The Washington herald., 1909-01-17
Brief Sketch of Social Event that Caused Su
Controversy in CONGRESS.

public officials and officers OF distinction
One IS tempted TO imagine the other ball
given in his honor and which the Presi-
dent did not attend must have been as
dreary as the play OF Hamlet with the
Dane left out
When Gen. ". II. Harrison was inau-
gurated. in ISH. three balls were held to
celebrate the occasion. And tie strenu-
Gus old soldier attended all three OF them.
One was held at CarUsi's. sfterward
Kernsns: one al Central Masonic Hall.
later the site OF the Globe printing Office.
in Pennsylvania avenue. and one at the
Assembly Rooms. in louisiana avenue
between Fifth and Sixth streets north
west At the latter place the general
danced with the charming Mrs. Gales
wife of Washiugton's foremost editor
The new President began his career so
actively that IL ended In thirty days
when he was buried from the White
House
In 1S45 jams x. Polk wss insugurated.
and two halls were held. one at the Ma
tional TheateT In Louisiana avenue. the
other at the eveT-pOpular Carusi's- The
price Of the tickets az the latter place
for the bail was SO. an enormous price
for those days. and Il is not mentioned
that Polk attended either.
President Zachary Taylor had his inau-
gUration marked by three balls. For the
first time judiciary Square was the scene
Of the entertainment i temporary build
ing. with the imposing name Of Grand
Salon, was erected there. The President
and Vice President Fillmore attended all
three balls.
Pierce was inaugurated IN Ig5s, bat no
ball was held-probably from sympathy
with the sorrow that clouded his whole
administration His only son had been
killed at his mothers side in a railroad
accident two months before and Mrs
Pierce was seriously Injured also IN
fact. she was "a perpetual invalid for
almost the whole term" in consequence.
James Buchanan took the oath Of Office
March !. Is57- TIE city did honor to the
occasion by a great bah. again in q
temporary building IN judiciary SQUARE.
near City Hall This han was decorated
lavishly with flags Ct all nations, and the
ceiling being covered with white cloth
studded with stars OF gold. i was con-
sideTed quite elegant in effect. Miss
Harriet Lane accompanied her uncle
President Buchanan. and the great Oc-
casiOn was long spoken Of by those who
enjoyed It.
When Lincoln was inaUgurated the
first tine the same site was used in
judiciary square. but Lincoln cid not at
. tend. and the ball was so little patrOaized
as 10 be almost failure: but four years
later. on the second Inauguration # Lin
coin the ban was OF the most blfilian
character The President and his lady
were present and the occasion was long
remembered as the beginning OF a new
era IN Washington entertainments This
second ball was held IN the model room
Of the Patent Of7ce the first occasion
when a government building was utilized
for a ball
When L s Grant was inaugursted. in
1853, the government again contributed
the use Of building-the north wing
Of the Treasury Department. President
and Mrs. Grant and Vice President Col
fax and lady and distinguished officers
Of the army and navy made the occasion
unique among balls in Washington. II
was probably the most interesting event
given up 10 that tine IN the history OF
tie country
But at the ball marking the second III
auguration OF Grant though the Presi-
dent was no less the popular hero than
before, the ball was a failure. It had
been planned on a scale Of the greatest
rnasnincence. IN a temporary Building
again on judiciary Square. but the wealth
eT was bitter cold. and the building Of
such fimsy material that the participants
suffered intensely and retired early. and
the tickets having been advanced 20 the
then uHhsard-of price Of SO The affair
was literally and fgurativeIy q frost"
When Rutherford 3. HAYES was in
augUrated. in 1877. no ball was held
When James A Garfield succeeded him
four years later, the ball was held in the
unfinished Museum building OF the Smith
sonian Institution This was A beautiful
ball, the arches and columns Of the build
ing seemed ready made TO tempt the deco
rator TO then unheard-of schemes OF arts
tic draping-
Garfield and his family attended late in
the evening, and from early TIL the close
OF the ball the building was crowded with
the largest concOurSe Of strangers Wash
ingtOR had seen since the war DAYS.
President Cleveland was the first one TO
be favored with a ball in the beautiful
and comfortable Pension Building. More
than 5000 persons attended the ball, and
half az many more wanted to get into the
gorgeously decorated hall. President
Cleveland and many foreign ministers and
the officers OF the United States service
added to the general glitter Of the assem-
bly,.
From 1885 to the present time the Pen
sion Office has been the only place used
for these recurring events. The balls have
been pretty much alike, except for the
decoration Of the hall, which IS more
beautiful each year. as the art of manipu-
lating the electric lights and the handling
Of the wonderful new flowers is better IN
derstOOd- But though these balls are
somewhat Of an old story to Washington
ians, they are enormously important to
our visitors. and live in the memory Of
those who take part IN them wien more
recent impressions have passed from the
mind; so II viii be a great pity Of this
Inauguration should be less interesting
than others OF the last quarter Of a cen
tury, by reason OF having no ball. even If
the ball. strictly speaking, ''has no part
in the official inaugural ceremonies
The Flight of Time.
from Puck
She was huttered with terror.