The news & observer., 1897-03-05
Costumes Worn at
The inaugural Ball,

:. an5 bormonious treatme oveTShad-
ay,a5 anvthing of the kind hitherto seen
in Washington. About $4,000 had been
exneaded by the committee in lighting
and adornment of the great court of the
Pension building, and as result 1t had
undergone a complete transformation and
presented tonight rare scene of beauty
and brilliancy. Past errors in the general
design of the decorations were carefully
avoided. The arnlor and shields, and
such medieval adornment, together with
the great areas of red, white and blue
hunting. and the familiar feature Of the
ffags e qll nations which largely pre-
dominated in the decorations in past
yeurS ytre discarded, and an entirely
nepy Sci3enlc of treatment adopted, max
ing everything Subseryient to The floral
3cco~atcns which were in charge of J.
II. Small s Sons, the Washington and
New York florists. This change from the
old to modern methods, by which blend
ing of effect was secured in place of
garish and startling results was a conspic-
uous success. For the ground work of
the floral decorations. and for the great
canopy above, about $4,000 yards of white
and gold challie was used. The great
court was divided into three nearly equal
sections by two rows of massive columns,
which cross it; and to obscure the roof
and materially reduce the height of the
room, three immense domes of white and
gold challie were suspended, with fine
effect, In the centre of these sections,
about seventy feet from the floor From
the outer edges of the domes which were
encircled with small electric lights, cano-
pies Of white were gracefully draped TO
the tops of the surrounding galleries. A
nf NtD fpia
were Introduced A large American flag
composed of colored lights was suspended
on the west wall above the second gallery,
and hy Il clever mechanical contrivance
the flag was given the appearance of
waving in the breeze Within the high
arch OF the east band-stand was suspend
ed on n black background and in deep
shallow. a single brilliant red electric star.
High up on the south wall was an Ameri-
can Eagle, with wings outspread, clutch
ing in its talons an electric shield in col
ors, and from its beak depended two
floral scrolls bearing the words s'McKin-
ley and Hobart" made of Fairy lights.
On either side, and just below the eagle,
were large golden cornucOpias to over
flowing with American beauty roses. the
whole entwined with silk American flags,
Alabama wild smilax and asparagus plu-
= IL.
musicians. on the south side and centre of
the court. and that for the brass band at
the east. each highly artistic in con-
struction. were handsomely decorated.
The band-stand was fashioned after the
famous golden gate at the Chiea so
Worlds Fair Semi-cireles of electric
tights outlined the front and above it was
lraped a handsome sunburst of silk
American flags whose brilliant colors
stood ont in full relief against a dark
background. Masses of palms and other
potted plants and quantities of long
steunmed American Beauty roses filled the
corners and every available space in both
stands, and plaques of roses, tulips, mar
cissls. etc. with number Of gilded Ro-
man wreaths with tracings of asparagus
vine COMPLETED their 0dornment. Broad
satin ribbon bows and streamers Were
introduced among the flowers wherever
it would enhance the effect The foun-
tain in the center had been made thing
of beauty Around and through the spray
a picturesque grott0 of cork bark and
mess-covered rocks had been built and
planted with ferns, lilies. vines and
aquatic plants. Surrounding the basin
were massed blooming plants, vines and
tropical palms. A thousand electric fairy
lights sparkled in the falling spray and
among the rocks and plant leaves. The
eight towering columns which support
the roof. were treated in an
original and novel manner. From
a temporary base about ten feet from the
floor. sprung graceful growing palms
which reached to a height of 20 or %
feet Massed at the bases and com
pletely encircling them were quantities OF
genestas. acacias, jonaquils and other rich
yellow blooms. The upper portion
Of the pillars which in color
harmonized with the prevailing tints OF
white and gold, were left unadorned.
Over the balconies and about the smaller
columns were trailed southern smilax
and in front OF the balconies, at intervals
to confcrm to the flag decorations Were
placques Of sabel palm leaves and flow rs.
Alternating with artistic effects of Louis
XVI wraaths. caught up with the national
colprs On the top Of the galleries ware
large vases filled with luxuriant trop-
cal plants. On the walls in the rear
of the balconies were freize effects in
laurel festoons, fastened with green
leaves, and traceries OF southern smilax.
The stairways were matched with ever
green's producing an arbor IN which
singing birds hung among the branches
rooms were arranged with palms, aspara-
gus plumosa and other greens, orchids
American beauty roses, tulips. jonquils,
acacia, genestas, etc, using Victor
wreaths with artistic results of ribbons
and placques of flowers on the side walls
In the four corners of the court were
massed towering palms based with grow
ing plants the whole raised high above
the floor. The street approaches were
fully decorated with green's. The light
ing OF this immense ball room was &C
eompEshed by the use of so arc lights
3,200 incandescent lamps with tinted
globes and 5000 miniatures in white and
yellow colors. These last were scattered
everywhere among the plants and flow
ers in a manner most pleasant to the eye
The incandescent lamps We're attached
to the capitals Of the 152 pillars which
support the galleries. A spray of six ol
eight lights was thrown out in graceful
curves from each and descending from