The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-03-10
THE INAUGURATION BALL
Fairv-like Scene in the Pension
Building.
And GORGEOUS DECORATIONS
Electric Lights in Many colored Globes, Flowers
Plants and Flages produced a
Radiant Scene.

Radiant Scene.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-By long custom the
inaugural bail has grown to be almost as much
A part Of the ceremonies OF the inaugural ton day
as the inaugural address 1t IS the inaugural
tribute oy politicians 10 society. There have
been but t-yo ipterIaissions in the series OF in
augural balls 10 commemorate the access .on OF
a newly elected president since the days OF
Madison, That covers period OF eighty-four
years.
Whatever changes OF ADMINISTRATION NAV &C.
cur. it seems likely that the pension building
will be the national ballroom of the future.
Cleveland's first Inauguration and Harrison
election were each attended by most successful
balls held within this building, but neither Of
them could compare in splcndor 10 the ball
held there Saturday night Much Of the spec
tacular splendor was doubtless due TO mod
ern dew lopments in the use of electricity, of
which full advantage was taken. The scene
was fairv-like The scent Of flowers, the com
bined radiance OF myriad electric globes, ne
dainty bending Of green and gold and white,
sparkling fountains of tinted water perfect
harmony Of musical ms truments and, what was
tomany tnt most interesting feature of all
toilets OF SURPRISING magnihcence-all com
biued TO make spectacle that will be carried
for many years in the minds of those who wit
messed it in its fullness.
Fancy a chamber Of nearly enc hundred
yards in length, more than forty yards in
breadth and more than fifty yards from floor 10
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
the framework OF the roof, supported by eight
pillars, massive in size, wrapped round
and round in artistic fashion, with bunt-
ing and ivy and smilax, and studded with
numerous electric lights III globes of
various colors. Three broad galleries range
on all sides of the spacious court, the first
feet or fro ba In fin
ported by many slender columns Of polished
granite aad the balcony railing capped BY huge
vases But the shining surface of the columns
and the bronzed vases are hidden in the masses
of floral decoration-the ore covered by hang
ing strings of smilax and similar pendants; the
other hlled with growing palms. gltttering with
thousands of electric beams. Similar treat
ment is accorded the supports ana cappings OF
the two upper galleries.
White, gold and red are draped about the
walls of the entire interior Wherever the eye
wanders, these three colors predominant with
just enough OF floral green to make pleasing
effect The ceiling, a hundred and fifty feet
above the throng, is mass of white and gold, a
magnificent piece of workmanship that elected
admiration from all beholders. Ten thou
sand yards of material were consumed
in draping the vast canopy. The stars
and stripes are everywhere-on pillars,
on walls and in the waiting. rooms The
tower gallery is covered with plush of purest
white. gold embroidered and gold frnged,
forming background for American flags and
banners, while in the center of the plush, di-
rectly above midway in the arches between
the supporting pillars, are emblemS of chiv-
airy, shields of bronze and steel, highly pol
ished, over suits of armor, with the spear IN
the usual position A floral piece is over each
of the pillars supporting the first gallery. On
the gallery walls are silk banners representing
the forty-four states.
The second gallery was decorated similarly
to the first, with floral pieces above each col
umn, vases fairly overfowing with roses and
other flowers, while the sides were covered with
national and state escutcheons, alternating.
Foreign governments were complimented
in the decorations of the highest gal
lery, which embraced flags of all nations.
and, of course. the national coat of arms.
Flowers and growing plants were everywhere.
About the pillars, covering the music stands,
over the arches in the center was a fountain
of splashing water, translucent in the rays of
electric lights of manT ColorS D.. he fountain
is surrounded by growing plants flowers and
vines and its effect is so unique that it forms
one of the most attractive features of the
general scene. Two great floral arches, each
sixty-fve feet in height, are on either side of
the court, while just in front of and sur
rounding them are the stands for the nusi-
clans. The arches are trimmed in pure white
bunting, forming background for plants
and vines and odorous flowers They are the
browning features of the ROOM From the dome
of one, the magic name cleveland blazed in
electricity from the other stevenson" shines.
The band stands are marvels of artistic floral
beauty. Banked around the base Of each of the
eight gigantic pillars supporting the roof are
flowers and plants in profuson, while from the
tops of these pillars depend waving ribbons of
smilax fifty feet in length. The columns bear
artistic shields, each having upon it the name
of one Of the twcntyIhree presidents of the
United States and of Vice President Stevenson.
1t is estimated that twelve thousand people at
tend' the affair, but only small proportion
of these took part in the dancing. The throng
was 100 great to admit of freedom in the waltz
and scottsche and polka and the pressure
about The square sets was so intense that the
jewellers were given but little space for their
terpschorean cvolutiOns
Precisely at T. O'Clock the band struck up
"Home, Sweet Home ard the assembage
quietly dispersed. 1ha whole proceedings were
mar6ed BY staid ard stately docorum more
Characteristic OF an ancient minuet than of a
modern bail