
pletely reftted. At this Inauguration
there were two other dancing assem-
blages. One, Known as the Peoples
! Tippecanoe Inauguration ball, was
held at Carusi's, and the other, the
Native American Inauguration ball,
was held in Masonic hall. There was
also an opposition ball at the incoming
of Polk.
The first inaugural ball held in Ju-
dietary square, which now seems to
be the permanent site for such affairs,
was that given in honor of President
building was erected in the rear of the
courthouse, with which it was connect
ed by covered passages. Two other
inauguration balls were given on the
same night, and the new president
honored all three by his presence for
brief period.
The assemblage in honor of Pierce,
the splendid ball that marked the in
coming of Buchanan and the first Lin
coin inauguration ball were all held in
temporary buildings in Judiciary
square. The dance at the second in
auguration of Lincoln was held in the
model room of the patent office, which
was so crowded and in all respects so
unsuitable that the affair was very un-
satisfactory.
Equally Inappropriate and incon-
venient was the place chosen for the
dance given at Grants first Inaugural
tion. 1t was held in the north wing
of the treasury building. The cash
room, just then completed, was utilized
as n dancing-room. The crush of hui
manity in the corridors and on the
stairways ade dancing and prom
enading alT.ost impossible. At the
second ins uguration of President
Grant a temporary building 35Ox150
feet was erected in judiciary square.
The ballroom, 10000 square feet in ex-
tent, contained $500 gas burners, and
several hundred canary birds in cages
were feature of the decorations, but
the night was so cold that the dancers
were compelled to wear their cloaks
and overcoats and hot drinks were at
a premium.
No ball followed the Inauguration of
Hayes, as the decision of the electoral
commission was rendered so late that
there was no time for the necessary
preparations. The dance at Garfeld's
Inauguration was held in the National
museum, which was then nearly COM
pleted.
At the first Inauguration of Presi-
dent Cleveland the building was still
unfinished but it was rooted with
wood and felt and fine dane, z floor
was laid. For the balls of 1889 and
1898 the building was found to be well
suited the event.
1t is customary for the president and
his party to arrive about ten o'clock
and TO pass down the entire length of
the ballroom, the people being massed,
sometimes 20 deep, on either side of
, the room for the whole 300 feet Of
it's length. At Benjamin Harrison's
ball fully $4,000 persons were so con-
grcgated Supper for 6,OoO to 1000 is
, usually provided, and the president
and his party are always the first to
, partake of it. They are served in
, rooms set apart for the purpose, and
, Immediately afterward depart for the
white house.
For those who remain the festivities
have only begun. Dancing is always
an impossibilty until after midnight.
Despite the vast throng of humanity
crowded into a space much too small
q for it, there is rarely any accident, i'll
q feeling or disorder. Every contin-
I gency is provided for by the executive