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

these nOtableS experienced in getting TO WaShng-
ton, but the balls held in later years made n less
enviable record. Probably the ball held to cele-
brate the second Inauguration of President Lincoln
was one of the most notable for the universal dis
tress it caused
Mary Clemmer Ames. in her book Ten Years
in Washington" says Of this exciting carnival
1.-THE air throughout the entire building was
perforated with fine dust, ground until you felt
that you taking in with every breath
myriad homeopathic doses of NeSiccated grind
stone. The agOnes of that ball can never be writ
ten. There are mOrtals dead In their graves be-
cause of ii. There mOrtals who still curse,
and swear, and sigh at the thought Of it. There
diamonds, and pearls and precious garments
that naught to their owners because of it. 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
was impossible. Not half of them could read
numbers and those who could grew be-
wildered overpOwered. ill-tempered and imperti-
nent under the hosts that advanced upon them for
cloaks and hats.
picture it Six thousand people
camoring for their clothes! In the end they
all tumbled out 'promscuous' the floor. Then
came the siege! Few seized their own but many
thing to protect them from the pitiless morning.
whose wind came down like the bite of DEATH
Delicate women too sensitive to take the property
OF others, crOuched in corners and wept on win
dow lodges. 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 ady's SON.
tag.
"Poor Horace Greeley. after, expending his
wrath on 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 Gen
eral Chapman says he still receives letters de-
handing 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 BAH which welcomed Pres
ident Grant four years later. was held one re-
form was notable, a complete checking system for
wraps was devised but this occasion not a
guest parted with his wraps, They did not dare
for as ii was, noses and ears were frozen
The Grant inaugural ball cost 100000 and great
things were expected of it, pavilion $50 feet
long with a ballroom 300 by 100 feet, was built
in Judiciary square. This pavilion was made of
with pink and white muslin. 1.-THE mighty Amerl-
can eagle" to quote the official report, spread his
wings over the presidents platform and from his
piniOns spread streamers 100 feet long, caught
up on either side by coats Of arms. The presi-
dents reception platform was GO feet long and 30
feet wide. Twelve pasters supported alternate
gold figured red and blue stands. which held pots
of blooming flowers. Platform and steps were
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 blizzard and
cold wave so severe 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 fiimsy grandeur I'M
I'll the roof was swaybacked in one place and bal
looned 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 a short time
at the ball. arriving ut II O'Clock in the evening.
He and his brilliant suite of guests, man, of them
foreign diplomats and their brilliantly clad ladies'