The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-03-05
Not One OF Its Predecessors Eaualed
1t in Splendor and Mag
niflcence.
Lavish Decorations, Luxuriance
Of Rare Flowers, and Rich
and Splendid Gowns.
The Women Strive to Got Good Look a,
Lovely Mis-. .Cleveland-Some
OF tho Toilets.

the quadrennial tribute paid by politics to
society. There have been but two inter
missions in the series of inaugural balls to
commemorate the accession of newly
elected president since tho days of Madi-
son. and that covers period of eighty four
years, but none of them could compare in
splendor to the ball held tonight in the
great court of the pension building. The
scene was fairy-like. The scent of flowers.
the combined radiance of a myriad of cleo
trio globes, the dainty blending of green
and gold. and white sparkling fountains OF
tinted water, the perfect harmony OF musi-
cal Instruments. and what was to many the
most interesting feature OF all. toilets of
SURPRISING taste and magnifioence. all COM
b,ned to make spectacle that will be car
| ried for many years in the minds Of those
who witnessed it in its fullness.
The ball had been in progress some time
| before the presidential party arrived.
Many persons of distinction from all parts
of the country, senators. representatives,
prominent politicians. governors of states
officers of the army and navy. diplomats
from many lands. militia officers, all these
were there. and with tn ousands of ladies
formed throng that passed through the
| four great doorwRys of the building and
| made merry in the ball room. 1t is esti-
mated that 10000 people attended the affair,
| but only n small proportion Of these took
| part in the dance, as the throng was too
great to admit Of freedom. The ball
| opened with the grand inaugural march,
1.-The Great Republic" by the Fancholl
| band and orchestra, written for the occa-
! sion and dedicated to ClevaIand
In the committee rooms, prepared for the
| president and vice. president the same Law
ish manner of decorations and ndornment
that prevailed in the hall room was re-
peated with even more provision. Roses
predominated in the floral decorations,
great American Beauties. sweet scented
Magma Chartas and Uric Burners. In
every nook and corner were plants and cut
| flowers that could not be surpassed in lux
uriance and novelty of arrangements.
At twenty minutes to ten MIR. and MIS-.
Cleveland arrived, accompanied by
retnue of friends. Without retiring to the
private rooms the president and his wife
started on q tour of the ball room. The
president led the way on the arm of Gen.
schoGeld. while Mrs. Cleveland followed
nnder the escort of Justice Gray. of the
supreme court. Following them came Col.
and Mrs. Lamont, Mr.. and Mrs. Bissel
hoke Smith, J. Sterling Morton, MIR. and
Mrs. Glider. Mr.. and Mrs. Benedict. Miss
| Bendict and q number of others. As the
pnrty entered the Marine band. at signal,
started Hail to the Chief" and the IA
mlllar air was tho first intimation given
majority of the people present that the
guests of the evening hadsar rived.
| The immense crowd was necessarily so
| compact and interest in the Cleveland
party so great that there was little room left
for the promenade OF the guests of honor
Nha otapt ipta
Mrs. Cleveland. and hundreds of women
We'd with each other in getting to the front
of the line where they might catch good
glimpse of her face. A few minutes only
were consumed in making the circuit of
the room, and then Mr.. and Mrs. Cleveland
and party went up stairs to their private
| apartments and there received n large num-
ber of prominent persons. Score etary of
the Navy Herbert here joined the party
with Miss Herbert.
The vice presidential party arrived at 10
and u circuit of the hall was made in a sim
liar manner to the presidential patty Mr..
and Mrs. Stevenson with their son, daugh-
ters and friends who accompanied them to
Washington, then joined the president and
M q. Cleveland in their rooms.
The gown worn by Mrs. Cleveland was
made of heavy white satin. empire front
and tight-htting bnck, richly trimmed with
point lace and embroidered with crystal
beads The embroidery ran up in rays
about twel 70 inches f'om the bottom Of the
skirt. which was pointed in the back, en-
pire front, outlined with lace and crystal
embroidery. The sleeves were large puffs.
| made of satin dotted with beads, and had
stiff satin bows at the shoulders. heavy
fall of lace completed the corsaRe. Tho
gown was severe In style, but very rich and
graceful
Mrs. stevenson's gown was combina-
ton of cream and heliotrope, MORE an
tique and velvet, skirt aud corsage of cream
MORE. About the bottom of the skirt was
| a narrow arrangement of heliotrope velvet;
corsage, ducheass lace. outlined by garland
vio!ets; gloves and fan matched the velvet,
and she wore no jewels.
Miss Stevenson wore pink chiffon, ON
broidered in colors. over pink silk.
Miss Julia Stevenson, white bengaline.
with full puffed elbow sleeves, rainbow
| satin and pearl passementeriss.
Miss Letta Stevenson, yet school girl,
wore Josephine gown, turquoise blue.
faille and lace.
The cabinet ladies present were Mes.
danes Carl,sle, Lamont and Blssel and
Miss Herbert, daughter of the secretary of
tho navy. The wives of three sons of SEQ |
retary of Agriculture Morton were also
present.
Mrs. Gresham and Mrs. Hoke Smith are
not in the city. and Mrs. Olney, wife of
the alto rney general, did not feel equal to
the task.
old gold satin. back brocnde with terracotta |
strips, sleeves putfed velvet. match color in |
brocade strips; lace jobottod around the
bottom ond up the front caught with bows.
bodice OF velvet. trimmed with gold and
pearl fringe with fall OF lace.
Miss Leila Herbert, daughter of the SEQ
retarv OF the navy. wore a gown in the style
OF 1S30; material cream satin. The skirt
had no trnin and stood up stillly at the
bottom. where ii was ilounced highly with
lace arranged In pretty bertha fashion.
Pearl ornaments Were woIn.
Mrs. Bissell chose gown of pale yellow
brocaded satin, striped with pink and blue.
and finished with an abundance of rare old |
lace.
Tho material of Mrs. Car,islo's gown was
superb brocnde, in which pinkish-mnuye
ehates predomipnted. Tho train was very
long, the waist very elegantly trimmed with
point lace aud gold and ponrls; high
puted elbow sleeves of brocado; neck
finished with rich old lace, sixteen inches
wide. caught uron ono shoulder with
ostrich tips. Ono end waa hidden under a
velvet bow at the waist in front and then
carried down tho sido of tho skirt and
fastened with u large violet velvet bow,