Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-28
EXPENSIVE LUXURY.
Cost Of Attending the Presi-
dents Inaugural Ball.
Tickets, Supper and Carriages Make
a Nice Little Bill to Foot.
aehsme oi the Motel men-Fund Tor Expenses
-Prospsct d Surplus.

-pIOSPUCt ~ O0sp ssss
Washington, Dec. 27-(Special) .-Great
preparations arc being made for theinaugu-
ration of President Mckinley two months
and q little more hence The inaugural bail
Is to be held in the pension building after
all. There was too much opposition to the
use OF the new national library building
for that purpose, and the men VINO pro-
posed that building were compelled to
abandon it. The pension office Is as nne
place for great affair Of that sort as could
be we'll imagined. Four years ago the
French minister to Washington said 1t was
q Rrander hall for such purpose than
could be found in all Europe In the opin-
ion of many people the pension Office court
is a better place for the ball than the library
building, for in the former the ball can be
held in one grand hall, with splendid op-
portunities for decoration and for ensem-
BILE effects, while in the latter it would
have to be split up into several sections,
dancing going on in four rooms, the recep-
ton of the presidential party in two or
three more, the supper in still others.
The Matter of Expense.
The people of Washington have raised
guarantee fund of $50, 900 to pay the ex-
nenses of the inaugural ceremonies. 1t Is
not difficult to raise money for this pur-
nose. as the subscribers are rarely called
upon to pay dollar of their subscriptions.
The inaugural ball pays the entire expense
of the whole affair AS rule, from 5000
to 10 900 people attend the ball, and the
tickets are So each. Then the supper room
privilege returns handsome sum- and 1t
is easy to sec that $780, 600 or 5000 Is
regularly raised by these grand balls. That
is enough to pay all the expenses and leave
a surplus. Four years ago there was sur
plus of $4,000.
It is rather an expensive luxury this at
tending the inaugural ball, but it comes
only once in four years. and everybody that
Is anybody wants to go. 1t Is a great
scene. 1t is such chance to see impor-
tant people, all the grande DANES and gen.
tlemen of society, all the great statesmen,
that few care to miss 1t. But it Is ex-
pensive. First there are the tickets. II you
have five in your party, that means $25
Then you must have carriage. Every
body in town wants a carriage that night,
and if you are not fortunate enough to
own one yourself, you find that prices have
been put pretty high for this occasion only
1t is no uncommon thing for one to paw
SIS, or even $50, for the privilege of rid
ing with his party the few blocks to and
from the pension Office on that night. OF
course il you are plebeian you can go In
the street cars at cost Of nickel apiece
but II you have social ambitions or pre-
tensions you do not want to 60 to the
presidents ball in street car. Often men
club in together and hire carriage be-
tween them, taking it for the night and
arranging the trips, SO that every one car
20 and come at certain hours. II you d.
not make this arrangement yourself, tho
cabman will do it for you, as he does mo-
propose to limit himself to one $15 or ST.
fee on that night of nights.
Flowers and Wine.
Nor must the flowers and the supper b.
forgotten. 1t will never do to go to tn
presidents ball without plenty of flower
for the ladies of your party to wear In thei
corsages. About Inauguration time flow
ers cost money in Washington. You will
10 JuChy W Sct OA WiUu DIV LUZ UAio ACOtb
Then you must all have supper. Ordina
rily the cost of an inaugural supper is e. +
plate, and it is not very much Of q suppe'
at that. But this does not include the
wine, and if you are an enthusiastic par
tisan and it chances to be your party pres
ident that is coming in to the White House
On that glad day nothing will do but you
must celebrate his advent with few bot
ties of wine. When times are good and
people feel easy in money matters, thou
sands of bottles of wine are opened at an
inaugural ball.
Some complaint has been made in the
newspapers throughout the country that
Washington hotel keepers have leagued to-
gether for the purpose of fleeing the pub
lie on the occasion of the Inauguration.
There is only this foundation for the charge
the keepers Of the leading hotels have an
agreement that they will not advance rates
for the Inauguration, but that they will
require people engaging rooms to take the
apartments from Feb. 20 to March s, in
elusive, and to pay for them whether they
are occupied or not. On the surface this
looks like nice little scheme to make the
public pay big hotel bills, but the landlords
defend themselves with the explanation
that they have no difficulty in letting out
all their rooms to people who are willing
to occupy them from the date mentioned
till after the great day is over. Why, they
ask, should they let people have rooms for
one day OF two days when there are others
waiting and anxious for them and willing
to pay for six or seven days? From the
landlords standpoint this seems reason
able. They say they could not turn q man
out of room If he was willing to pay fol
1t during week to make place for one
who wanted it for only day or two.
Plenty Of Boarding Houses.
This applies only to the leading hotels,
which have limited accommodations In
comparison with the number Of people
seeking them atthat time. There are plen.
ty Of other hotels, almost as good, which
do not mako this exaction. Visitors tc
Washington during the Inauguration sea.
son need have no fear Of being unable to
find good accommodations at reasonable
rates. This Is city Of hotels and boarding
houses. There are vast numbsrs Of fur.
nished rooms and plenty Of cheap and fair
~ good restaurants, SO that every one may
be accommodated at prices within. hi
means OK his inclination. The inaugural
committee has already taken this matter In
hand and through its committee ON public
comfort will 80 that every one arriving II
Warrington Tor the inauguration il escort
Cd by messengers to Just such acommoda.