New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-19
Dance IS SET
FOR March 4
Not an Inaugural Ball However
Washington Responds

Washington. Jan. 10. R-The
national capitals society is agog
over the prospects Of a big dance
on the night of Inauguration on
March I. The affair. however, will
not be an inaugural ball, as Pres
ident-Elect Hoover has ruled
against such an official event as q
part Of the program of his induc-
ton into office. 1t will be a dance
for the benefit OF Washington
charities.
kilograms and letters already are
pouring in by the hundreds order
ing tickets for the dance. 1t is we'll
understood that the new president
and the new first lady of the land
will not attend that night. but since
the new Vice President Curtis, and
his sister. Mrs. Edward Everett
Gam, and his daughters and sons
in-law and his son. Harry Curtis
and his pretty young wife will be
there, the event will be worth while.
The passing OF the inaugural ball
with its old time triumphal parade
around the ball room OF the new
president and the first lady of the
land. and the presidents cabinet.
with some times the outgoing pres
ident and his lady also attending, is
after all but little mourned in the
capital. 1t is realized that balls like
all other forms of entertainment
and recreation must change with
the progress of life. and just so
there is some splendid form of d.
version with which to close the
days varied and brilliant program
at the capitol and in the streets, it
does not matter.
So the inaugural committee has
elected to recognize a magnificent
charity ball, the profits from which
will 60 to Washington charity, 1t
being specified that the police and
firemar's funds each would receive
$4,000. Plans for the ball which is
to be held in the Washington audi
torium the night of March 4, have
been placed in the hands of Mrs.
John Allan Dougherty Of Washing
ton as chairman.
1t was Mrs. Dougherty. who.
when President Harding refused to
sanction an inaugural ball as a fin
ish to his inaugural day. hastily
completed plans for. a child welfare
ball to be held at the Willard no.
tel. While President and Mrs. Hard
ing did not attend. Vice President
and Mrs. Coolidge did. and SO did
several thousand other notables
who were in the capital. The pro-
ceeds reached nearly the 100000
mark. This SO encouraged Mrs.
Dougherty that she planned and
carried to success another semi.
inaugural dance upon the induction
Of the Coolidge administration.
again a ball minus a president and
first lady as guests. and this time
the result was a fund of about
$4,000.
Vice President and Mrs. Dawes
attended the ball four years ago as
did the governors of the states who
came to attend the inaugural cere-
monies. and many other officials
and dignitaries, diplomats going be-
cause it was big parade and they
wanted to see how 1t was done.
While 1t is known that Mrs
Hoover will order her costume to be
worn to the capitol on March
when her husband will take the
oath of office as president. and has
devoted much more time than usu-
al to replenishing her wardrobe be-
fore going South, she is exceeding
1y reticent, about all personal af-
fairs. She and Mrs. Coolidge have
visited many times within a week,
and the incoming first lady of the
land has profted by the experience
of her predecessor.
Mrs. Coolidge went shopping on