The National tribune., 1889-03-07
THE PRESIDENTS DEBUT.
He Appears at the Grand Inaugural Ball-A Living
Panorama of American Beauty. Galantry and
Fashion, Scene of UnriyalIed MagniiiGeRCe.

He Appears at the Grand Inaugural Ball-A Living
Panorama of American Beauty, GalIantry and
Fashion, Scene of UnrivalIed Magnifeence.
The grand climax of the Inauguration came
in the ng-antiCipated ball in the vast court of
the mammoth Pension Building in the even
ing. 1t was a scene never to be forgotten by
the 10000 people who witnessed its display and
participated in its inspiring pleasures.
While the night without was execrable,
within all was brilliancy, gaiety and comfort,
and by contrast the enjoyment of the occasion
was enhanced.
The court where it was held makes the lar
gest ballroom in the world. 1t is four stories
in hight, the ceiling resting upon eight vast
pillars rising from the ground to the glass roof
The interior was one artistic maze of bright
bunting. Streamers a hundred feet long
stretched away from the center of the roof in
dropping curves to the sides, and the pillars
were wrapped in broad bands of red, white and
blue. The balustTades were decorated with
the coats of arms of the respective States and
Territories and those of the various nations
of the earth. There was jungle of palms and
laurels everywhere, mingled with the colors
Hundreds of incandescenb electric lights cast a
glare over all that would have paled the sun.
Before s o'clock the crowds began to arrive
in steady streams, and for two hours kept flow
ing in.
The Presidents party came at 10 o'clock and
went to rooms on the balcony, where they were
met by the Inaugural Committee preparatory
to opening the ball with the grand march.
After a time they came down, headed by the
committee, and marched once around the floor
through living wall of spectators, while the
band played See, the Conquering Hero Comes" "
The President remained on the floor just %
minutes, and then took his place with Vice
President Morton on the first balcony on the
south side of the building, and for somewhat
less than 10 minutes gazed down on the brill
liant scene, while every face was turned upward
to greet him. He bowed continually, with an
occasional wave OF the hand, as he recognized
old friends on the floor.
The President did not dance, and, in fact,
there was no dancing by any one till after ne
left the building.
Mrs. Harrison was with her husband, as was
their daughter, Mrs. Mckee, and her husband
Mr.. Russell Harrison. his wife, and Mrs. Har-
risons father, DIR. Scott, who marched with the
party with light step, despite his SO years.
Mrs. Morton and their four daughters, were
with the Vice-President.
A conspicuous figure near the head of the
line was Gen. Sherman, while the commanding
form of Buffalo Bill" as the Hon. w. f. Cody
is called, elected a murmur of admiring ap-
plause.
1t would be impossible to enumerate the dis.
tinguished people there, as nearly every one
WelI kuoWH HI puDlic WAS PRESENT. eACePt bllS
members of Mr.. Cleveland's Cabinet, who took
occasion to express their appreciation OF the
situation by staying away in q body.
The company thinned out enough after the
President left to allow dancing, and the bal
opened in earnest. and continued until o'clock
Some idea of the magnitude of the crowd may
be had from the statement that in the supper
room there was consumed 5000 quarts of ice
cream, 1000 sandwiches, and something like
1000 prOunds of various kinds of salads anc
meats.
Altogether the affair was a memorable oc
easion, and win go down to future generation
as one of the famous social occasions of the
century.