The Washington herald., 1909-02-27
WASHINGTON CHAT.
Br THE sPECTATOR.

viii take plaes in the Pension Once, |
brings 10 mind the first one, that for
Grants second Inauguration, ever held 1
in that building, which was made mem |
orabIs by all the ills. misfortunes. and /
untoward Incidents that could be crowded |
together In one evening. The building /
was not yet finished, but immense prep
aratioDs had been made for the ball in
the court, which was temporarily fnclosed |
with light boards lined with muslin and
converted into an enormous ballroom 300 /
by i00 feet At one end Of II was ranged
the Presidents platform, supported by
twelve pilasters. surmounted by alternate
gold. red. and blue stands. on which were
pots Of blooming flowers. The platform
and stairs were richly carpeted. There
were festoons Of flags. banners, and
shields, nothing was left uRdOne 20 make
the scene a radiant and gay one, and
some one had conceived the idea Of
hanging thousands of canary birds in
cages from the ceiling, which were sup
posed 20 burst into simultaneous song At
the entrance OF the chief X was dec
GRATED as sumptuouslv as for a Sardanap-
elus feast. and resembled q scene II the
tropics when It was finished. but Boreas
came out OF his cave and fToze every
thing. He whlstied through those loosely
jointed boards. he tore the cambric
drapings. he froze the canary birds stiff,
and as for the supper, the hot dishes mem
toned on the menu we're frappe before
they were served. and the champagne was
solid fee No one whose memory goes
back so far viii ever forget that ball. for
many people met their death from the ex-
pOsure on that fTightfui night under those
frightfuI conditions, and for weeks after
ward the local doctors were OverwOrked.
and the hospitals we're filed with those
iEvaiided by that great social function.
That was the memorable. the historic
bsll-no such catastrophe has marred
those that have followed il.
The committee for the coming ball have
sought 10 overcome every obstacle that
I lies IN the way OF its complete success
I and 70 make It record-breaking occa-
sion. To this end they have studied ali
!the shortcomings and the objectionable
features OF the previous balls. and they
Iciaim 70 have found a solution for every
difficulty The Presidents box. however.
Tor platform. as II was formerly called. is
Ia different subject 10 deal with. and as
/ provocative OF criticism as is the Court
Circle. behind the receiving line IN the
Blue Room, which Is declared by many
lby nearly ali those. in fact. who are not
invited into its sacred p7eCincts-tO be
vulgar. prerentiOus. and unrepublican.
The Presidents box at an inaugural ball
brings out these same sdjectives- But al
such an affair there must be compari-
is0n in some matters, everybody cannot
be suited, and If the President IS 10 be
lin evidence at all. he should be separated
from the crowd al a point where he and
his entourage viii De accessible and on
lview. so that al the ball OF Thursday a
ibox viz be provided for the President as
usual. despite the cries Of "Aping roy
iaIty.' "Arist0cratic tendency" and ths
like
The three bodies in the inaugural pro
cession that VIII arouse most enthusiasm
VII be the West Point Cadets. the mid
shipmen from Annapolis, and the blue
jackets home from their long cruise. n
set Of young men more eHeetualIy appea
20 the sentiment. OF the country than IN
youths from West Point and Annapolis
/ They are so Young, so slender. With s
much muscle and grace. and they marcl
with such unison, in such good mihtar
style that II is no wonder the crowd
cheer. and shOu1with enthusiasm as the
j pass. but il IS the enlisted men, the blue
jackets who have encircled the work
I who viii be received with the most en
thusiasm on Thursday next There
hardly q weak body or a weak face IN a
, the hundreds Of different natioaslitie
b that 60 &c make Up the American navy
for all the strength that lies IN a man
developed BY the vigorous discipline [
: which he IS subjected on a long crUis
IN a battle ship. II is truly a survival q
the fttest. the pUny ones fall out earl
in the race, ana there IS no proUde- PEI
son in the world than an American ssilo
T. He feels his dignity. his responsibility
and he lives I'D 70 what is expected {
! him. Just now, OF course. those Of thel
/ who have made the long cruise aroun
the world are hOmesick. tired, d!
cOuraged. there viii be many deserti0n
and many VIII accept their discharg'
vgith the idea that they viii not re-enlis
I But as an officer said the other da,
they viii all come hack again. AT lea!
All OF those that have any good IN then
every mothers son OF them. for once
sailor always sailor which IS bOrI
( our by the testimony Of an old Gusrte
master. who replied, when asked If J
was not tired OF II all. Perhaps I a.
tired OF IL all to-day. but I would
7 homesick for Il tomorrow. for I has
sailed the sea all my life. and when
die hope my grave VIII be fl the bel
Of some big fish
Everybody knew that before Presider
Roosevelt went out OF Office his nav'
aid. Commander ". 5 Sins. would I
given fine billet, but no one was pr,
pared 10 see the Old traditions OF n
navy broken and this popular and con
petent officer appointed to a commar
greater than any man Of his rank ev,
before enjoyed. But on retiring II
President viii 90 down into history as
breaker OF traditions-one more or le.
wiH make but little difference-snd aft'
al Il is a fne trait 20 reward one
friends, and Commander Sims is frien
always 10 be counted upon His p
perience in Paris and at the Russia
court has made him peculiarly valuab
IN the social side Of President ROos,
velt's administration, and his knOwleds
and ssvOir faire have oiled the whee
Of the social machinery since he oecaH
attached to the White House staff. b