Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-04
A GREAT BALL.
A Magnificent FgtG to End
TGdaT'S Ceremonies
IN THE PENSION HALL.
A View in Advance at The Bril-
liant Scene.
The Splendid Decorations OF the Stately Ball
Some of the Guests to Be Present.

An event Of absorbing interest to thousands
Is the great inaugural ball which will take
place this evening in the grand hall of the pen
sion building. Elaborate preparations have
been made 10 make this ball the most notable
affair OF the sort that has ever been held. The
ball room itself. a grand hall Of noble proper
tlons. has been decorated in a most lavish style.
all that the finest decorating skill of the
country could do has been utilized ana when
the brilliant company is gathered there, en-
bracIng as it will so many OF the notable men
and women OF the country, the scene will not
only be fascinating to the eye as a picture full
OF life and color. but the historic associations
will cause IL to be cherished in the memory
long after the flowers have faded and the lights
turned out on the second inaugural ball Of
Grover Cleveland III there was no other
feature about the ball except the brilliant
scenic effects, it would still be an event that is
well worth witnessing. 1t is safe to say that
there has never been ball room that exceeded
this one III artistic display. in lavish and pro-
fuse decoration and in wealth of coloring.
Every detail has been carefully planned so
that those who attend can enter the building
with ease and leave it without any OF the de-
lays which as a rule are incident 10 large pub
lie gatherings. How all this has been done is
fully described below.
The ball will begin at eight O. clock and two
tine bands will render. during the evening.
promenade and dance music President
Cleveland, Vice President Stevenson the MEM
bers Of the cabinet and the ladies in the par
ties Of ali those officials will attend the ball. be-
sides all the notable people Of the country
Scene of Fairy-Like Beauty.
veritabie fairyland the ball room will be
tonight, and Queen Titanis and her fairy train.
should perchance they visit it. might we'll de-
eide to tarry there The arts, science and
swee. old Mother Nature herself have been ill.,
voked TO lend their aid In Transforming the
plain. practical. workshop of a great govern
ment ONCE into an deliberately decorated and
6ower-bedecked interior. and the result is sue
cess beyond all expectation. To bring about
50 gratifying and SO grand an end a small
Army Of laboreas. mechanics, decorators, cleo
tricians and florists have for many days been
toiling late IN the night Miles OF wire have
been strung. many Thousand feet Of bunting
used countless numbers OF flags and banners
draped and hung and inuumerable plants and
flowers arranged.
HALL OF NOBLE PROPORTIONS.
The great hall or court Of the building is $50
feet in length and 100 feet wide II is covered
by . roof the apex Of which is $50 feet from
the floor. Eight massive pillars, so feet in
height placed four abreast. so as 10 divide the
hall into three nearly equal lengths. support
the framework Of the roof and gige to the in
terror an appearance Of grandeur of dimension
rarely found Three galleries, two of them
twenty feet wide and the other about ten feet
wide, surround the court. The first gallery is
supported by handsome pillars OF polished
granite placed twenty feet apart. Between
each Of them is an arch From the first gal
lery pillars colored In imitation of highly
polished bronze rise as supports to the second
gallery, with the intervening spaces also
arched The third gallery is a balcony pro-
1ecting from the walls Of the building and in
closed by an ornamental iron railing Along
the railing Of the second gallery are large
ornamental vases standing Immediately over
the caps of the bronze pillars
CANOPY OF WHITE AND GOLD.
That which most detracts from the other
wise magnificent appearance Of the hall is the
iron roof, supported by innumerable beams
and brscers. To hide this was one Of the first
objects of those who decorated the ball room,
and il has been most happily and tastsfulIy
done by swinging from the roof . canopy OF
white aad gold Following the peaked shape o.
tAs roof. aud completely hiding IT, One canopy
il ,Rrsosfully caught Just above the upper
gallery. On the light IRON railing Of. this gal
iery facing the court are hung in festoops, IN
KNOTS and here and there il groups. not only
the Aanerican eol0rs. but also the flags of all
other nations. and thus adorned 10 the railing
- il follows the length and width of the i'm