The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-01-05
SECOND WHITE HOUSE BALL.
THE DANCE IN MISS ROOSETELT'S
HONOR A NOTABLE EVENT.
The First Dance Given In Tyier's Term
while tho President was Awav
buchanan Refused 10 Let the Prince
OF Wales Dance ia the white House.

" '.''N ''' '"N
1t is declared by persons who keep track
If such thin q that the ball given by Presi-
lent and Mrs. Roosevelt on Friday night to
introduce Miss Roosevelt to society vas only
thssecond dance theWhite House has known.
This calculation leaves out Of consideration
some children's dancing parties given in
President Grants admins tration. The
first dance was given in President Tyler's
administrators and was in honor OF Marshal
Bertrand Of France.
One reason why the White House has
seen so little dancing has doubtless been
that the majority Of the Presidential fam
lilies have been composed of ~grown-up
people, and where there AVE been young
people they have been school children
and not out in society.
President Adams had no young children,
President Jsrerson's grandchildren, who
spent the winters at the White House. we're
daughters OF Mrs. Randolph OF Virginia,
who had old-fashioned ideas Of the sub
ordinate place that children should occupy,
and though her girls, and there were seven
Of them, were attractive and popular. their
amusements and entertainments were not
Of a public or semi-oficial character.
President Washington set an example in
this respect, and his immediate successors
in Office remembered that he did not have
Miss Nellie and Master Parke GUSTS in
evidence at the Presidential levees. The
succeeding Presidents followed his example
more readily, as none Of them had sons and
daughters whose ages required that they
should be cocsidered in the drawing room.
President Madison had no children; Presi-
dent Monroe had nc young children. his
two daughters both being married at
the time he was elected President.
John Quincy Adams had grown sons.
and Andrew jackson. who succeeded him,
had with him in the White House his adopted
son and the latter's bride and a niece who
had small children.
The Van Buren, administration was with
out interest TO the young people OF Wash
ington. there being no children at the White
House: and il was not until Tyler became
President-after President Taylor's daath-
that there were children and a large family
there. A child's ball was given there in
honor Of a little grandchild OF the President.
Then Mrs. Robert Tyler, who was the
wife Of the eldest son Of President Tyler
gave q dancing party-oneh hastily arranged
and given in the President absence in
Virginia, in honor Of Marshal Bertrand OF
france. Inc ldltsT arrived III NdsIll4Blou
one Saturday evening and at I O'Clock
sent TO tho White Hous 70 know when he
could be received by the President. Mrs.
Robert Tyler, in q letter Git was in ls43)
describes his visit in this way:
L appointed s o'clock, il being then past
I. | Immediately sent for the officers Of
the Cabinet and was surrounded by them
when tho old hero arrived accompanied
by his suite. He bowed to the very ground
and | courtesiod quite as low.
Il cannot convey to you an idea OF how
charmingly ! received him. The hour be
remained he spent in complimentinG me
in French and English, rather Jumbled to-
gcthor, while i returned his compliments
In the same eccentric mixture of languages.
last. after a f1ourishing speech ,sqUeez-
ING INV hand. with a second low bow over II,
he departed, followed by his suite, each
first making a profound o~belsance. |
could not reset the impulse and a. the last
mustachioed FTenchman left the room, |
turned n pirouotte upon one foot on the
rug, and then dropping n low courtesy,
said;
II beg the Cabinets pardon Whoreat
Mr.. Tyler was exceedingly wrGthy. though
every one else sa,d II was the sweetest
thing | had done the whole evening.
The Marshal was TO leave the next morn
ING. but ! sent him an invitation for Monday
evening. You should see the acceptance
he wrote Il have IL in my book OF auto
Craphsl. lie lad Intended leaving; my
grdcicuse iHri'1aDu WIS not 10 b" IesIstsd.
4 had but "A short time In which 20 effect
a great deal, but my usual adminiStr aiiy"
powers were called into action and ] sue
coedcd in doing all ! wished To do. ] s'nt
out 200 invitations 10 tie creme de la creme
Of Washington society.
A. 9 O'Clock my party was assembled,
formed Of the very p%rettiert girls and
81 the army and nayy appeared In their
uniforms, 'he Diplomatic tOrps in fun
court costume.
4 stood A. tho head 81 the Blue contre
room under the window A. IN" Marshal
arrived and wa!n"d through ~" hall the
land struck up the MUrS'il!air" Hymn
Iho guests fell back on either lid" ~ he
entered the room. LEAVING a broad pam
FOR Baftra I'D to advance tu Wh"i' Jor'-
pulue ! mean 60 where ! stood, suf "und'l
b' The Cuhibet
To de,.ltas the rryrrcuors bee mad,
followed 10y lH sJu aud each y IIr suite
On turn. would be- vain returned them
with grandma old fa-hiHi"d '1urt'h."al
su,a 49, must hay" "AIH'ri 90 ih" da'0 u
the empire
-oJ.i after hs arrival uur ilairl'''
U.wruHu. wi ully dauoai iNu''. HH"
60 uIa. tLr huli 18th ,.lUi Bertrand iIr
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