Evening star., 1909-03-04
Monroe's First Inaugural.

a select assembly than a popular ball.
The other was at MASKS Dancing Acad-
emy, on Capitol Hill. The weather was
unfavorable and had its effect on the
attendance.
John Quincy Adams inaugural ball
took place in 1875 at Carusfs assembly
rooms. at the northeast corner of llth
and streets. now the Lyceum Tneater
This was the Washington theater from
1904 to 1919. when it was burned. and
Gaetano Carusi in $50 rebui I 1t. ana
for years IL was used for amusement
purposes. and famous We're the schools
of music and dancing established there.
The friends of the President made eN-
tensive preparation for the bail in the
few weeks after the election IN 1ne
House. and it was more OF party bali
than it's predecessors, for many felt that
Jackson should have been elected. and.
the atmosphere being rife with charges
of bargain and sale. the fashionable en-
Cles seemed TO feel il. New 7rthelesS IL
was a fine ball. the first requiring haii
of that size.
In Honor of Jackson.
In 1899 the ball in honor of Gen. Jack
sons entree to the White House was given
at Carusis. This brought together a
crowd and the old hero was honored by
a brilliant assemblage. especially the
soldier element.
In 1S23 the ball was held at the Cen
trail Masonic Hall, southwest corner of
u street and John Marshall place. op-
posite the courthouse; a building yet
standing and few can realize that TINS
was sufficiently large for such ball
AS may be judged. il was crowded. but 1t
was a successful affair.
Carusi's assembly rooms were the
scene of Van Buren's inaugural ball. Sat
nrday March !. 1887: and il was high
. toned affair, $40 being the price for a
ticket Yet the floor was well tilied'
1t was designed to surpass former balls.
and this it did. the decorations being me
and the scene brilliant. for besides the
handsomely gowned ladies. the many uni
forms of the army and navy and the
court dresses of the diplomatic corps
shone brightly. When the President. ac-
companied by the ex-President, entered
the ballroom, he received an ovation
About midnight they left. and in the
early hours of Sunday the guests fol-
lowed
Three balls were given in honor of Gen.
Harrison in 1S41. The principal one. that
at the old American Theater. far sur
passed any of its predecessors. being sue
cessful socially and financially. over "
500 surplus being divided between the
two orphan asylums of the city. The
lions of the hour included Gems. Ma
comb. Scott. Worth. Jesup and others.
whose services in the war OF lSl2 and
the Indian wars had made Their names
familiar.
At. Carusi's. 11th and streets the
peoples Tippecanoe ball was given and
d, the President spent short time III re-
ceiving those who attended 1T.
Gen. Harrison was also escorieI 90 the
Masonic Hall. which was for the second
time the scene of a Presidents ball. 1t
being under native American auspices
Prices to Suit the Purse.
A ten-dollar and a two-doilar ball were
given in homer of President Polk. the first
at Carusis and the other at the National
Theater There was in the city an i'm
mense concourse, and both balls were well
patronized the size of ones pocketboek
determining which ball he would attend
II was stormy weather but this mad little
effect on the patronage. The theater
needed but little change TO transfer 1t TO
a ballroom. In the course OF a day
substantial floor was laid. while the deco
rations were put in place. 1t was an en-
Nvenins scene the uniforms of every
branch Of service and the varied dresses
OF miitianlen adding to its briillancy. Ii
was however, the ball at Carusis that
the notab es attended, and here were
many foreign ministers and distinguished
people. The theater was open for play
the night of March ;, and, taking fire.
was totally destroyed.
Gen. Taylor. in 1910, was honored by
three balls. for the crowd here was the
largest that Washington had ever before
contained. This had been anticipated, for
the campaign had been an exciting one.
during which in the dominant party
Rough and Ready clubs sprang up In
every portion CT the country. and the
name of Taylor was adopted by military.
fire. fraternal and other organizations,
To say nothing of new counties, towns
and streets. But the campaign having
closed, all were bent on hOnorng the
bluff old hero. The citizens. anticipating
a larger crowd than ever before. and no
hall being large enough erected large
frame structure west of the city hall or
courthouse and connected Herewith by
covered passages. Splendidly decorated
and with the use of rooms in the hall. the
arrangements for comfort and enjoy ment
We're well-nigh complete. This even was
overcrowded ard dancing to the music
of Gungfs Orchestra and promenading
TO the strains OF his band We're difficult.
1t was magnificent scene, fully two
thirds of the company being ladies. But
one court dress. and that Worn by the
wife of Count de Bodisco. was seen, all
other ladies being in ball costume. The
diplomatic corps was present in force.
and among the army and navy officers in
uniform were number whose names
were associated with the incidents of the
recent war with Mexico. The President
entered the room escorted by Mayor Sea
ton at 1920 o'clock.
Two other Taylor balls were given. one
at Carusfs and the other at Jackson Hall.
on Pennsylvania avenue between Sd and
short visits under escort.
No Dancing for Pierce.
In 1888, owing to the bereavement of
TIE President on account of the death of
his son a short time before. there was
no inaugural ball planned for Gen. Pierce.
in 1851 James Buchanan was given the
compliment of two balls, one in Judiciary
square in a large frame structure west Of
the City Hall building, and one at Ca
rusis, the latter by Philadelphia club
Mr.. Buchanan was minus wife, but his
niece. Miss Harriet Lane. became the
first lady of the land, and bore that part
in his first appearance at the ball. Rooms
in the City Hall furnished dressing and
waiting rooms and covered corridors led
10 the ballroom, which was fairyland for
the time being. Up to that date II was
the finest function given here, thousands
ranged was it that all moved smoothly
In 1851. Notwithstanding war seemed
certain, and the authorities, to insure the
inauguration of Mr.. Lincoln, had quarter
ed few hundred regular troops here,
an inaugural ball was projected in spite
of some opposition. For this the promo
tiers erected a large frame structure adj
joining the City Hall or courthouse in
judiciary square and very elaborately was
it decorated, the ambition being to sur
pass in effect all previous functions of the
kind. The attendance was quite large and
Tie character of the assemblage first class,
but the receipts fell short and the short
age came from private pockets. 1t vas,
however. looked on a social success.
though II was claimed the President ana
many of the leading men showed anxiety