The Raymer enterprise., 1917-03-01


INN = 1917. In other words American Of
I'M ii heialdom is In no mood for gayety.
The inaugural ball, says the Kansas
City Star in a historical article, Is not state
function. financed by the Nation, as most Of the
Nation believes. Undertaken at first well
come TO the new president by Washington society
II has become Of late years the business venture
by which Washington merchants recover the
money they spend TO hing the capital with bunting
and hire bands and fireworks TO make the occu-
sion lively. While the ball costs large sum of
money. the profit from the sale Of tickets, priced
nowadays ut 81. is estimated at $4,000 and this
profit II distributed among the men who sub
scribed the funds TO make the celebration a sue
cess
But the inaugural ball does cost the Nation
something, because 1t dlscommodes whatever de-
partment Of state lends it's building for the fes-
tlyties. Recent balls haye been held In the PEN
sion building, and vast deal of trouble and ex-
pehse has gone into the organization Of their
gayey
There has been balls In the past, like that state
y first bali that welcomed President Monroe
notable for the brilIiance OF the asserblages the
beauty and Wit and fashion displayed. truly great
social occasions worthy OF the dignity Of the occa
sion they celebrate. And there have been balls
of which old timers in> 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 Of Wash
ington lurld enough to set fire to the snowdrfts
that blanketed II /; then there is the ball that well
coined President Grant, held In vast pavilion
Of muslin. unheated whose walls swayed to and
fro in icy blast that froze dainty ears and finger
tlps-yes. and noses-and put damper on the
merrymaklng not to be forgotten
March T. 1900 was the sort of chill, damp, un-
comfortable day Washington expects for the pres
idential Inauguration, but In this year the ncon-
venences of bad weather In the new little capital
were far worse than they could possibly be today.
The sprawling, ragged unfinished city had no
payements. Roads were so deep In mud that many
n coach was mlred as It carried Its load of dis
tngulshed persons TO witness the inaugural. There
were few hotels and boarding houses and these
were crowded 10 sufocaton on the great day.
But the society of the capital and notabes from
far and near were determined to overcome all
handcaps 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
semhly 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 aristocratc tradition
was strong. There we're 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 cf those who would be asked
TO buy tickets to tht inaugural ball found that
four hundred would include a persons Of breed
Ing and worth.
When George Washington nnd Thomas jefferson
were inaugurnted they were glad to 20 early to
bed after the day Of ceremonies, but this night
exPreSihent jefferson. personally opposed TO os-
tentatlOn. appeared In the ballroom promptly at
seven o'clock. the time Of its opening. He came
smiling and hnppy. glad to see his friend succeed
him In the direction Of the Nation, happy at hav-
ing the burden of his own shoulders, as he CON
hded to friend during the evening
The orchestra played "Jeffersons March" as
the ex.presdent entered
"Am | too earyT asked the great Democrat.
you must tell me how to behave, for II Is more
than forty years since have been to n hall."
Soon after the musicians played "Mndisons
March" and the guests flocked about the door to
greet the new president, slight, short figure
Of man. whose gray hair was brushed smoothly
back from his high forehead and tied with black
ribbon His snail hazel eyes were remarkable for
n humorous twinkle for Madison, In private life,
enjoyed a good joke and sprightly banter. His
long pendulous nose came low over a long upper
lip. His teeth were notlceahly white and even.
The new president wore plain black with rutIies
at the throat and wrists. with black snalls and
silk stockings, There were big silver buckles on
his shoes.
But II was TO Dolly Madison. formerly the fas-
cinating Widow Todd Of Philadelphia. that all
eyes turned. The new mistress OF the White
House was center Of attraction wherever she
went without great beauty Of face or figure, she
had a manner which won friends Instantly. Her
ready tact her good humer, her yivacity. made her
easily social leader and the best.remembered
and beloved Of the many first ladies'"
Mrs. Madson wore pale buff velvet mnde very
plafn. with long train and no trimmings. Her
bead was surmounted by a turhan from Paris OF
male buff velvet and white satin
When Americas first -four hundred danced at
he Madison ball the air OF the assembly roon be-
came very close and the guests finding they could
mt lower the window sashes broke the glass for
ventilation. That IL the only recorded inconven-
-. .t,,a from the universal incOnveniences