Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-03-23

WN y, sanction the affair. Ana owing 10
TNAC)ll pressure of official business" there
|" / will be no inaugural ball this year of
INN III 1917. In other words American Of
II " II fcialdom is in no mood for gayety
The inaugural ball, says the Kansas
City Star in historical article Is not s'a'e
function financed by the Nation. as most OF the
Nation believes Undertaken ut first as well
come to the new president by Washington society
it has become of late years the business venture
Inv which Washington merchants recover the
money they spend to hang the capital with bunting
and hire bands and fireworks to make the Occ'l-
sion lively While the ball costs large sum OF
money the profit from the sale of tickets, priced
NOWADAYS at So is estimated at $2OOOO, and this
profit is distributed among the men who SUD-
scribed the funds to make the celebration sue
cess.
But the inaugural ball does cost the Nation
something, because 1t discOmmOdes whatever de-
partment of state lends its building for the fes-
tivities. Recent balls have been held in the pen
sion building, and vast deal Of trouble and ex-
pense has gone into the organization of their
gayety.
There has been balls the past, like that state
ly first ball that welcomed President Monroe,
notable for the brilliance of the asserlblages the
beauty and wit and fashion displayed, truly great
social occasions worthy OF the dignity OF the occo
sion they celebrate. And there have been balls
of which old timers I'm Washington still talk,
notable for the widespread Inconvenience they
have caused. For instance, there is the second
Lincoln Inauguration ball, when Horace Greeley
lost his hat and standing on the steps OF the
treasury building put curse on the city or WASH
ingtOn lurid enough to set fire to the snowdrifts
that bIanketed 1t then there is the ball that well
coined President Grant, held in vast pavilion
of muslin unheated, whose walls swayed to and
fro in an icy blast that froze dainty ears and finger
tips-yes and nOses-and put a damper on the
merrymaking not to be forgotten.
March A. 1909. the sort Of chill. damp, I'M
comfortable day Washington expects for the pres
idential Inauguration, but In this year the incon-
veniences of bad weather In the new little capitai
we're far worse than they could possibly be today
The sprawling ragged, unfinished city had no
pavements Roads were so deep In mud that many
a coach was mired 1t carried its load OF dis
tinguished persons to witness the inaugural. There
were few hotels and boarding houses, and these
were crowded to suffOcatiOn on the great day.
But the society Of the capital and nOtables from
far and near were determined to overcome all
handicaps Of weather, for this drear evening was
to mark the first presidential inaugural ball. An
organization Of young men, the "Washington
Dancing assembly" formed seven years before.
had the affair in charge and had secured the as
sembly room of Longs hotel on Capitol hill.
The -four hundred" in America originated with
this first presidential ball. Washington society
represented the best of the Nation. The influence
of the Southern families Of aristOcratic tradition
was strong There were few people OF wealth.
hut many Of culture; and society was gay without
ostentatiOn. The men of the dancing assembly
who drew up the list of those who would be asked
to buy tickets to the inaugural ball found that
four hundred would include all persons OF breed
ing and worth.
When George Washington and Thomas Jefferson
were inaugurated they were glad to go early 10
bed after the day of ceremonies but on this night
ex-President Jefferson, personally opposed 10 os-
tentation. appeared in the ballroom promptly at
seven o'clock the time Of its opening. lie came
smiling and happy glad to his friend succeed
him in the direction of the Nation, happy at nav
ing the burden off his shoulders, as he con-
fided to friend during the evening.
The orchestra played "Jefersons March as
the ex-president entered.
IAN 1 too earIy?" asked the great Democrat.
you must tell me how to behave, for 1t is more
than forty years since have been to ball.
Soon after the musicians played "Madisons
March," and the guests fOcked about the door to
greet the new president, a slight, short figure
of a man. whose gray hair was brushed smoothly
back from his high forehead and tied with black
ribbon His small hazel eyes were remarkable Tor
a humorous twinkle for Madison. in private life'
enjoyed good joke and sprghtly banter His
long pendulous nose came low over long upper
lip. His teeth were noticeaby white and even.
The new president plain black, with RULES
at the throat and wrists, with black smalls ana
silk stockings. There were big silver buckles on
his shoes.
But It was to Dolly Madison. formerly the fas
cinating Widow Todd Of Philadelphia, that all
eyes turned. The mistress of the Wmte
House was a center of attraction wherever she
went without great beauty of face or Inquire, she
had manner which won friends instantly. HeI
ready tact her good humor, her vivacity made her
easily a social leader and the best-rememberec
and beloved of the many first ladies'
Mrs Madison wore pale buff velvet made very
plain, with a long train and no trimmings. Hei
head was surmounted by turban from faris Oh
male buff velvet and white satin
When Americas first -four hundred danced al
the Madison ball the air of the assembly room be
came very close and the guests finding they coulo
not lower the window sashes broke the glass fol
ventilation That is the only recorded inconven
ience aside from the universal inconvenience