Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-05

~"The President Of the United States, the
ex-President, and the Vice President. with
their families; most of the representation Of
foreign courts, and nearly all the members Of
the Senate and House Of Representatives who
still remain in the city; many officers Of the
Army and Navy, and visitors of distinction from
different parts Of the Union, and large num-
Der Of our citizens were present making an
assemblage OF nearly 1000 persons.
I'm the ball room, which was most taste
fully decorated, the dancing continued without
interruption until past the midnight hour
About 10 o'clock the supper tables IN the room
below were filled by as many of the company
as could be seated at once. At the head of the
center table the President took his seat under
canopy which had been prepared for him and
some of the distinguished guests; and it is but
justice to Mr.. Brown (the proprietor of Browns
HoteD to whose public spirit and taste we are
principally indebted for the arrangements to
say that neither expense nor exertion appear
to have been spared to render the supper supe-
rior to any which has ever been given in the
city"
This ball had the further distinction of being
the first public social event in Washington for
which the police made preparations in advance
to supervise the crowds and carriages attend
ant upon it, also the first ball at which the
Marine Band was present Carusi's was now
the fashionable social spot in the city and
there the assembly dances as we'll as other en-
tertainment INDUCED in by the city took place.
IACKSoNS beloved Rachel died three
- months before he took his seat in the pres
idential chair And out of respect for her
memory and his great love for her the rough
old warrior refrained from attending the cere-
monial ball in his honor, given on the evening
of his first Inauguration. The second inaugu-
raj balm '33-Jackson attended On his arm
was his adopted daughter, Emily Donaldson.
who presided over the White House for him and
whose children lghtened much of the "old
mans" burden during the four stormy and
trying years to come
There were two balls this year-one at Ca
rusi's and the other at the Masonic Hail. The
latter was under the auspices of Republican
citizens. John P. Van Ness, mayor of the city,
was of the managers OF the ball held at
Carusi's. Jackson attended the fete at CaruSi's,
Mrs. Donaldson. his niece, wearing gown the
gift of the President 1t was beautiful cos
tune of amber colored satin with clusters OF
rosebuds brocaded over it intermingled with
violets. The whole was trimmed with lace and
pearls. Today it reposes in the National
Museum.
Not since the Adams inaugural ball. - years
before was there ever such ball in Washing
ton as was that which ushered into the White
House Martin Van Buren,, Jackson's choice for
the presidency to succeed himself. The city
now was well on the high road to wealth, dig
nifty and importance, not only as a metropolis,
but as capital as well. Carlsis was still the
social center as 1t was to be for many years yet
to come. and the city "teemed" with writer's
who could do justice to social events, whether
local or national in character with something
of the nonchalance and pictorial ability of the
present-day pen
Quite "sumptuous affair" was this inaugural
ball of Van Burens AT $50 President Van
Buren, entered the room, attended by the heads
of the departments He took his stand on the
elevated platform and there received the de-
vOirs of the company" Jackson was not present
at the ball, but contemporary historians record
him as remaining a guest in the White House
for two weeks after the Inauguration. Health
and success to the incoming administration was
drunk in rivers Of champagne at this naugu-
ration.
Two inaugural balls we're held when Har-
r1son entered the White House. The old In
dian fighter attended the "T1ppecanoe ball."
going early and staying late say the chron-
iclers He danced with MIS- Gales wife OF
the now editor of the Intelligencer. The other
ball. much smarter and more crowded than the
Tippecanoe affair was held in the new as
semby rooms. These were located at Four
and-a-Haf and Sixth streets, being the old
American Theater remodeled. The Intelligencer
Of March S. 1871, records: Several ball rooms
and places of amusement were filled with
crowds of gentlemen and ladies attracted to
the city by the event (inauguration). In the
course of the evening the President and Lady
paid short visit to each of the assemblies held
IN nOnOr OF his inauguration ana was receiver
with the warmest demonstrations of attach
ment and respect" The "Tfppecanoe ball"
was criticized for extravaganza.
DOLK'S Inauguration saw three balls and
faux paux of magnificent proportions
the managers forgot to invite the foreign
diplomats! The oversight was quickly remedied
however, by the creation of another ball to
which they were invited. The diplomatic corps
graciously overlooked the slip and everything
went as merry as marriage bell"
The original ball at Carusis set the high
water mark of $40 per ticket. Never before had