St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-05
The INAUGURAL BALL,
None of the Former Ones
Could Compare With
This One.
EypiadS Of Electric Lights
Shed Their Rays on Beau
tiful Women.
Flowers and Growing Plants
Cover the Walls Of the
Immense Room.
Magnificent Costumes Worn
by Society Queens Of the
Land.

WASHINGTON, March 4.-By long Gus
tom, the inaugural ball has grown to be
almost as much a part of the ceremonies
of the inauguration day as the inaugural
address. 1t is the Quadrennial tribute
paid by politics to society. There have
been but two intermiSsionS in the series
of inaugural balls to commemorate the
accession Of a newlv-elected president
since the days OF Madison, that covers a
period of eighty-four years. The earlier
balls were held on sites then deemed
fashionable, but since given over TO vari-
ETY. theaterS or beer gardens. Martin Van
Buren, had two ballsEiven in his honor,
but the president and vice president
attended only one. William Henry Har-
nson's brief term was cOmmemOrated
by three inaugural balls, and he at
tended all and danced at one of these
with the wife of the editor of the Ma
tional Intelligencer. Polk had two i'll
augural balls. one at SO ticket and
one at 81. The last, as might be readily
supposed, was numerously attended
and very disorderly. Zachary Taylor,
who, like Harrison, died before his
term Of Office expired, had three balls
Given iii His Honor,
and attended each of them, accompanied
by the vice president. Pierce-"PCOr
Pierce, as his contemporaries became
accustomed 10 call him-wOund up his
Inauguration in a snow storm, and had
no bail given HIM. With Buchanan the
plan of making temporary provision so
as to concentrate all the visitors under
one roof began. The inaugural ball
was held in a temporary wooden struct-
ure, erected as an annex to what is now
the city hall. in Judiciary square.
Lincoln's Inauguration, in spite of
the overshadOwing cloud of impending
war. called for the construction of
similar wigwam on the same square, but
Lincoln himself, oppressed with the
sense of his coming responsibility, did
not attend. Grants first inauguration
was celebrated by a ball given in the
then uncompleted north wing of the
treasury building. Grant and Vice
President ColfaX were present accom-
panied by their wives, and among the
hOnored guests was Horace Greedy, who
four years later was nominated for the
presidency in opposition to Grants sec
ond term. The delayed decision of the
disputed title of President Hayes pre-
vented any ball from being given in his
honor. Garfeld's brief administration,
which opened so auspiciouSly and
Closed So TragicalIy.
was concentrated by ball held in the
uncOmpleted national museum, whose
vast proportions, with its arches, cor
riders and dOmes, gave facilities for
making the ball the most imposing of
all the kind ever witnessed in this
country. This ball was never equalled
until the majestic central hall of the
otherwise undressing pension build
ing, created by the late Gen. Meigs,
placed at the disposal of the national
authorities, ball room, the equal of
which it would be bard to find any
where. Whatever changes of admin
istratiOn may occur, it seems likely that
the pension building will be the
national ball room of the future. CleVe-
lands first Inauguration and Harrison's
election were each celebrated by most
successful balls held within this build
ing, but neither of them could compare
in SplendOr to the ball held there to-
night.
Much of the spectacular success Of
the affair was doubtless due to the mod
ern developments in the use of electric
ity, of which full advantage was taken.
The scene was fairylike. The scent OF
flowers, the combined radiance of myr-
lad electric globes, the dainty blending
of green and gold and white, sparkling
Fountains Of Tinted Water,
perfect harmony of musical instruments
and, what was to many the most inter
esting feature of all, toilets of Surpass-
ing taste and magnificence-all COM
bined to make spectacle that will be
carried for many years in the minds of
those who witnessed it in its fullnesS.
Fancy a chamber nearly 100 yards in
length, more than 40 yards in breadth
and 90 yards from floor to ceiling
- for such are the dimensions of
the great court OF the pension
Office building. where the ball was held.
Eighty feet from the floor of the frame