Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-03-05
INAUGURATION ECHOES.


After President Mckinley was inaugu-
rated yesterday he returned to the
White House with ex.President Cleve-
land. The streets were packed with
spectators and nearly all the seats on
the stands were occupied, as were also
all the windows of the buildings along
the avenue. There was notable lack
of enthusiasm among the spectators.
The procession was not near so large as
at Cleveland's Inauguration. The mill
tary display was comparatively small
and the civic organizations did not
make up the deficiency. Their appear
ance and discipline received warm COM
mendation.
General Nelson Miles, commanding
the United States army, and Rear Adj
miral George Brown, ranking officer of
the navy, in full uniform, rode imme-
diately after the presidential party.
There were as many regular troops in
line as on any previous similar occasion.
From spectacular point of view the
parade was benefited by the absence of
some features which were conspicuous
in the corresponding parade of previous
inaugurations. The Pennsylvania mi
litia, 5000 strong, who marched to the
Capitol with Mr.. Cleveland, each COM
pany exactly alike, were not ordered
to Washington this time. Tammany's
5000 braves, in black coats and tall /,
silk hats, who came from New York
to see Mr.. Cleveland installed, had no
intestest in Mckinley and stayed at
home.
From the time the crowds broke
through the ropes after the parade
passed until 10 o'clock last night the
principal streets of the city swarmed
with thousands OF people. After IL
o'clock the city resumed its normal con-
dition.
The decorations of the city were OK
ceedingly effective. Every building
on The line of march was draped in
bunting of the national colors, and
every window and point of vantage
was occupied. The stars and stripes
we're everywhere seen, with other APP
propriate banners and emblems. Last
night many of the large buildings and
many of the stores were prettily illumi-
mated and the light very handsomely
set off the decorations.
THE INAUGURAL BALL.
The "yellow and white ball." as the
inaugural bali of 1897 will be called,
the fourth of its kind to be held within
the walls of the Pension Building,
which is the largest brick edifce in the
world, was grand affair and reflected
credit upon the skill of the decorator,
the florist, the electrician, and for
every woman, vino, arraying herself in
all that she had of the most beautiful,
added just so much to the color and
brilliancy of the scene. In the
decorations there were used two
hundred cases of smilaX, FIVE
| thousand palmetto palms, four thou
sand pots of maidenhair fern, five hun
dred blooming azalias, one thousand
yellow genestas, fifty thousand tulips,
one thousand long-stemmed American
Beauty roses, five thousand assorted
roses, TWO thousand orchids, fifteen
thousand strings of asparagus vine, five
hundred palms in pots and three
thousand Easter lilies, and that for the
electric lights, which displayed 80 i'm
portant part in the splendor of the
scene, the electrician brought into re-
QUESTION $50 amperes of current.
It is wonder how Washington sup
piled horses for all the vehicles that
were needed for transportation to the
ball.
The programme of the dance began
promptly, and was interrupted when
the time came for the performance of
airs in honor of the arrival of the Chief
Magistrate. Dancing was INDUCED in
under difficulty during the first hours
of the affair, and it was only after mid
night that there began to be more floor
space, and those who went to dance
really enjoyed themselves.
The President hurried little, and it
was only a glimpse that the people
caught of him and his wife as they
went up the stairway and into the
rooms reserved for them on the second
floor.
Before the presidential party made
the tour of the room and were con-
Quoted to the private dining-room, an
informal reception was held, and the
President greeted the ambassadors,
ministers, charge d'affaires who were
present in conventional evening dress
and wearing their orders, and other
distinguished people, members of the
reception committee, sc. Nearly all
of the officers present were in full dress
uni form.
Her gown was Of great splendor
Tae lily design in silver thread showed
out strongly against the background Of
heavy white satin. The long train was
we'll cut and full. Slashed at each side
the skirt showed petticoat of satin,
embroidered with pearls. A cascade of
Venetian point lace completed the
trimming on the skirt. The bodice
was high necked and long sleeved,
made with girdle effect of the silver
brocade, and finished with pearl trim
ming and lace about the upper part.
A large diamond star and diamond
sunburst were the only ornaments
worn. The spectators were hardly
more enthusiastic at the appearance of
the President and his wife than they
were when they discovered the veneer
able figure of Mother Mckinley" and
hers was the very happiest face seen
that night. Her black gown was of ex
ceedingly elegant texture, simply made,