Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-03-01
FOR THE GRAND BALL.
Excellent Arrangements Made-The Dress
Coat Question

Coat Question.
WAsHIA GTON, February 2S.-There are
eight big Office rooms in the tall Atlantic
Building on F street where hundreds and
hundreds Of people come every day asking
questions. The headquarters of the In
auguration Committee is doing now the
liveliest business of any concern in Wash
ingtOn.
The preparations have been going on
since last November. Every day now
brings more defined and systematic line
of procedure out of programme that al
ways looks at first as if its meaning could
never he fathOmed The Inaugural Com
mittee is composed of thirty-twO members,
with Mr.. A. T. BrittOn at its head. This
committee controls the movements of vati-
GUS other committees whose members,
with their subordiuates, foot up work
ing army Of sixteen hundred. Most of
them have had hand in the work up TO
date, and if they have not the plan has
gone on inst the same.
Inasmuch as the proceeds of the ball al
ways over snd above cover the expenses of
tue entir Inauguration display it holds
very important part in the attention of the
committee. Preparations for it go blithely
on. The big ballroom resounds with the
hammeriog and pounding of innumersble
wOikmen. 1t has not at present very
fsuciful outlook. But its day and night
are coming. Carpenters are now engaged
IL constructing the mammoth Chinese pa
coda in the centre OF the hall, where the
Two bands are TO be stationed, one a story
higher than the other 1t is expected TO
be the grandest feature in the decoration
scheme. Underneath all the musicians
will be the grOtto, romantic nook to be
dressed with palms and flowers, surround
ing the fountain.
The pagoda will be open on all sides and
will not obstruct the promenade to any
great extent Gas filters are hauging ess
jets, arranged in great hoops aud squares
from the roof, and the electric light men
have just finished putting mp double line
of lights, suspended from the two galleries,
all around the hall. The pillars have re-
ceiyed fresh gliding and are resplendent
IL NAlNAA AIn NoAtos LnN AlfOl nNOA 10 w
inZ to be polished up for a dancing sur
face. It would cost $1,000 20 floor it
over, and the cOmmitte thought it unnec-
e e'sary for the amount of dancing that
could be done comfortably in such crowd
cd ballroom.
There has been, however, some lively
comment over the recently printed order
of the committee that no man not in even
ing dress will be admitted to the floor of
tine hail rCUm. Probable IN the estimated
assembiage Of ten thousand people there
will be three or four thousand men. A
fair proportion Of these men ara wearers Of
the uniform spiked tail coat ON ceremoni-
Gus occasions. But il is equally apparent
that thousand or two strauges who can
not ordinarily resist the attractions of the
ball do not come here provided with that
article Of full dress. Everybody admits
that it will cOnduce wonderfully to the
brillisncy Of the occasion il everybody else
makes il a point to turn out in their best
clothes
II this action of the committee is rigidly
adhered TO it will mark long step ahead
toward the ceremoniOus dignity that the
inauguration ball should have long ago at
tanned. 1t is going to create boom in
swallOwiails the like of which bas never
been known here. Baltimore tailOrs are
announcing that they cannot take any
further ders for Inauguration ball suits
aiter a oefsain date. The resources Of the
swnllowtail renting establishments will be
severely taxed The only approach 70 the
demand in Inauguration day histories is the
wet morning eight years ago when Garfield
was inaugurated and half Of Washington
found itself without rubber shoes. The
stores were completely cleaned out before
noon.
Up to date over two thousand ball
tickets have been sold. The big demand
for these interesting souvenirs never be-
gins until the last two or three days.
Last time all the uptown stores and hotels
closed out their tickets early in the day,
snd patrons of the ball who had put it
off till the last day were Obliged to buy
them at the ballroom. Some Of TIE tardy
ones did not get all the souvenir pro-
grammes and invitations that went with
the ticket, or, if they did, found it
tremendous nuisance taking csre Ct them
st the ball.
No return checks will 10 issued to par
ties leaving tine ball room, so frugal mind
Ell citizens who anticipated seeing the
pageant by dividing up s. worth among
two among two or three will please take
no.ice. There is no charge in the cloak
rooms, and the public are likewise re-
minded that these are the proper places to
leave hats, bOnness, wraps, canes and um-
brelas. Experience has shown that a fair
share of Inauguration ball guests are anx-
ions 20 carry all this sort of merchandise
around with them or else thsse regulations
..nnI rnI hnrn ham rnnda