The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-03-02

these notabes experienced in getting TO Washing
ton but the balls held In later years made less
enviable record. Probably the ball held to cele-
brate the second inauguration of President Lincoln
was of the most notable for the universal dis
tress 1t caused
Mary C1emmer Ames, in her book "Ten Years
in Washington" says Of this exciting carnival:
"The air throughout the entire building
perforated with fine dust, ground until you felt
that you were taking in with every breath n
myriad homeopathic doses of desiccated grind
stone. The agonies of that ball never be writ
ten There mortas dead in their graves be-
of It, There mortals who still curse
and swear, and sigh at the thought of 1t. There
are diamonds, and pearls and precious garments
that naught to their owners because of 1t. The
scenes in those cloak and hat rooms never
be forgotten by any who witnessed them. The
colored messengers. called from their posts in
the treasury to do duty In these rooms, received
hats and wraps with perfect facility, and tucked
them In loopholes as 1t happened.
But to give them back each to its owner, that
impossible. Not half of them could read
numbers and those who could grew be
wildered overpowered, iltempered and imperti-
nent under the hosts that advanced upon them for
cloaks and hats.
picture it. Six or more thousand people
clamoring for their clothes! In the end they were
all tumbled out 'promiscuous the floor. Then
came the siege! Few seized their own, but many
snatched other peoples garments anything some
thing, to protect them from the pitless morning,
Delicate women, too sensitive to take the property
of others, crouched In corners and wept on win
dow ledges, and there the daylight found them
Carriages also had fled out of the scourging blast,
and men and women who emerged from the mar
BILE halls, with very little to wear found that they
must foot It to their habitations. One gentle
man walked to Capitol hill nearly two miles, In
dancing pumps and bareheaded; another per-
formed the same exploit wrapped in Il ladys SON
tag.
Door off
wrath the stairs and cursing Washington anew
as place that should be Immediately blotted out
of the universe. strobe to his hotel hatless. The
next day and the next week were consumed by
people searching for their lost clothes. and Cen
eral Chapman says he still receives letters de-
manding articles lost at that Inauguration ball.
One would suppose that the lesson of the Lin
coin ball would have resulted in great reforms
when the Inauguration ball, which welcomed Pres
dcnt Grant, four years later was held. One re-
form notable, n complete checking system for
wraps was devised. but this occasion not n
guest parted with his wraps! They did not dare
for as 1t was, noses and ears we're frozen
The Grant inaugural ball cost 100000 and great
things were expected of it. A pavilion $50 feet
long with n ballroom 800 by 100 feet. was built
in judiciary square. This pavilion was made of
light boards, rooted with tar paper and sealed
with pink and white muslin. "The mighty Ameri-
can eagle to quote the official report spread his
wings over the presidents platform and from his
pinons spread streamers 100 feet long. caught
up either side by coats of arms. The presi-
dents reception platform was GO feet long and 30
feet wide. Twelve plasters supported alternate
gold figured, red and blue stands which held pots
of blooming flowers Platform and steps We're
richly carpeted and thousands of canary birds
were placed toward the ceiling to add their chorus
to the music. Tickets to this magnificent enter
tainment cost $50.
Then came Inaugural day with a blizzard and
cold wave so that marchers in the inau-
gural procession dropped by the way, overcome by
cold The north wind swooped down on the
muslin palace and ratified Its flimsy grandeur un.
til the roof was swaybacked In one place and bal
looped out in another, while the tar paper and
loose boards rose in the gusts and ratified down
far and wide.
President Grant recovered sufficiently from the
exposure of the Inauguration to spend short time
at the ball. arriving at II o'clock In the evening.
He and his brilliant suite of guests man.! Of then
foreign diplomats and their brilliantly clad ladies'