Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-03-04
FUNCTION FOR MADISON
WAS REPORTED BY ADAMS
"Crowd Excessive, Heat Oppressive and
Entertainment Bad Picture of
Distinguished Event.


of inaugural balls, with but
~ few breaks in the record, this
brilliant and bizarre close to a
day of wild excitement Is to hear its
funeral knell sounded.
Not since the Taft ball, March 4,
1909, which closed day of wild revelry
and wilder rivalry between man and
the elements, has there been such a
ball. and certainly If that event must
be the end to that phase of social
history nothing could be more brilliant
or fitting. Mrs. Taft herself has written
it into the annals of social life and it
was certainly not any disappointment
in that event that caused the cessation
of the festivity.
The plea that the hundreds OF
thousands of citizens and visitors to
the Capital wish such a finishing touch
to the installation of a President is
undoubted, but it is quite certain with
so many large and brilliant bathrooms
in hostelries at the command of the
committee, this desire can in measure
be gratified.
OF course, there is general feeling
that Vanity Fair needs must flaunt
itself in evening attire in the very face
of the new President and must also be
allowed to gaze upon him and his
family at close range after going to
the expense of coming from the four
corners of the United States to witness
the great panorama of the day.
Only a few Presidents have been
started on their social way in the
White House without an official inaugu-
raj ball, President Pierce being about
the first to attempt it. He and Mrs.
Pierce we're in deep mourning when he
assumed his Office March 4, 1853, a
son having been killed in a railway
accident before their very eyes. While
the ball was lacking, nothing else was
omitted in the inaugural program, even
the regulation downpour Of sleet and
snow.
However, so imbued with the idea
of a great festival in the form OF ball
have been inaugural committees OF the
past that not until President wilson
vetoed such a form OF entertainment
was one omitted. In neither OF the
Wilson administrations was there a
ball, and President and Mrs. Harding,
President and Mrs. Coolidge and Presi-
dent and Mrs. Hoover all declined 10
be thus officially honored.
If indeed the passing of the inaugural
ball is permanent, 1t takes from the
inaugural committee one of the most
popular and interesting phases OF the
DAVIS program and also one which ADDS
to its exchequer.
while some parts of inaugural ball
history read like flashes from Aladdins
Lamp, others are more grotesque and
amusing than anything ever produced
in Puck, and If one can forget the
cruel disappointment OF the committee
II said thew seldom did-then indeed 1t
is wen to close the history Of the institu-
ton and call 1t even.
Adequate History Missing.
The sentimental must look back as
upon fine old picture when vlslonng
that first reception held by President
Washington in New York and scarcely
less, brilliant event In Philadelphia.
Really not enough OF a written history
exists to give an adequate idea OF what
these finishing touches to the flrst
Presidents Inauguration were like. I'm
fortunately for Gen. Washington and
the public at large, the army OF snap
shot photographers was not even IN
embryo and only few sketch artists
were rampant.
However, of the first inaugural ball
in Washington, there is more that can
be said. It Is well that forceful, decided
women like Abigail Adams and Dolly
Madison first occupied the White House
and that the restrictions Of today were
not, thrown about them, else rare In
deed would be glimpse in written
story of that early period.
No less a famous reporter than John
Quincy Adams, without whose prolific
quill but little Of the first social life In
the White House would be known, gives
the record of the Madison inaugural
ball.
Went with the ladies to a ball at
Longs in honor of the new President"
writes Mr.. Adams. THE crowd was ex-
cessive, the heat oppressive and the en-
tertainment bad. Mr.. jefferson was
there. About midnight the ball broke
up"
Other reporters were extant in those
days, too, and there is a report that
says President and Mrs. Madison arrived
at Longs Hotel on Capitol Hill IN their
handsome coach drawn by four horses
and with a coachman and footman.
Certainly no reporter of today could
wish a greater flourish than that.
While still reiterating that the ball was
a mighty success, it is also acceded that
it was a great discomfort and disap-
pointment The ballroom, mere pigeon
hole when compared with the bathrooms
at either the Willard Hotel or the May
flower of today, was so crowded that the
guests could scarcely move about, much
less dance, and so hot and so lily venti-
lated that windowpanes were broken to
let in the air.
The band played the Jefferson
March with Thomas Jefferson's well
timed entrance, and when the President
and Mrs. Madison stepped into view
v,1axad fha tsNEolico March
Mrs Madison walked with one of the
managers. Her gown was of pale buff
velvet, perfectly plain, but with a very
long train. 1t was Lady Dolly's head
dress that caught the public eye. 1t
came from Paris, and was made Of the
same velvet as the gown, but with bands
Of white satin, and on it was the
plumage of two birds of paradise. Even
in those days, March 4, 1909. reporters
looked to the small accessories of toilet,
and they further record that she wore
earrings, necklace and bracelets Of
pearls. She likewise carried a fan and
q lace handkerchief.
President Madison, who walked into
Longs ballroom with Mrs. Cults, who
was not nearly so grand as her sister,
Mrs. Madison. was not overlooked by
the reporter, who says he wore black
with ruff1es at the hand and threat
His lsnee brooches were met by hand
some black silk stockings and silver
buckles adorned his shoes.
Diplomats Present.
The only diplomats present were Gen.
Turreau, the French Minister; David
M. Erskine, the British Minister, and
his American wife. who was Miss Cad
wallader of Philadelphia, and Peter
Petersen, the Danish Minister The
French Minister took Mrs Madison out
to supper and the British Minister took
out Mrs. Cults.
The table was in crescent shape, with
Mrs. Madison sitting at the center with
the French and English Ministers on
either side; Mrs. Cults on the right and
Mrs. Robert Smith, wife of the Secre-
tarv of the Navy on the left President