The Rugby gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Morgan Co., Tenn.) 1884-188?, 1885-03-14
The inaugural Ball.

President Polk was inaugurated In theater
on Pennsylvania avenue; General Grants
second, inaugural ball was held In temporary
Garfields was held in the Greek cross shaped
National Museum and it was reserved for
President Cleveland to open the noblest bafi'
room in all the country with his inaugural.
The court of the new Pension Building, when
finished, will hereafter be the scene of
all future inaugural balls. 1t was, however,
only by the exercise of the most indefatlga-
BILE energy and persevering attention on the
part Of the committee aud the decorators
that the fairy scene of tonight was evolved
from the uncompleted structure ard the
chaos of few short weeks ago. The interior
of the building consists of an extensive court
3l6 feet long by ZIG feet wide. surrounded by
two tiers of columns supporting galleries.
The plants modelled on the monasteries OF
Rome, only in this case the court is covered.
The temporary trussed roof rises from the
upper gallery on either side to point in the
center with pitch Of tTenfyesht fees and
space affords fine opportunity for the ar.
tistic decorator, and it was improved wish
gladstone effect. The roof was hung with
finest bunting in the shape Of half moons,
while from the collar beams flags were sus-
pended arranged In the form of open fans.
'rhrty-six gay, new pennants, seyenty-two
feet long, swung gracefully from the peak,
and were caught and secured at one end in
the gallery. Small flags Of various colors
rigging, and among, them al hung
grant flowers and long chains of
cedar and the smooth leaves of the tabled
divide the floor into three sections and CRATE
fully break the continuity Of the vast
stretch of floor, were covered with white
muslin and twined with wreaths of cedar.
riched with designs in which the
fasces and bands, emblems of unity
and strength, are conspicuously
used. These columns rise seventy-1ve feet
to the roof although not in any way support
ing 1t, and are twenty-five feet in circumfer-
ence. The Ionic pillars of the upper gallery
were surmounted by the coat-of-arms of the
various States richly emblazoned, and these
were duplicated around the hall. Beneath
these shields were satin banners, each stripe
of the finest ribbon and each star of en-.
broidered silver, and the columns were
draped with smilax and flowers.
Around the railing of the gallery was hung
drapery of the finest maroon silk velvet,
woven with gold thread in conventional
pattern. Under this, on white muslin back
ground, were traceries, outlined on wreaths
of smilax, and sprays of flowers. This was
met by the silk tapestries that were festooned
over the full center arches of the cloister be-
meath. The lower tier of the columns are Ro-
man Dorle, and they were garnished with
American shields four feet across, and sur
rounded by semi-circle OF six American
UdRS, Wltn pOlUltu spears, CoNcIluB
of ten feet The entrances of the supper, re-
ception and ante-rooms, which open out OF
the cloister were hung with rich silk damask,
and the walls were embelshed with the
stored arms and national ensigns of the
twenty-five countries holding friendly rela-
tons with the United States.
President Cleveland opened the ball with a
promenade. The President was escorted by
two members of the Reception Committee.
He bowed right and left, and shook hands
with those who reached ont TO him.
For half an hour after his arrival an infor-
NAL reception was held in the reception-room
set apart for President Cleveland by the COM
mittee and at one time the room was crowded
with many of this most distinguished men of
the Nation.
Miss Cleveland was escorted by members
of the Reception Committee and Senator
Eaton. Miss Cleveland wore an EXQUISITE
toilet of white silk, with low cOrsage and
! court train garniture Of point lace and mar
| row white ribbons in cascades.
Mr. Manning followed with Mrs. Hoyt.
Vice President and Mrs. Hendricks fol.
| lowed. Mrs. Hendricks wore peach-colored
velvet and brocaded court train, pompadour
corsage and diamonds
| Colonel and Mrs. Lamont. Mrs. Lamont,
white satin and brocade court train and
Medici collar, edged with pearls.
| Mrs. Hoyt, sister of the President, prime
| colored velvet, over-gray, brocade corsage, a
la pompadour, corsage bouquet and Jacque-
| minOt roses.
Inc German1a OfcneSlra, OF Ppllauelpnla,
with one hundred pieces, furnished the dance
music, and the Marine Band, led by Com
poser Soussa, provided the promenade mel.
ody. The resulting effect of multitude of
| efforts gave a scene OF marvellous
and consummate brilliancy; the fragrant
mosaic of the flowers pertaining
| all the air, flags thick as
| leaves i'm Vallambrosa, iuttering aloft, and
below inclosing the interior soft light from
| high swung golden presents mcllowed every
outline; the exquisite toilets and the dazzling
| beauty of the women, and the sterner com
| pellness of representative men from every
| portion of our great country, combined to
| make picturesque whole that will linger
| long in its beholders' memories.