The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-03-18
THE INAUGURATION BALL.
How it was Held in The NeT
Pension Building.
Details Of the Decorations and tbs.
Festivities

Festivities
The ball which i~naugurated President
CIeveland's entrance into the White House
WINS held in the immense now Pension build
ing in Washington.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PENSION BUILDING.
The building is a great structure, two New
York blocks long and more than one block
wide, and Is the largest that has ever been
used for such a purpose. An immense no
man palace, with its walls surrounding an In
terror courtyard and all its apartments d;
rectly communicating with the outside air
and light, is the main idea Of the plan OF the
building. There are no halls in the build
ing.
Two tiers Of galleries run around the court
by which access is gained to the ooms, ano
thes, galleries, with their Ionic and Dor1c
columns. add to the effect Of the hall In
each front of the building there is a brick
staircase, which leads into a landing on each
story, and thence to tho galleries looking into
the interior hall, all the rooms having en-
frances from the galleries. As the rooms oc-
cupy the entire width Of each side OF tne
building they are open to the light n air on
both sides instead Of on one side.
DECORATIONS OF THE BALL ROOM
Inside the contrast with the unturnished
exterior was all the brighter. The great hau
was brilliant with the CLEAN Of electricity
that flashed back again from ten thousand
plittering points and was caught up and
turned away again and again Dy 1asnI ~
The Presidents gallery and looking down the
long floor, alive with eyerchanging kaleido
scopic pictures, growing mailer and smaller
toward the far away end, one saw nothing
of walls and no hint was given that there
was any limit to the size OF tne
ballroom, Rich, warm-colored tapestries
and hangings completely hid the Waiis,
and ferns and palm trees formed cooi-look.s
ing arbors and picturesque retreats. AI9uno
the ballroom ran a gallery almost hidden
beneath a wealth Of soft maroon velvet and
satin bunting and down the room ran
rows of soft gray stone pillars Altogether,
Int for the lavish decorations, the moving
pageant. the sounds Of music, the gleam OF
lights and the gay laughter, the ball, with is
simple columns and high-arched ROOF, mlgns
have been taken for some old cathedral.
At the Presidents end OF the room was an
Immense plate-glass mirror 16 feet high and
10 feet wide. It had o beveled edge three
inches wide and O frame composed OF 6O0
separate pieces Of cutglass. This mirror was
at the Centennial and Paris exposition, and
Is valued at $500. Beautiful stands OF
flowers were at its base. From the arcneo
roof streamers of national colors reached
down in graceful sweeps, and these again
shields Of different coats-of-arms. Flowers,
plants, ferns and palms we're
! At each Of the four corners Of the halla great
nyramid of tropical plants rose high above
tbe gallery, and the eight great columns
which almost divided the hall were complete
" hidden by wreaths Of cedar and smlia1i
twined in serpentine curves with sprays OF
cactus and ~fan-shaped palms peepmg OUT Do
tween.
Opposite the big mirror O beautiful Jap
anese canopy Of flowers, twelve feet high,
formed a luxurious retreat, surrounded by
GREAT horseshoe. There the Presidents chair,
a rest of roses, the prettiest floral design In
the hall, was placed. Beside the lavish dec
~orations which made parts Of che ballroom
real conservatories. There were seven large
set pieces representing the different executive
/ QeDdIIUu6uS u Il 6oNSA@
eight feet in diameter.
ARRIVAL OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY. I:
At II o'clock President C~leveland's coach
ratified up to the private entrance followed
ten minutes later by the carriages OF wee
President Hendricks and 'e1-President Ar
thur. The band began the familiar see the
Conouering Hero Comes" and with one
accord the promenading couples driI1ea 70
- A.. u c&root apfro p0Q With hlg 4.8C9r.s
Ms. Hoyt, on his arm, the President went at
room and waited there for the
Vice-President and Mr.. Arthur, but
be did not escape recognition, and q round OF
applause went up to which he bowed nus
thanks. The Presidents sisters, Mrs. hoyS
and Miss Cleveland, and his nieees the Misses
Hastings, waited, while escorted BY. Senator
PendIeton and Richard Msrrick, Mr.. Cleve-
land made the tour Of the ballroom, applause
following him as he walked the length OF the
room. bowling to the few persons whom ne
NEW of the four or five thousand who had
gathered there in his honor. Having made
tfhe circit Of the room he returned
to his " department and for half an hour
with the ladies OF his party and Mr.: and Mr..
Hendricks he stood receiving. Miss. Cleye,
land wore an evening dress Of white corded
SILK. with skirt en- traine, and neck heart
shaped at front and back. The new mistress
Of The White House has blonde brown hair
cut short, and worn in becoming crimps, q
fair complexion, and a quick and not un-
graceful movement She Is selt-possessed,
Without being self-assertive. Mrs; Hoyt
Mr. and Mrs. Bacon and the Rev. A. N. Cleve-
innd and wife followed, the first two
ladies being also sisters of the President, and
wearing tasteful evening dresses OF pink SATIN
and of smoke-colored velvet, with front OF
the same shade, brocaded on white. The
, Misses Hastings, nieces Of the President, anG
a con of his ministerial brother, completed
! the family party. Mr.. and Mrs. Daniel Man:
!. ming, the latter wearing her bridal oress Q!
rich white satin, with exquisite lace, ano
? Colonel Lamont, with his wife, accompanies
the President. :
, THE BALL OPENED.
Shortly before midnight the President and
bic marty withdrew, and the ball was for
mally opened and tho dancing began.
3 The arrangements for the comfort or the
> o,Iests were perfect. Most of the carriages
, drew up at the F street entrance. Mltnln
0 the building the first room on the IisnG wG y
D devoted to ladies, and connected wiIn 10
I was a foyer for their escorts. Upward OF Q
I hundred uniformed colored attendants re-
. . ceiyed the ladies' %wrappings ana tne
eentlemen's cloak rooms OH the opposite size
we're equally we'll attended. The reception
committee had rooms adjoining the fresl.
d dents, and next to them the dip!omatic coIps
) received their friends in lav!sh!y dccoratso
apartments. The supper rooms were at inc
), upper end Of the hall, and the banquet was
served by the Murray I'LL hotel, OF M"
York. The following was tho mena:
e, Hot dishes.
Flaw hrotb. ConSommc.
Cold dishes.
Turkey, ham, beef, boned turkey, tongue, p!cAleo
oysters, pa'e dc foie-sris.
% r,,.,.n Lobster.
Ornamental dishes.
Salmon, a Ia Neptune
Striped Bass ali bcurre dc Montpelier.
Boned capon, Ia Murray Hill.
Bastion. y 10 Democrat.
Pate Of game, q II Rossini.
Pate do ~fole-gras, a Ia Regence.
% Beef tcnderioin en- Bellevue.
Boned pheasant with trnfles.
y Russian salad Qour %seasonsl.
Fountain de Iiberte.
Ices and Creams.
q Orange, lemon, pineapple, vanilla, chocolate.
Neapoitan.