Evening star., 1897-03-05
A BRILLIANT |NAU GURAL BALI |

IL L y n Il
presidential party were again in their car
r.ages and on their way to the White
House.
Outside the Ball Room.
While this scene Of gayety was in prog
ress within the building the thousands of
carriages were stationed along the streets
leading in every direction from the ball
room. While the scene within was one
of enchantment. that without was no less
interesting. About each of the entrances
had gathered hundreds of people, who oc-
cupied every nook available from which
they could view the elegantly attired dan
GERS as they entered the building. They
waited during the two or three hours while
the carriages were being driven up to de-
liver. their occupants, quite content with
catching even a glance at the distinguish
ed men and beautifully attired women as
they arrived. A number of colored wo-
men had wheeled their baby carriages into
available spaces and pointed out to the
tiny occupants of only a year or two of
age the people as they entered the build
ing. There were several of them at the
west entrance, and when the President
and Mrs. Mckinley reached the doorway
they held up their little ones that
they might be able to say in the years to
come that they had seen President Nc
kfnley and his wife as they went into the
inaugural ball room.
All sorts of street vendors were assem-
bled The banana man and the men and
women who dispense pies and cakes for a
few pennies were about the entrances SELL
ing their wares to others who had come to
see what they could of the festivities from
the outside.
Arrival of the Presidential Party.
At 8 o'clock there were hundreds and
hundreds of well-dressed people already
promenadng the vast court or viewing the
beginning of the brilliant scene from the
galleries. Thousands more, or they SEEM
ed thousands. struggling up the narrow
staircase on the 9TH street side who were
fortunate possessors Of the extra ticket
that 1t required. made the great effort to
be upstairs at least an hour before the
President came, and while themselves form
ing brilliant row of spectators, were the
envied of the hundreds who looked at them.
At 9:3O o'clock the attention of the vast
multitude both upstairs and downstairs
was riveted on the 18th street door. half
dozen hurrying policemen and dozens OF po-
lite committeeman were on the alert and
every eye followed their movements. The
crowds struggling for admission had all
they could do to cross this human barrier
to reach the dressing rooms. At last their
patience was rewarded. President and
Mrs. Mckinley had entered and were es-
corted up the same narrow stairway
through which so many fortunate persons
had already passed to the beautiful re-
ception suite reserved for their use, All gate
ways few open as the President, preceded
by Major General Miles. came up smiling
and bowling to every smiling face. Mrs.
MCKINLEY waited just moment for
ping back from his military escort again
resumed her arm. and, with Mr.. Charles
j. Bell. the couple passed through to their
parior. Following the President and his
wife were some of their family party
After their entrance the brown outer doors
OF the reception room were swung to and
blocked the cndeavors of the rest of the
company from enjoying the same privilege
Instantly. This part Of the program only
required a little patience. In a very few
moments the brown doors swung out again
and dozen CT two more ladies and gen.
tlemen who happened to be nearest to them
were permitted to enter the envied para
disc. few minutes more elapsed, and
another swing Of the door brought 1t just
against the faces of Mrs. Potter Palmer
of Chicago and Mr.. Russell Harrison. son
of ex-President Harrison. They accepted
the situation with very good grace. and so
did the dozen or two others close to them
who began to feel that after all they were
not treated very badly when such distin-
guished persons as these were kept wait
ing. Mr.. Harrison's and Mrs. Palmer's
turn came next and they had the distinc-
tion of entering alone.
mitted to the reception room happened to
consist of Col. Myron NJ. Parker of this
District, Mrs. Parker and a number of la
dies. and the governor of Vermont, Mrs.
Grout and members of their family party.
When the room was reached the guests
who were so greatly favored found
that neither the President nor Mrs. McKin-
ley was in that room, but in a smaller one
adjoining. colored waiter stepped through
with a solicitous air. carrying an ice water
pitcher and half dozen glasses. A hurried
consultation between the members of the
| reception committee intimated that prob
| ably the President and his wife did not
i take as kindly to the idea of formal re-
ception as did the committee and those as
| sembled. This suspicion grew fact in a
| few moments, for the army officers among
whom were Gen. John NJ. Wilson, Gen.
Ruggles and others, well as Gen. Miles,
asked the company to fall back to permit
the entrance Of the diplomatic corps. Again
the guests thought this very reasonable
suggestion. The crowd fell back, and
were rewarded by the entrance Of Secre-
tary of State Olney. A grand procession OF
distinguished diplomats was confidently ex-
pected- With smile and just a little
| amusement in his voice that he could not
conceal. Mr.. Olney said:
, Here is all Of the diplomatic corps pres
| ent''
Behind him was the Japanese mniste,
and Madame Hoshi, the Corean minister
his wife and their little boy. With smiles
and bows they passed along and entered
the holy Of holies, which was the inner par.
lor. where President and Mrs. Mckinley
received them. After this little inciden,
President Mckinley kind of took charge Of
| the reception himself In few minutes he
had sent out and invited the Vice President
and Mrs. Hobart and their party to come
In. Standing with the Vice President anG
, Mrs. Hobart, he received perhaps twenty
or thirty Of the guests, and then. after an
other little cons ulta ton with the member.
Of the committee, and perhaps with &
glance at the clock opposite, which nov
i marked 1910. he stepped into the mex
as she appeared, and apparently worn ou
from the great efforts she had already
made, Mrs. Mckinley smiled and bowed t.
every one she passed along.
The President escorted her to the prett,
little balcony just outside their room wher,