, 1889-03-05
IN THE BALL ROOM.
Thousands Glide Through the Dance
Amid n Scene of Floral Beauty.

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The great court of the pension building
is to night ablaze with light and color and
the seductive music of the great orches-
ira. Thousands glide through the move
ments OF the dance or stroll in the corrl-
doris and promenades, admirlng or CON
tributing to the marvellous beauty of the
scene.
On the west front OF the first gallery
hangs a large oil portrait of President
Harrison, and on the east front of Vice
President Morton, each being richly
framed in blue, purple and old gold silk
plush. The portraits with their frames
are fourteen by fifteen feet in size and are
tastefnlly draped, extending around the
entire circuit of the court. Under three
galleries aud over the heads of the prom
enaders are thick laurel garlands, fes-
TONED in gracefullness. Similar garlands
are looped and twined above rich capitals
of bronzed ionic pillars, forming with
arches a succession of eclipses Directly
over the west entrance TO the building
and high above the parapet of the first
gallery in glittering colored gas jets is
traced the word Constitution" and
higher still shines a single five pointed
star, its crystal setting rejecting a hun,
dred points OF light.
The fronts of the three galleries are
almost completely covered by rich drape-
ries. On the front of the lower gallery
and just above the capitals of the pillars
are hung broad shields upon which are
artistically painted in rich colors coats of
arms of the Union. Alternating with
these arc miniature sheets of steel and
gilt Roman armor. In a general way this
scheme is carried out in the decoration of
the fronts of the second and third gale
ries. On the front of the second gallery,
however, the suits of armor are full sized
and of FURNISHED silver plate, and on the
shields are represented the arms of all
nations of the globe, each trimmed with
a flag of the nation represented.
The richest and most striking features
of the decorations are long lines of silk
and satin geld embroidered banners.
These are six feet in length and are PEN
dant from gilt and silver ornamentcd
stufs attached at acute angles to $50 pill
lers supporting the first and second gal
laries. These are trimmed with deep
gold fringe and studded with Jewels.
Upon each of them is embroidered in
gold a co It of arms of one OF the lead
ing nations Of the globe, the American
colors alternating with those of other ma
tons. The decorations of eight immense
Corinthian columns are IN perfect har-
mony with their towering proportions.
Stretching across the east end of the
court is u pr At, his h, terraced conserva-
ton preserving n scene of a striking floral
beauty.
-Four years ago, when the frs, inaugu-
ration ball was held here, the unfinished
condition of the building rendered highly
effective decoration exceedingly difficult
and in some respects quite impossible, but
to. night the perfection of decorative art
seems to have been attained. The most
conspicuous feature of the interior scene
is a two story japanese pagoda about
twenty by thirty feet in size. In the
center of the court, built over and around
a fountain at the lower part of the page.
da, is a picturesque grotto of rocks, ferns
and flowers. On its second floors are sta.
toned hundreds of performers composing
the orchestra of Philadelphia, who play
the dance music. Above them, on the
third floor, the famous Marine band dis
courses music for promenade. The whole