Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-05
A SPLENDID FBHE.
The Inaugural Ball.
TWELVE THOUSAND PEOPLE PRESENT
A Grand Spectacle in the Pen
sion Court.
AN OVATION TO THE PRESIDENT
Scenes in the Great Ballroom.
How the Entertainment was Managed.
AN OVATION TO THE PRESIDENT
Scenes in the Great Ballroom
How the Entertainment was Managed.
INCIDENTS OF THE NIGHT.
Some Of The Guests and What They Wore.

Inere never was pail Ike IL before. Inc
ill-timed rain gave somewhat bedraggled
aspect to the parade of the day, but whatever
that lacked more than made up by the
brllliance OF the scene in the vast court of the
pension building last night. 1t was estimated
that at the height of the festivities tn ere were
fully $4,000 people in the hall. Crowds were
waiting to get admittance when the doors were
opened at o'clock. These were persons who
had not purchased tickets in advance, and who
wanted to be on hand so as TO make sure. From
the time the doors opened until midnight there
was steady stream of people. SO before 9
O'Clock there in the hall what might be
considered a most gratifying attendance at any
fete, but still the stream flowed III.
THE SCENE IN THE BALL.
Even the reserve of the well-bred man of the
world was astonished into an expression of
amazed delight or long drawn "Oh.'' as he
stood pulling on his gloves at the door of the
dressing room an, gazed upon the scene before
him, before passing out to be lost in the bril-
liant cOncourse. The decorations of the i'm
mense hall had been arranged with the best Of
taste and with perfect regard to the well pro-
portioned spaces of the court The majestic
colonnades were treated by the decorators in a
manner that did not destroy the effect of their
splendid proportions, but rather heightened it.
Touches of color here and there af-
orded delight TO the height. Rad
iating in every direction from the
center of each of the ranges, divided off by the
colonnades, were streaners of red, white and
blue. The lower sections of the huge
colonnades were covered with crimson plush.
while evergreens were wound in a great
ascending spiral around each column. All
Al
offered by the balconies were siezed upon
by the artists Flags, bunting, flowers and
ornamental devices of all kinds were used in
abundance. At the west end a large portrait
of President Harrison looked down upon the
throng, and at the opposite end there was
companion portrait of yice-President Morton.
Far up toward the lofty cell
ing were circle after circle of
incan descent lights that twinkled
like radiant stars and shed full and soft light
over the enchanting scene below. Then, with
| the immense throng, the beautiful women, the
sparkling jewels, the simmer of silk and the
sheen of satin, the gold lace, and scarlet or
blue, here and there, of some uniform, the
fascination of the moving figures in the dance
or promenade, the vast hall presented spec
tacle Of splendor almost unrivalled even in the
hSnlS VI lne must uONeTy Ol
poets.
THE GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS.
The committees in charge were extremely
gratifed at the way in which their carefully
laid plans worked When the immense attend
ance is considered the order maintained was
surprising. There were at times crushes at
some points, but nothing of a serious character
occurred. The arrangements for keeping the
carriages in order, for the cloak rooms and
for the other necessary appendages to
ball room of such magnitude were all COM
plete and there was little complaint The
management of so colossal an entertainment is
no small affair, but the work was divided off
with such care and judgment that every detail
received proper attention. The committeeman
therefore had good reason to feel
gratihed. They had the proud satisfac- !
ton of knowing that they have a new
and high standard by which to gauge all |
inaugural balls in the future.
A BALL WITHOUT WINE.
The ball was wineless. The only thing that
had even a slight suggestion about it of anti !
prohibition views was the Roman punch served !
with the supper. As result there was no scene |
of the character that sometimes mars enter |
tainments given on such scale, where the at |
tendance is not restricted. Quiet and solid en-
jOyment prevailed everywhere. There was no
wine to drink; nothing but water, and that be-
| came exceedingly scarce before the night had
| advanced far.
THE EVENTS OF THE NIGHT.
The chief event of the night was the arrival
OF the Presidential party and the reception
that followed. 1t was duriug the two hours
| that the President and the Vice-President we're
| there that the crush in the hall was greatest.
There were other receptions of an impromptu
| character held during the evening. Gen Sher-
man was surrounded constantly by crowds of
people anxious to shake his hane Gov.
Foraker, Gov. Beaver and other distinguished
guests Of the evening also received much at
tention. Hon. W. T. Cody, or Buffalo BILL"
was also the center OF an admiring throng.
| Frederick Douglass attracted attention wher-
ever he went, and to the strangers in the city
the presence of the Corean and Chinese lega-
tions in their native costumes added special
inteaest TO the occasion. The swsllow-tail rule
was not made to apply to these legations. 1t
was very generally observed however
Not only the number but the character of the
attendance at the ball was gratifying to the
committee. Many parties of persons distin-
| guished socially came from distant cities espe-
| cially to attend the fete. The unusual DISPLAY
| of rich costumes was also a notable feature of
the gathering.
| OUTSIDE SCENES.