The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1905-01-03

| of the ante-be1lum time. The deficit,
however, was made up by the members
| of the committee. A temporary build
ing was again constructed. The inte-
rior was decorated with the flags of all
nations, the ceiling being covered with
white cloth studded with golden
stars that twinkled as they moved in
unison with the measures of the IAN
GERS" President Buchanan, accompa-
MED by Miss Harriet Lane, entered at
IL o'clock, and after viewing the prom-
enade, sat Town % supper at midnight.
while the dancing continued until morn
ing.
The threatening cloud Of civil war
hung over the nation when President
Lincoln took up the burden OF pyeserv-
ing the Union. Perhaps as a result
this ball was not a financial Oh social
success, though Secretary Seward had
spared no efforts to make it both
1t g interesting 20 note that Aaexan-
der r. shepherd was at the head of a
committee to furnish the gas fittings
and chandeliers, which were brought
from philadelphia. Mr.. Lincoln did not
attend the ball.
GRANTS INAUGURAL DANCE.
When President Grant was inaugu-
rated the ball was held in the norta
wing of the Treasury Department.
bdTTlUS the cTOWuI1S COlSC4uClIL OpOlA
the small quarters, it was an enjoyable
affair, and all Official Washington was
there, a great many army officers be
ing present. Two thousand tlck2.s
We're sold, admitting one gentleman anC
two ladies, and it was estimated that
there were five thousand persons pres
ent. The jam in the p~assageways and
on the staiFways was terrific. The ar
rangements for checking hats and
.J4al lie --aC CO 6Sf&ofiUn that mAnE
waited for hours, only to go away coat
less and hatless. Horace Greedy was
damned in for two hours. waiting for
the delivery of his white overcoat, and.
it is said, ''swore a good deal In the
oldest and most miscellaneous style"
The policy of erecting a temporary
structure was again resorte1 to when
President Grant returned to the White
A building $50 by $50 feet was
on Judiciary Square for the
and the interior was beaut1-
fully decorated, being lighted by $500
burners, from winch hung aprons OF
blue and gold. The woodwork
was entirely covered with decorative
material. The supper room, into which
there were twenty entrances, was pro-
fusely decorated, ell of the cooking be-
ing done in New York by a hef at Del
monico. The baking cost $4,000 n
dishes S., 200. But all the b and
was to little avail, because or !
the very cold weather, the ladies ap-
pearing in the warmest wraps and the
wearing hats and overcoats
on the ballroom floor Hot drinks
were in demand II dainties were neg
lected. An army of canary birds had
provided, but the sweet music
froze in their threats. In short the in
.ugural ball of 1873 was a fiasco.
NO TIME FOR FESTIVITIES.
When President Hayes was inaugu-
rated there was no ball, as there was
no time between the decision of the
commission and March i to
for one.
In 1881, when President Garfield was
Installed in the Executive chair, an IN
augural ball was given which surpass-
ed all those that had gone before in
of attendance. The National Mu-
scum building, then approaching coin-
was used, and the interior was
converted int a spacious ballroon1- -
statue of Liberty was erected
n the rotunda holding aloft an electric
light. Rows of gas jets ran from COL
INN to column. The President ana ex-
President were there with their fami-
les. Among those who escorted the
into the hall was General
Iorbin. The reception was given in the
hall, and opposite a band or
musicians was stationed in ne
The daccing music was fuF-
,ished by a band of one hundred pieces.
When President Cleveland, the first
Democrat to occupy the White House
since Buchanan, became h head or
he nation the Pension Office building
been completed, and was used Tor
he first time. A local paper the day
before the event said:
I'm years past there has always pee9
L difficulty in. finding a hall large
enough for the ball. The new PENSION
building. with its vast interior court,
owever. affords an ample hall, n it
8 probable that, the precedent hav!ng
,een established, that building will for
olympiads to come have the on
" of being the chosen place for mold
the inaugural balls" E~verytnln
vas arranged for the comfort of the
yuests. and in brilliancy the affair sur
passed all the others.
ttended.
It rained all day when President Ben
iamin Harrison came to Washington. but
The ball was q brilliant affair. AT night
T vas damp outside, but the arrange
nents were complete and once INSIDE
he d1sagreeabla features were forSo'-
en-. Twelve thousand people
9rN part Ol IiC JUN
so great was the crowd that little dane
took place. the affair being turned
into a general reception. The Presi-
dent entered the hall a little after y
o'clock and remained for two hours, A
stream of distinguished visit
ors being presented to him in the pri-
yate room reserved for the purpose. The
were allowed to remain
twenty-four hours after the ball. /
At the inaugural ban OF h secoi1 |
administration of Grover Cleveland the !
Pension building was more elaborate;E |
decorated than in 1889. The entce
was submerged In electric |
lights and on the ballroom floor twelve |
people assembled. Mr. n |
Cleveland, the latter being the |
guest of honor for the first time, We're |
met at $3.50 O'Clock by a committee AMI
to the place reserved for them
in the balcony, where they remained
a half hour.
MCKINIEY's FIRST INAUGU-
RATION.