The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-05
THE INAUGURATION BALL,
A Magnificent Spectacle and a Most
Brilliant Assemblage.

Notwithstanding the fearful storm last night
it apparently had little or no effect on the at
tendance at the Inauguration ball. AS soon as
the doors were opened the guests began to
pour in who desired to occupy seats in the gal
leries. Before O'Clock every gallery seat was
taken, and many stood in the rear anxious to
get glimpse of the brilliant throng below.
When the dancing began every inch of space
on the floor was taken that would permit the
comfortable dancing of quadrille while the
settees, four deep, around the sides of the hall,
were all occupied. 1t will thus be seen that
the ball was most gratifying success.
Some of the distinguished guests arrived by
the noon train from Augusta yesterday, but
the O'Clock special brought Governor
Plaisted, members of the Legislature,
the military, and their ladies. They were met
at the station by Mayor Senter, Chairman
Hall and Mr.. Fl. S. Trickey of the committee
of arrangements, and Mr.. Charles McLaugh-
lin Elegant carriages were in waiting, fur
nished by Mr.. J. W. Robinson, and the party
taken to the Falmouth Hotel.
| AS early as 30 the carriages began to roll
up to City Hall, and by s o'clock it was with
difficulty hack or private establishment
could reach the curb, but luckily there was an
excellent police force in attendance and they
made progress as rapidly as possible under the
circumstances. Once inside the building and
the transformation was magical Out doors
| pouring rain, slush and driving gale of wind ;
| inside scene of beauty with the rich decora-
-. IL. IA. a A.
dresses and the warmth of balmy summers
day.
At 9p. m. the guests having assembled in
the Mayors Office, and been presented to the
members of the reception committee, marched
into the main hail. the corridors being throng-
ed with spectators who could not, or did not
care, to participate in the dance. Among
those present we noticed Governor Plaisted,
with Hons. Frederick Robbie, S. N. Campbell,
William Wilson and Roscoe L. Bowers of the
Council, Hon. Joseph A. Locke, president of
the Senate, Senators F. W. Hill of Exeter, L.
A. Emery of Ellsworth. j. w. Beatty of York,
Speaker Hutchinson of the House, .Adiutant
General Beal, Inspector General Lynch,
Surgeon General Hitchcock, Commissary
General f. D. Pullen, Col. E. G. Harrington,
Coils F. E. Strickland, j. E. Badger and Col.
Enoch Perkins of the Governors staff, Major
General Chamberlain, Capt. O'Donoghue of
his staff, Lieut.. Crawford U. S. A., Instructor
of Tactics at Bowdoin College, Senior Don
Enrique Ainz, Spanish Consul at this port
Mr.. William Ward, British Consul, Senior
Don de Ransault, Spanish Vice Consul, Col
J. Marshall Brown and staff, of the LIST Maine
Regiment, Lieuts. Chaytor and Doty with
Assistant Engineer Randall of the "Dallas."
Among the ladies were Miss Mabel Hill of
Exeter, Mrs. and Miss Beal, Miss Robbie, Mrs.
Wilson, Mrs. Campbell, Miss Bowers, Mrs.
Frank Pullen, Mrs. Hitchcock, MRS Enoch
Perkins, Mrs. Locke.
The guests as they marched into the hall
were received by the band with "Hail to the
Chief,' Mayor Senter heading the procession,
with the Governor and Miss Hill, followed by
General Chamberlain and Miss Beal. The hall
looked handsomer than ever in its beautiful
decorations
The hall presented magnificent appear
ance, and Mr.. Geo. w. Beals, manager of the
Boston Decorating Company, is to be congrat-
ulated on some very effective designs. The
rear of the stage was taken up with an arch
forty feet wide, reaching nearly to the ceiling,
surmounted by superb eagle. seven feet
high, surrounded with cluster of flags with
nickel spears. A rich, heavy curtain of lemon
colored cloth, bordered with light blue mate
rial and FURNISHED gold lace, formed a sort of
lambreguin over the heavy lemon-colored
drapery that formed the groundwork of the
ARCH which was bordered with red and light
blue while streamerS of red were festooned up-
der the lambrequins. In the centre of the lam
brequin was a laurel wreath surrounding the
Roman arms in Brilliant, and in the centre of
the arch magnificent rose brilliant, star
shaped, displaying all the prismatic colors, and
on either side of the arch were draped
with lemon curtains bordered with
light blue. The cornices were gold surmounted
by shields enclosed in laurel wreaths. The
last two windows were draped with American
flags over background of blue, trimmed with
red, apd surmounted by eagles. On either
side of the platform were Corinthian pillars,
each festooned with two large American en-
signs and surmounted by an eagle perched on
globe. The front of the stage was draped
and festooned with orang &C. cloth caught
up with large rosettes. The auditorium repre-
sented a large tent and the galleries were
draped in red, white and blue, with double
streamers overhead. The Goddess of Liberty
surrounded by clusters of flags adorned the
front of the rear gallery with blazing brilliants
on either side. The windows of the hall were
decorated with shields, banners and other de-
vices. In all five large brilliants added great
ly to heighten the effect of the decorations
The corridors and staircase were prettily
6raped.
On the very front of the stage was a beauti-
full fountain. Reception Hall was prettily de-
corated also. The windows were draped with
lemon, blue and red draperies, and shields, sur
rounded with flags, adorned the walls, while
streamers radiated from the centre of the CELL
ing.
Prior to the dancing Chambers Band gave a
most delightful concert of five numbers, after
which partners were taken for the first quad
rifle. Gov. Plaisted and Miss Hill, Genera
Beal and Miss Beal, Col. Badger and Miss
Plaisted-niece of the Governor-and Colonel
and Mrs. Perkins formed the leading SET Gen.
Chamberlain did not dance. After the fifth
dance an excellent supper was provided
by Robinson in Reception Hall, and one
table reserved for the Governor, Gen Cham
berlain and other distinguished guests was
handsomely decorated with flags. The tables
were waited on by many young misses in
pretty costumes who served most efficiently
The ladies were generally in black silks, al
though there were good many light silks
worn. Neither hats nor bonnets were seen on
the floor The gentlemen were generally in
full dress.
The success of the ball is due to Messrs. j.
81. Hall, A. F. Gerrish, H. S. Trickey, r. X.
Galley, W. P. Osborne, Sewall Lang, F. S.
waterhouse, G. FL. Libby, G. S. Staples and
L. G. Nelson. the committee of arrangements,
each and all of whom worked increasingly to
that end, and by whose efforts, everything
worked to charm.
Identified.
| Yesterday morning Mr.. NJ. M. Moulton of
| Scarboro' saw the notice of a dead body found,
in his morning paper, and thinking the de-