The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-05
rHE INAUG URAL BALL.
or PENSION BUILDING TRANS
FORMED INTO FARMLAND.

y,.ctrir Lights. 40, 600 Roses, and smiinx
"a other Foliage Plants Used In tho Dec
.r.uop,-w bitc ana Gold the Chier Colors.
u,su,ygroN, u. C. March d.-Tho inaugural
.uhos become II notable feature OF the ~festivi-
y. conper'ci with the installation OF a Presi-
~, ~ the United States. but in its earlier days
Nrrcb elaboration was attempted as that which
p.,tsd the grand function given tonight.
The first inaugural ball to be given in tho
,.,,lon Oflcc building. where Major McKin-
~. ,ricnds assembled in his honor tonight,
bsII on the day President Cleveland began
~. erst term. March 4. 1855. Since then tho
',Ssr similar affairs have been held there. That
Vsrore admirable place could have been select
w. tho bail than the Pension building was
.,ored this evening.
'r,rIy in the evening the various committees In
,.nceoy the ball had perfected their arrange
nj. and we're on hand to carry them out. Just
-. a o'clock, the hour set for the function TO
lin the current governing the electric lights
~. turned on and the wide. broad and high In
,.Lo- was transformed into fairyland.
Tor three weeks the decorating and lighting
,.cs. have been at work. More than 100000
,,rs OF cloth had been used in the drapery;
1900 incanie scent and so arc lights had been
.i,.d and established in their proper places, and
,oco roses. not to speak OF yards upon yards OF
.ru,,. and other foliage plants had been ar
,.nsed In the most artistic manner.
Tbs interior Of the Pension Office building IL q
,,sat court. Ordinarily this court is fllod with
sle cases and tables. and presents AN exceed
,nely bus,uesslike appearance. Tonight every
hing suggestive Of the proper function OF the
room had disappeared.
Eight broad pillars supporting the roof was
the only interference with a comprehensive
,isw OF the ball room. Originally presenting an
npbarmonious and undignified appearance from
their brick construction, they were
also transformed into harmony with the decora-
tons by the process OF marbleizing.
Al the east end Of the court WAS the triumph
o,thc decorators art. 1t was n representation
IN golden challic cloth OF the golden gate
A. he Worlds Fair. Here Victor Herbert's
ins, playing tho promenade music between
dances. The golden gate. WAS constructed
nigh above the heads OF the participants in
IA ball, on "a platform extending from
he first gallery. nfty, feet out into the, court.
The thousands OF yards OF cloth used In its con-
struction had been shirred in a dozen or moro
arches tapcrcd OIL into the rear. Each arch.
way was studded with incandsccnt globes, whilo
above the gateway, around IL, and below IL "A
myrisd more OF the little sparklers enhanced the
general effect. Golden horns and wreaths were
p~lentifllly distributed over the FACADE, but they
ad not add to the general effect. 1t might be
sld that they were too harsh in appearance TO
conform 10 the ~softneSs of the skilfully draped
gulden cloth.
III was the intention OF the decorators to make
cd the predominating color in the display.
hey succeeded admirably. alternating with an
abundance OF white challis cloth. suggestive or
The monetary agitation in the last campaign.
rom ceiling to gallery great streamcrs OF white
Nd gold fell in graceful curves, while between
he pillars and around the gallery were othersof
Frame structures had provided three domes
for the ballroom, cquidistant In position, reliev-
ing the g1unrp unDgATuuCe which would other
wise have been presented. Shirred drapery OF
white, cloth. and pleasing 10 the eye, gave to
each dome a tent-liko resemblance.
Hoops of yellow. completely encircling the
structures. were studded with scores. of tiny
electric lights, with globes OF such mellowness
that the gold was brought into "A soft relief most
pleasing TO the artistic sense.
The upper galleries OF the Pension building
bad been cut of from view by the arrangement
Of d~raperies, leaving the lower gallery only.
From the three dome, to z line e ,t along
lery. white challis had been hung. not loosely nor
oarelessly, but firmly and compactly, in plated
continuation. Fancy a bellying canopy. consistent
rom the centre OF the roof high over the head
to the far distant walls of the building. Be-
tween the three domes, extending from one TO
another, hung graceful %fcstoons OF white. ma
terial, CONFORMING to the general. design OF the
The bare, oniciallooking walls of the Pension
ONCE had been covered with more challis, COM
pletely covered from floor TO gallery. and from
gallery upward. Every post and upright, with
WY exception u lnb nlsn unu massive pllldTS
rterrcd to, had become futed columns under
the hands of the decorators. All this decoration
vas white, and served rs a basis for the golden
trimmings. which were used largely In bows and
inots and as lines Of demarkation along the gal
hries and other places.
In the centre OF the south gallery was an:
ether temporary balcony resembling n relief
E W. With Wine pieRtifuiIy Sssprinklsd, and
Here Haley's orchestra, a Washington or.
nniration, 125 strong. played the dance
S Sg,tS al, I ALL na 6o5 By t nrs,b prosra%% ne voI hna
roses formed the. principal floral adorn-
Itstic Ingenuity. Plaques OF roses, red.
white, and yellow, hung along the balcony
Milling between the %uprights, largely taking tho
.osencc OF the national colors, however. The
tat OF arms OF each State had a place
SOun sHs f Sy siiEsn co sna ,htso OF w the si sSr,
and Stripes. At one end ofthe hall. just above tho
stairway leading 10 the apartments reserved for
otred, white, and blue electric globes, which by
mechanical device was made to appear In
notion a. though through the action Of a gentle
he IL walls werr decora,e ID With fitfhat trailing r %festoons
cate ferns, Whatever seemed artificial in tho
shene Of decoration was relieved by the profu.
ton Of flowers and green's. Big palms sprouted
%r,h from the bases OF the malh pillars and
tSayed on stands arranged about them high
above the heads Of the participants In tho
Pleasures OF the function.
In the centre OF the hall a rustic fountain In
Ntion made "A pleasant picture. Beneath the
surface OF tho wator electric flashes came In u
CONSTANT, succession Of brilliant color, show
ing gold and silver fish swimming In and
opt through the ferns and other growing
pants that rlled the basin. With all the lights
tyow, the sparkling fountain, the brilliant
crowd Of pleasure seekers on the floor, the pro-
iuson Of palms about the bases OF the massive
supporting columns and on the gallery, and top
Ehg u all, the singing OF hundreds OF canaries
N CIV cages suspended here, thcre and, every
imagined, We" " '' >" ''"' 10
Inc Inaugural ball is not an exclusive func-
W., Everybody OF responsibility who cared to
Stehl can do 40 by paying 10 for n ticket.
SssLutaAy tho attendance was large, and shortly
EeF 20 clock the floor was well filled. Mem
Mo oI thc diplomatic corps in their official
NJ "nmoIins, officers OF the regular army members
!" iHe sta1s Of state Governors, Generals, Col
Saeis and q host OF other titled militiamen, TO-
Mt with nlnck.coated civilians, made a pic
Mosque display.
me resolution Of the Inaugural Ball Com
@Ntee prohibiting the sale OF wine at the ball
L w. a. adhered 10 rigidly. The only place where
81 was served In tho Pension building was Mt
ebST Vepiioh gwen in u large room at the east
,Hn,au me building. adjoining the general
i,SSapSPtrr room, were Carl G.. Essner, the caterer Of
na,,1aa'l, personally entertained tho Presidents
kmmSi members Of the Cabinet and the dip
| cbnauc corps, iicn. Miles and stan, National
sH;sLhuniaA Hanna and party. and other dlstin-
tee Seu guest, Including leading members of
"p sente and House.
was a.oF 10 tbs reception an elaborate supper