Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-03-03
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Abandonment of Inaugural
Feature Breaks Precedent
IN VOGUE SINCE 1893
First Dancing Assembly Held in
Philadelphia.
UNDER AUSPICES OF CITIZENS
Ball in Honor of Madison Begins
Functions Here-Reception for
Jackson Is Reported an Orgy.

Functions Here-Reception for
Jackson Is Reported an Orgy.
The abandonment of the inaugural ball
this year marks the breaking of a prece-
dent that has existed since the second
Inauguration of President Washington
and that has been observed. With the
fewest possible exceptions, by every in
coming administration since that time.
The first inaugural ball was held in
Philadelphia. the invitations reading
The Philadelphia Dancing Assembly m
vites the members of the Senate ana
House of Representatives to hail IN
honor of the unanimous reelection OF
George Washington
The affair at which was danced the
minuet. Virginia reel and other stately
and formal dances of byGone PERIOD
was one of those courtly assemblies lor
which the then Capital city of the new
born nation was even at that time cele-
brated
The second inaugural ball also was held
in Philadelphia, the seat OF government
not yet having been removed to WASH
ington This affair was more IN the ma
ture Of a farewell reception and banquet
to President Washington than ball IN
honor of the incoming administration Oh
President Adams. The merchants OF
Philadelphia were the hosts, as the mer-
chants of Washington have since been
the hosts or sponsors for the quadrennlal
inaugural balls Of a later day. and the
broken meats from the feast were dls-
tributed the day following among the III
mates of the hospitals and prisons OF
Philadelphia. The banquet was followed
by dancing in which the younger gen
Grafton of that day participated
First Inaugural Ball Here.
The first inaugural ball in Washington
was held the night following the inaugu-
ration of President Madison. The ball
was given in the old Longs Hotel. and
contemporary history says the dancing
was over before midnight, when the Ia
dies were escorted by their squires to
waiting ca rriages, and their way home
was lighted by negro torchbearers, who
picked the way over the miserable streets
knee deep in March mud and slush.
The inauguration of President jackson
was followed by a public reception which,
according to those who wrote of 1t, was
as disgraceful an orgy as was ever wit
messed in the Presidents House. as the
executive mansion was then called. Huge
hogsheads of orange punch, strongly
Spiked with ardent spirits-Inostly ia
maica rum--stood about in the various
rooms and halls of the White House; the
eats" were provided on scale as ND
eral as the liquid refres hments, and the
White House was thrown open for every
body.
The result was a scramblng, bowling,
fighting mob Barrels of the strenuous
punch were overturned in the halls and
rooms and the carpets that then covered
the floors were soaked with liquor. Men
in muddy boots climbed over the uphol-
stored furniture and over each other
draperies were torn down. chairs and
other furniture were smashed into kin
ding wood and the rout had finally to be
elected from the premises. This, it is
needless to say, was the last puplic func-
ton of the kind ever given at the Execu-
tive Mansion by any President.
Jackson's second inauguration was fol
lowed by a grand ball at the old Central
Masonic Hall. which was attended by sew
eral thousand persons. and which set the
pace. UP to that time, for inaugural balls
in Washington.
First Big Inaugural Ball.
At Martin Van Buren's Inauguration
two balls were held, one Of them being at
what was then known as Carusi's saloon
The first really big inauguration recep-
ton and ball was that given the after
rison's installation into Office. The newly
inaugurated President held a public re-
ception at the White House in the after
noon, and later attended three Inaugural
ton balls given in his honor Tho crowd
that witnessed the parade preceding the
inauguration was estimated at 1900. and
the severe weather. It is stated was re-
sponsible for a number Of deaths among
those who took part. President Harrison
himself contracted cold from the ef-
fects of which he died within a few
weeks after the inauguration.
Three monster inauguration balls
marked the installation into office OF
President Polk. one Of the affairs being
military.
Few details are available of the festivi-
ties attending the inauguration Of Presi-
dent Pierce. but he accompanied his sue
cessor, Buchanan, to the bali given in the
latter's honor. This ball was held in a
temporary building erected in Judiciary
Square this being the first time such a
structure had been built for the purpose.
a temporary ballroom was built again
In judiciary Square for the dance the
evening following the first inauguration
or president Lincoln. but Lincoin's sec
ono inaugural bail was held in the model
room of the patent Office. The increase
In the size of the throngs that attend the
inaugural balls is shown by the fact that
the crowd at this ball was not hampered
by lack of space; while the huge main
lOlUIud OI the pension ONCE was none
too large for the crowds that attended
the inaugural ball the night of March 4,
1909
When Grant was first inaugurated the
ball was held in the north wing Of the
Treasury building-the Avenue side Of the
big building. But the ball following
Grants second inauguration was held in
a observation-disclosures structure again
built for the occasion in Judiciary Squa e.
This was the coolest Inauguration day
and night in history, and contemporary
reports Of the grand ball declare that the
music OF the full Marine Band was
drowned by the chorus of sneezes from
the jewellers. the greater number of whom
contracted severe colds in the huge. I'M
heated, barnlike structure, in which the
temperature was far below the freezing
point, and many wore their top coats in
the hall during the evening.
President Hayes omitted the inaugural
ball. holding a public reception at the
White House in it's stead
The ball at the inauguration Of Presi-
dent Garfield was held in the old Ma
tional Museum building, then uncom-
pleted
The first Inauguration Of President
Cleveland was on the warmest Inaugural
ton of record, and also set the highest
figure in point of attendance. up to that
time 1t was carefully estimated that
more than 100000 strangers came to
Washington for the inauguration Of the