Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-02-12

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part of which was turned into dressing
and retiring rooms. Washington then
had an elective city government and a
board of aldermen. The aldermen's
chamber was the supper room. The
music was one of the big features Of
this BALL The Gung'l band arrived
from Europe for an American tour and
was engaged to come to Washington.
Gung'l was so pleased at the prospect
that he agreed to play for nothing if
his expenses were paid So the band
was broug- to Washington and enter
tanned for week. The leader COM
posed special music for the ball. Ev-
| erything combined to make this enter
tainment a magnificent success except
| ing the weather, which was very un-
propituous. Mayor Seaton escorted the
| president to the ball room, assisted by
R. c.. Winthrop, the speaker of the
house, escorted by the leading society
women of Washington. Among the
managers of that ball were Abraham
| Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Gen. Robert
e. Lee and General Scott. There was
another ball that night held at jack
son hall, but it was not a financial sue
cess
President Pierce lost his son in
railroad accident just before the inaug-
uration, so there was no ball in 1858.
Four years later Buchanan's inaugu
building on Judiciary square. 1t was
not financial success, but in other re-
spects it was without drawbacks.
Lincoln's inaugural ball was very
fine 1t too. was held in temporary
building. Mayor Berritt and Senator
Douglass escorted President Lincoln
and Senator Anthony followed with
Mrs. Lincoln. Lincoln left the ball at
/ 12 o'clock, slipping quietly away and
returning to the White House.
The two Grant balls were not sue
cessful, partly owing to faulty arrange.
, ments. The first was held in the
treasury building No more stupid Sc
lection could have been made. for the
building is cut UP into comparatively
small rooms. AS dancing was going
on on two floors at once it was neces
sary to establish telegra phic connec-
tion between the rooms so that it
might be simultaneous. The supper
room was badly arranged and in the
scramble for food great deal of beau.
tiful clothing was ruined. Many wraps
disappeared and ladies in ball gowns
were compelled to go home without
protection from the cold. Much i'll
ness resulted.
The second Grant ball was even more
badly planned There was no build
ing in the city big enough, so a build
ing was erected on Judiciary square
where the pension building now stands.
1t was a very large building, contain
ing an enormous ball room, supper
rooms and cloak rooms. 1t was heated
by steam and lighted by gas On the
morning of the 4th Of March a cold
wave swept down ON Washington. The
steam heaters in the ball building were
inadequate and that night women in
beautiful dresses. made for the great
occasion, sat, with shawls wrapped
about their shoulders and shivered.
The attendance was scant. Tickets
had been issued for 500. each ticket to
include lady and her escort. Pre-.
parations had been made to feed 10000. |
On the 5th of March the ball committee
figured uD deficit of $4,000.
There were two plans for the inaug-
ural ball which was to have been held |
in 1877. One was to have the ball in |
a market house on K street. Another |
was floor the Darquet of the National |
theatre and open communications be-
tween the theater and headjoining ho-
tel for supper Both these plans were |
abandoned because when the time ap-
preached it was uncertain who would
De president and there was a possibil-
ity that there wouldn't be any presi-
dent at all. So the committee gave up
the ball altogether and the Inaugural
tion of President Hayes was the only
one in third Of century not crowned
with this festivity.
When Garfield was inaugurated, the
building for the National museum was
approaching completion. 1t was spac
ious and empty. No better building |
for ball could have been planned |
The committee obtained the use of it
without any trouble. 1t will never be
used for the purpose again. The ex-
hibits in place are too bulky and val
liable to be moved.
Since Garheld's time the pension
building has been the scene of the in
augural ball. 1t is on Judiciary square
where so many balls have been held |
in temporary structures, the location