The New York herald., 1869-03-05
THE INAUGURATION BALL.

Bufsulng-Au Immense crowd In Attend
ance-Dec0ruti0ns and Notices.
WASHINGTON March 4, 1859.
The procession is over the soldiers have separated
the civic societies have cast Off their regaa and the
vast crowds have left the avenue. Night has come
and great throng is moving in the vicinity Of the
Treasury building, where the inauguration ball is to
be. 1t is sharp, chilly night, the wind blowing
cold and strong; yet the crowd gathers and gathers
near the imposing looking Ionic structure where
the financial affairs OF the country administered.
Fifteenth street is In o JAM The railroad
cars are again running, carriage after carriage
1s rolling up and every moment group after group is
swelling the crowd Of people on the sidewalks. The
rear wing Of the Treasury is in blaze OF light
glory. Every window Is Illuminated brilliantly, and
from the street outside the curbstone spectators get
glimpse OF the splendor within the charmed walls,
where admission is only obtained by q certificate
worth ten dollars or deadhead ticket only pos
sessed by q highly favored friend Looking up from
Fifteenth street or from the avenue, on which the
new Treasury extension fronts ono beholds pic
turesque display of nags, trimmed In beautiful
folds about the halls and ceilings. Men and
women are fitting through the apartments like
fairy figures strains of music steal through the
closed windows and resound in the street, and the
altogether is one OF intense attraction to the
ing them from the delights within. On Pennsyl-
vania avenue the most attractive part of the
spectacle is supplied A brilliant calcium light,
sklully arranged about the centre OF the facade OF
the new building, pours q flood OF light-now
crimson now yellow and now pale as the beams OF
the lunar orb itself-down upon the broad street.
The new fountain is sending up its pretty stream high
into the air, and as the water breaks through
the air it changes Its coors with this changing light,
heghtening the Illusion that something OF fairy
scene is passing before the view; for one moment
the liquid stream shoots up pale yellow iood then
1t Is suddenly changed by turn Of the calcium
light to pure crimson. The crowd stands
ching and ahlng in admiration. There
Is an inscription in letters Of living light.
forming the talismanic word "Peace" run
ming across the portico Of the front. Now it
burns brilliantly, for there is lu In the wind. Now
1t ickers and almost dies out, for the wind blows
high. One letter goes out entirely, then another
and another until the whole word is extinguished
by inexorable Boreas. But there are hands and
torches ready TO set it ablaze again and they do it,
but only to see their work again bafled by the ee-
now burning brightly and now shut out In darkness
for moment.
The Guests Arriving.
While the spectators are looking and wondering at
all this the dancers are arriving by the score Car
rlages are drawing up at all the entrances and emp
tying their precious loads Of magnincently dressed
ladies ana gentlemen, attired In the height OF ball
room costumes The ladies shiver they drop out OF
their carriages and run along nimbly the side
walks to the doors OF the grand bathrooms. The gen.
tlemen hurry after them, and in goes score after
score to mingle with the hosts already assembled.
Description Of the Ball Rooms ana Decorn.
tions.
Before recounting the gayetcs and festivities Of
the reception and ball. 1t may be proceeding in pro-
per order to give o description OF the rooms and
halls OF the building. Entering at the eastern door,
on the basement floor, and elbowing way through
regiment Of sable attendants, oil In the highest
state or excitement and laden with dishes, baskets,
hampers, &C., we find ourselves in long corridor.
The long room on the right one OF the bali rooms.
The upper portion OF the walls are tasteuy festooned
with narrow strips of bunting, red, white and blue;
at each point where the bunting is looped is
pretty device wrought In evergreens. smooth
board floor has been laid and carefully prepared for
dancing by coating OF oil and wax at the eastern
end Of the room platform Is erected for tile musi-
Clans. esa,s.
Passing into the corridor again we find little
lower down and on the same side small room,
one side OF which has just been formed by tempo,
rary board partition This room is beautimiy de-
coraied with bunting. wreaths and festoons Of ever
greens, and bouquets OF natural flowers. table
has been placed In this room, and number OF chairs
have been provided. This Is the private supper
room OF the President and Vice President their
families and special friends. Adjoining this room,
still going westward, we come to very large
room extendiag under the whole northern portlco.
An unobstructed view OF the fun extent OF this
apartment cannot be obtained, owing to the fact
that 1t contains ten massive piers. each i've feet
square, which support the columns on the portico
above. The spaces between these piers are about
ten feot wide, and in these spaces are long tables
about thirty-sx feet in length. Benches are pro-
vided tor the ladies', tuis is one OF the supper
rooms. This room is also profusely ornamented with
evergreens and the perfume Of the cedar and spruce
s the air. on the opposite side Of the corridor Is
another very large room, also suppeproom. The
edibles and potabies are dealt out out here somc-
what In the restaurant style. A long counter cx.
tends across eacn end Of the room, and
throughout Its whole length, far enough from the
wall TO permit freedom In the movements OF the at
tendants, ana to allow very large space IN front
for accommodation OF the seekers after refreshments
The other small east Of this on same side
are monopolized by the familiars OF Mr.. Cray, the
caterer, who accomplished the herculean task OF
collecting enough provisions TO feed SO great
thronC.
Ascending the broad stone stairway, on the outer
side OF which wooden railing has been erected 10
prevent any persons from being pushed or IN the
eager rushing Of the crowd. we enter npon the rst
moor. This railing II covered with muslin and neatly
twined with Rariands OF everQreens.
Passing westward along the corridor we reach the
magnificent cash room. directly opposite the main
entrance 70 the north wing from Pennsylvania ave-
de deet ana ~ NV % e committee received the rses
ceremonies were over was used as the principal
ball room. Within the few days allowed the super-
vsiDg architect TO prepare this room for the night
OF the ball an astonishing amount OF work has been
done. The whole OF the lower portion Of the walls
reaching 70 the bronze balcony have been finished In
varegatcd marbles, laid on In panels OF bardigli0
separated BY white marble pilastcrs which are sur.
mounted with Corinthian capitals. The moor Is
smoothly laid and carefully waxcd Seats are
ranged along the sides Of the room for the accommo-
dation Of those who enjoy dancing only through tho
sense Of sight.
The upper portion Of the wallis above the balcony,
are finished In marble only on the south aide and
east end. The style is much the same as pclow the
balcony but the order OF architecture partakcs more
OF the composite. The north side and west end
walls are covered with white muslin. draped with