Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1917-03-01

jAI
INN 1917. In other words. American Of
~ III ficladom Is in mood for gayety.
The inaugural ball, says the Kansas
City Star in a historical article, Is not state
function financed by the Nation, most of the
Nation believes. Undertaken Mt first as Il well
come to the new president by Washington society
1t has become of late years the business venture
by which Washington merchants recover the
money they spend to hang the capital with bunting
and hire bands and fireworks to make. the occa-
sion lively While the ball costs large sum of
money, the profit from the sale of tickets, priced
nowadays ut S., is estimated ut $4,000, and this
profit is distributed among the who SUBJ
scribed the funds to make the celebration q sue
cess.
But the inaugural ball does cost the Nation
| something, because it discomnloles whatever de-
purtment of state lends its building for the fes-
tivities. Recent balls have been held in the pen
sion building and a vast deal of trouble and
pense has gone into the organization of their
gayety.
There has been balls in the past, like that state
ly first ball that welcomed President Monroe
notable for the brilliance of the assemblages 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 the city of WASH
ington lurid enough to set fire to the snowdrfts
that blanketed it; 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 and finger
tips-yes and noses-and put a damper on the
merrymaking not to be forgotten
March 4, 1902 was the sort Of chill, DAMP UNI
comfortable day Washington expects for the pres
idental Inauguration, but in this year the incon-
veniences of bad weather In the new little capital
were far worse than they could possibly be today.
The sprawling ragged, unfinished city had
pavements Roads were deep in mud that many
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 n0tables 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
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 arstOcratic 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 to
bed after the day of ceremonies but this night
ex-President Jefferson, personally opposed to
tentation. appeared in the ballroom promptly at
seven O'Clock, the time Of its opening. He came
smiling and happy glad to his friend succeed
i'm in fho otioOn tho NOf{on hon of hov
| ing the burden off his own shoulders. as he
| ided to friend during the evening.
| The orchestra played "Jeffersons March"
| the ex-president entered.
| cam too early?" asked the great Democrat.
| you must tell me how to behave, for it is more
| than forty years since have been to a ball."
| Soon after the musicians played "A1adison's
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 small hazel eyes were remarkable for
| a humorous twinkle, for Madison, in private lfe
enjoyed good joke and sprghtly banter. His
| long, pentulous nose came low over long upper
lip. His teeth were noticeaby white and even.
The new president wore plain black. with rufles
at the throat and wrists. with black smals and
silk stockings There were big silver buckles on
| his shoes.
( But it was to Dolly Madison. formerly the fas-
J cnating Widow Todd of Philadelphia. that all
eyes turned The mistress of the White
House was center of attraction wherever she
went. Without great beauty of face or figure, she
had manner which won friends instantly Her
! ready tact. her good humor her vivacty, made her
easily social leader and the best-remembered
and beloved of the many FIRST ladies'"
Mrs. Madison wore pale buff velvet made very
plain, with long train and no trimmings. Her
head was surmounted by turban from Paris of
pale buff velvet and white satin
When Americas first "four hundred" danced at
the Madison ball the air Of the assembly room be-
came very close and the guests finding they could
not lower the window sashes broke the glass for
! ventilation. That IL the only recorded inconven-
| iaacs. asida from the universal iaconveniencss