The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-03-05
THR INAUGURAL BALL.
A Scene Of Grandeur Never Before
Equaled In This Country.
WASHINGTON A BLAZE OF LIGHT.

GlorIss Of the Night-Ths Unique Dis
play Of Fireworks.
Washington, March 5.-With last
night came the browning glory of the
Inauguration, which eclipsed the many
glories Of the day. The residences and
public buildings were afiame with
lights, the streets were still crowded
with people. the clamoring multitudes
still battled at dining room doors OF
hotels and restaurants demanding food
and drink, countless thousands surged
to and fro in front of the monument
grounds, whence arose the chromatic
fireworks that lighted the city In fit
full CLEANS but 1t was at the brilliantly
illuminated pension building that poll
tics paid tribute to society. There the
distinguished guests of the occasion
paid homage to President Mckinley
and the mistress of the White House
and later entered the mazes of the
waltz.
The inaugural ball is always the eli
max of the. day. To the minds OF
many there is nothing comparable to it.
They like to see the parade, they linger
for a sight of the prominent men and
women. they occupy their weary
places on the terraced stands for hours
to see the president and the Inaugural
ton party pass, but the hope of most
of them, especially the ladies' who
have come provided with excellent
gowns, designed and planned months
In advance, is the ball.
The pension building is admirably
suited for this spectacular display. 1t
is an enormous hall surrounding vast
court, supported by huge pillars of
marble, around which circle two gal
leries. This great court last night be-
came the ballroom. 1t lends itself to
the most artistic decoration, and it
was never SO beautifully draped and
festooned and lighted as last night The
graceful arches trembied with flowers
and greenery, the colossal columns
seemed to grow out of bowers Of flow
ers and supported the iron roof, which
was canopy of white and gold. Hun
dreds of canaries in gold cages, tucked
away in the greenery, sang madly.
Tens of thousands of electric lights
flashed amid the flowers and draperies.
The artistic effect of the lights was
probably never equaled, certainly not
surpassed in this country. The most
striking feature was an enormous
counterpart of "Old Glory done in
red, white and blue, but SO arranged
that it seemed to be floating in stiff
breeze.
The decorations of the ballroom
have not been equaled before. 1t is
certain that they have not been ap-
preached in this country. Those who
have attended noted fetes abroad in
sist that they have not been anywhere
excelled. They were both magnificent
and wonderful in all their various eff
fects. 1t was like the portal of fairy
land, with its visions of beautiful wo-
men, its myriads Of cleaning lights,
its gorgeous massing of colors, its
wealth Of blossoms, its pulsations of
soft music and the heavy odor of |
thousand perfumes. The enormous
floor space, 300 feet long and half as |
wide, was so large that it was divided |
into squares, each under corps of as
sistants to the general floor managers, |
Edward McCully and Edwin B. Hay.
The announcements of the inaugural |
ball declared that the doors would he (
opened at o'clock, and that the dance |
program would begin at 8 but many |
visitors to the city were on hand long
before the bolts were drawn. When the
loors finally swung inward the people
ZANE with a rush, and in a quarter |
hour, the main floor was comfortably |
iled with promenaders. The presi-
lential party, the notable figures of Of
icialdom, and the world of society |
which in Washington has the diplo-
matte corps and the army and navy
or conspicuous factors, delayed their
trivial until later and more fashion,
lble hours.
Among the fashionably gowned wo-
men of New York's 400 and from the
ociety people of every American city,
we're the visitors from rural towns.
n the kaleidoscope of costumes was a
umble of Paris, London, New York,
)skosh and Kennebunkport. Perhaps
tenth of the men were not arrayed
n the formal evening Clothes but
evertheless the stronger sex gave its
hare of brilliancy to display by the
of uniforms. There were the
iplomats-late corners, all of them
in scarlet and gold and
reen, or the grand silks of the Orient,
18th enameled orders shining from
heir breasts and clanking swords
'hich tripped them as they walked.
here was also the palmer but more
talwart contingent of the army and
avy together with the divers uni
,rms of the crack militia regiments
many cities The silks, satins, dia-
londs and pearls of the ladies' were
course the chief, and to that sex the
Ost interesting features Of the human
loW Here and there among the
was to be seen a colored
)uple, for all the constitutional
are respected at an in
lgural ball.
The presidential party arrived at the
Ill at 9:45. Their appearance inspired
ripple of hand clapping, but shouts
ere hardly good form for the ball
'om, so that the guests refrained
ON vocal demonstration. The presi-
mt and Mrs. Mckinley were taken to
e dressing room at the southwest
rner of the building, which had been
ted up especially for Mrs. McKin-
Y. After few moments the party
owed into that room ordinarily the ,
flee of the commissioner of pensions,
here they received the most distin-
ished guests. Shortly after II o'clock
e president and wife returned to the
hte House. :
Of dancing there was none during
e first two hours, and little there s
ter, for the floors were too much .
DIVIDED to dance with comfort, and c
ost of the visitors chose rather to q
atch the display than to risk their G
IS and garments in the crevices. 1t l
rs not until long after the distin- q
ished attendants had departed, their
parture being followed by the with
avail of lesser lights, that dancing
came enjoyable, and then, as the l.
y was breaking, 1t was time for all t
60 home. a
Tor the thousands who ware 1lnahIe | v