The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-03-23
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the Jesuit College at Georgetown ap-
peared in uniform carrying banners.
Three inaugural balls were held, the
President visiting each Of them for q
time. While at the ball at the Assem-
bly, Rooms the President danced with
Mrs. Gales. wife of the editor of the
National Intelligence President Har-
rison lived but one month, and Vice
President John Tyler then became
President.
A cold. rainy inaugural day fell to
the lot of James Is. Polk in 1845.
Although the city was crowded with
people the ceremonies attending the
Inauguration were dismal and many
people were made i'll by the Indictment
weather. The two inaugural balls
were the real shows of the Inaugural
tion-the one at Carusi's being at
tended by society. Mrs. Polk was a
strict Presbyterian and was opposed
to dancing. She. however. went to
the ball and her plain clothing and
stiff manner formed striking con-
trast to the other guests. The ball
held at the National Theatre seemed
to have turned into what In the pres
ent day would be termed a rough
house" There was wild scramble
for supper and in the melee many of
the ladies had their gowns ruined.
When the guests began to leave 1t
was discovered that coats, hats and
canes had been stolen and Commo-
dore Elliott had his pocket picked of
a wallet which contained several val
liable relics.
There was no particular excitement
or incident owe. the Inauguration of
Zachary Taylor, which occurred on
March 9Th. 1849. except that there
must have been unusual friction in
the Inaugural Committee for three
balls were held. President Taylor
died in office and Willard Fillmore
filled out the unexpired term. He
was succeeded by Franklin Pierce on
March 4th. 1853. The weather was
cold and light snow had fallen.
Washington had between seventy and
eighty thousand visitors and there
was much discussion among them as
to whether 1t wouil not be wise to
change the date of Inauguration Day,
but up to the present this change of
date has ended as 1t did at that time
i'm talk.
IISSiucnI JdHucS LOOK
the oath Of office on March 4th, 1857.
His arrival in the city the day before
was signal for the beginning of
festivities and throng of people met
him at re old Baltimore & Ohio
depot. There was nothing out Of the
ordinary in the inaugural ceremonies
except that among those present was
George Washington Park Gusts, the
grandson Of Mrs. George Washington,
he having attended the Inauguration
of each President ON Washington to
Buchanan. There was the usual pa
rade and public reception afterward
Tickets for the inaugural ball were in
such demand that no building could
be found which would be large
enough to accommodate the crowd
so temporary structure was erected
for the purpose. The newspapers of
the day made special comments on
the elaborate decorations Of the ball
room and gave glowing accounts of
the ceiling which was covered with
white cloth and dotted with golden
stars. Towards the close of Buc-
hanan's administration signs of q civil
war became evident and sectional
feeling was intense, consequently
when Abraham Lincoln came to be
Chief Executive In 1861 there were
grave fears for the incoming Presi-
dents life. A plot to assassinate him
while he was on his way from Spring.
Held to Washington had been I'M