The evening times., 1897-03-04

magnificent room has floor space OF
over one acre None Of the celebrated
saloons in the capitals OF Europe can
show anything Ike it for size. A triple
tier of galleries run around all the Sides
and $50 columns form their supports
Eight immense pillars eighty feet hign
support the lantern roof that oyertops the
whole and affords floods of light for
the file workers in that vast area during
the darkest DAYS. A steel structure or
eleven stories might find room under
this great lantern top to put its roof on
and not bump rs head a single time.
To decorate this immense expansc OF
wall and ceiling $4,000 yards or bunting
have To be used And something quite
unique was hit upon by the decorators this
time Three immense domes are suspended
over the ssenibly like the challces of In
verted white lilies The side walls are
draped in white, aud over this wander
curtains and garlands of living green
composed OF sniIax and the feather fronds
of asparagus The smaller columns are
envelopeG in white and capped with twists
OF yellow bunting. Festoons of green
wrap them around. Out OF them
twinkle nyriads OF electric lights On
the east side a golden gate stands, gay
with national colors, bright bunting, ;'biaze
with lights. At the base OF it palms are
banked by the hundred. Around the gal
,eries are festoons or shells of white ard
gold drapery, with here and there State
shield. with clusters OF flags about it.
Five thousand palm trees from Alabama
are the basis of all this green decoration.
II took 200 cases of smilax TO drape the
af
hair ferns stand on the balustrades of the
upper galleries, with here and there some
of the QUO yellow Genestss, giving the
touch OF gold, which the new adfdmstra-
tion is devoted to ty-thOusand tulips,
5000 Easter lilies, 1000 longstemined
American Reauty roses, I'LL the various
iartliniers, overlooking with such bui-
den of beauty and fragrance as never De
fore gTaced a similar OCCASION ohe
thousand lilies OF the valley decorate The
reservt-d room Of the Presidential party
and tie rooms of the other select number
of guests OF Lonor.
TIE music stands, elevated above the
floor. have their galleries fest1onedIh Ia whlte
and gold. decorated with palms and flowers,
one under the arch OF the golden gate, the
other over the south entrance Portraits
of Mckinley. of washington and Lincoln
have their place in the ornate and yet
exauisiteiy delicate scheme OF decorations
Is it anv wonder that 10, 900 hearts have
lonced to attend such a magniiicentiy set
function as this unique inauguration hali-
Ten thousand Invitations there were;
but there have been more than lo,ooo
other people who have longed to attend
this bail. II is the great army OF lhe
outside, striving 60 climb socially. For
one OF them to fail to appear, IN her own
or his own estimation at least, would be
fatal. And they must all dress up 10
the occasion, though not SOUL conoe-
sends TO look at anyone less interesting
than the new President and his Cabinet
s1ite. their wives and families, and the
gorgeous uniforms OF the diplomats ana
the commanding officers, like Gen. Miles
They must be appropriately costumeu'
mimi Won. though our tailor, dressmaker,
ieweler or costumer waits on our con-
venience
what a waste Of vitality, manhood and
womanhood, since the jam or tie cfoWu
viii kin tie effect Of the finest costume
no. on the back OF some distinguished per
ton; and If YOU pun Gown heaven and earth
TO be fine you are sure to be chaefined ior
,oar pains, and to eat the bitter tread ci
repentance after it is all over.
Experienced peIsons, like tie dear oid
Washingt onians who have attended anu
survived the wear and tear of four or 11se
! Of these inauguration balls, know that IL
Goes not make a rap Of differ ence what you
wear, so il is evening dress, and not Out
OF style. No matter how much they once
strained for effect, they now know that
.omebody always went one notch higher,
had one diamond ornament more' and what
Goes it all signify, anyhow, since no one
seems to look twice at an Unofiicial mortal
on such q turbulent occa asion?
Every last inauguration ball assumes TO
be more elegant than any of its prede-
cessors and a close observer, looking back
ward over the years, can see that the
tendency of American manners is toward
greater display, to Just as much dignity
OF cOstuming and show as our somewhat
flexible Republican traditions will permit
OF.
How many are the Stratagems that some
people employ TO get to the ball. There
are a thousand or two OF persons who have
been somebody in Official station in the
States. who see no reason why they should
not be included in the complimentary list;