The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-05-15
Centennial Inauguration Ball.

In the evening at o'clock the centennial
ball was given in the Metropolitan Opera
House.
The Mayor of the city of New York as
host and as Chairman of the Committee on
the Centennial Celebration of the 1naugu-
ration of George Washington as President OF
the United States, arrived at the Metro
politan Opera House at a quarter past 10
D. m, and at half past 10 received the
President of the United States and other dis
tinguished guests.
The President was brought to the ball by
the Chairman of the Committee on Enter.
tainment, accompanied by the Governor OF
the State Of New York and Mrs. Harrison,
the Vice President and Mrs. Morton, the
Lieutenant-Goverrora and Mrs. Jones.
The manager Of the ball, Mr.. E. c. Stanton,
met the President at his carriage and con-
Quoted him into the building, where the
formal reception by the Mayor took place.
The members of the Signal Corps and OF the
Second Battery were drawn up in line IN the
yestibule As Mr.. Stanton escorted the PreSl-
dent through the Broadway entrance eight
trumpets were blown.
After the reception the guests above named
were conducted to the floor in the following
order escorted by guard of honor:
The Mayor. The President. The Governor.
The Vice President and Mrs: Harrison.
line oDleuUeQtlHI-COFeTuOl dilu I'LL d .ooi WIZ
The President of the General COMMITTEE and
Mrs. Jones.
In front of the Presidents box the Chair
man of the Committee on Entertainment
was presented to the Chairman of the Exc
cutive Committee and the members OF the
Committee ON Entertainment and OF the
Committee on Plan and Scope.
After the presentation the opening quad
rifle was formed by the manager of the ball.
At midnight the President and his party
were escorted in the above order to the sup
per room, which order was observed on re-
turning.
The Metropolitan Opera House was magnifi-
Gently decorated. The banquet hall and ball
room were hung entirely in garnet and
cream color. sThe ceiling was covered with
cream-colored bunting crossed with strips OF
lowered cretonne, 5000 yards of bunting
and $500 yards Of cretonne having been
used The walls We're covered with 3OOO
yards of rich garnet plush. On the plush
covered walls were numerous decorations In
gilt, consisting of shields and trophies of the
coats Of arms Of all the States and Territories,
each shield surrounded by small American
flags.
The platform for the President and the
canopy were decorated entirely with silks,
satins, velvets plushes, laces and brass goods.
A handsome hand embroidered silk banner,
representing the Presidents flag, was placed
over the Presidents canopy.
Over the proscenium arch hung IN
enormous portrait of General Washington,
in the midst of gronp of American flags.
while red, white and blue streanlers radlated
from it in all directions with striking effect.
Scores of similar brilliant Streamers hung Ii
graceful festoons from the centre of the dome
over the auditorium.
The great ball room was thronged from an
early hour. Six thousand tickets had been
issued. Every box was filled by the repre-
sentatives of leading New York families and
their friends All the boxes were elaborately
decorated. Two orchestras Of fifty men each
played throughout the night.
All the ladies wore beautiful and expensive
dresses. Mrs Harrisons dress was Of the
richest gros grain, cut ell princesse. The
waist displayed an applique of magnificent
silver end pearl trimming and was filled up
to the neck with gauZe, held in place
by a band of ostrich feathers, from
which the fair face of the
Presidents wife seemed to rise. The trans
parent sleeves reached to the elbow and were
also bored with ostrich feather bands, which
likewise edged the skirt and disappeared be-