THE BALL AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The Capital had gathered there
Her beauty and her chivalry; and bright
The lamps shone o'er fair women and brave men;
A thousand hearts beat happily; and when
Music arose with its voluptuous swell,
Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again,
And all went merry as a marriage bell.
--BYRON.
December was within three days of its close, and the people of
Washington had chosen the night of the twenty-eighth for a grand ball
and reception to the naval officers, whose victories had made their
names historic.
Specially was Captain Stewart of the _Constellation_ to be honored.
A brilliant company was gathered, and the White House never looked more
lovely.
"Dolly" Madison was the mistress of the executive mansion, and we have
all heard our fathers say how beautiful she was, and how charming as an
entertainer.
Captain Hull of the victorious _Constitution_ was present, and to add
to the _éclat_ of the occasion the captured colors of the _Alert_ and
_Guerriere_ were draped on the wall.
Then there was a representation of the _Constitution_, rudely drawn,
'tis true, but it served the purpose.
Beneath it were the words:
"A bunch of pine boards, under a strip of striped bunting."
It wanted only a few minutes of midnight. The revelry was at its
height.
A more brilliant scene could not be imagined.
The elegant toilets of the ladies, the gorgeous uniforms of the
representatives of the army and navy, the bright court dresses of the
diplomatic corps, looked dazzlingly beautiful beneath the light of a
thousand wax candles held by multitudinous sconces.
An old-fashioned minuet was being danced, when a murmur passed through
the room.
How it originated no one could have told, but all seemed to know that
news of another victory had been brought.
The Secretary of the Navy left the room, and in a few minutes
re-entered, accompanied by two officers wearing lieutenants' uniforms.
Men clapped their hands, women waved their handkerchiefs, and the scene
was changed from one of terpsichorean pleasure to that of patriotic
delight.
Then one of the lieutenants handed a document to the Secretary of the
Navy, who read it in silence.
His face wore an expression of pleasure as he finished, and turning to
the people he said in a voice husky with patriotic emotion:
"I have the proud privilege of introducing Lieutenant Hamilton of
the good ship _United States_, who will tell you of an engagement on
Christmas Day whereby the English lost their warship _Macedonian_,
forty-nine guns."
If the cabinet officer had intended saying anything more, he was doomed
to disappointment, for the people's cheers drowned all utterance.
When silence had been obtained, the secretary led another lieutenant
forward.
"This, ladies and gentlemen, is Lieutenant Tempest, of the _Lively
Bee_, privateer. He has to tell of the sinking of his Britannic
majesty's ship _Monarch_, and the capture of the armed merchantman, the
_Caroline_."
Again the cheers resounded, and Tempest saw himself reflected in the
mirrors as the recipient of a glorious ovation.
But when it was known that the two heroes had brought with them the
colors of the captured vessels, the enthusiasm exceeded everything
imaginable.
Captains Hull and Stewart were commissioned by the President to bring
in the captured trophies.
When they re-entered the hall, Captain Hull and Lieutenant Hamilton
carried the flag taken from the _Macedonian_, while Captain Stewart and
Tempest performed the same act with the _Monarch's_ colors.
Amid the plaudits of the people the flags were laid before Mrs.
Madison, who allowed the young officers to kiss her hand.
The order was given to proceed to the banquet hall, and the people were
moving that way when Dolly Madison, catching sight of two boys waiting
outside, asked who they were.
"Jack Creamer of the _United States_, and Bob of the _Lively Bee_. It
was Bob, Mrs. Madison, who captured the colors of the _Monarch_----"
"Is that really true?"
The incident was told by Tempest, and when the guests had taken
their seats Mrs. Madison made room on her right hand for Bob, the
powder-monkey.
"The health of Commodore Decatur and the officers and crew of the
_United States_," proposed the toastmaster, and our friend Bob, who
thought the _Lively Bee_ should have taken precedence, added in a loud
voice:
"And don't forget the _Lively Bee_, privateer."