Evening star., 1897-03-05

were demanded instead Of eatables. and
many of the canaries were killed by the
cold.
No ball followed the Inauguration Of
President Hayes. as sufficient time did not
elapse after the decision Of the electoral
commission to prepare for one.
President Garheld's Notable Ball.
The ball given in 1881 in honor of Presi-
dent Garfield was held In the National
Museum. which was then nearly completed.
The interior was converted into a spacious
and elegant ball room, and a design was
successfully followed to make the tempo
rary decorations harmonixe with the archi-
tectural ornamentation of the building.
The ball was notable for being attended by
the ex-President, Mr.. Hayes. and by Gen.
Winfield Scott Hancock, the defeated can
people attended the reception and ball.
Cleveland's First.
Exceeding in beauty and brilliancy any
of its predecessors was the Inauguration
ball given in honor of President Cleveland
in 1885. The pension building court was
used for the first time for the function. A
roof of wood and felt was placed over the
great inclosure the building being then
unfinished, and fine dancing floor put
down. The decorations were artistic and
elaborate. The massive pillars were COW
cred with white cloth and twfned with
chains of eversreens from which hung
tapestry garlanded with vines inclosed the
balconies The ceiling was completely OBJ
scured by a mass of flags and banners
from which streamers ran In every d1rec-
ton. Stairways, ante-rooms and every
nook and corner OF the building were dec
GRATED ith pleasing and harmonious orna.
mentation. The rooms of the presidential
party were superbly adorned with rare
flowers The music was furnished by the
Marine Band. under Sousa's leadership,
and the Germania Orchestra Of Philadel-
phia. Seven thousand guests were in at
tendance.
President HarrisOn's Ball.
The inaugural ball given in honor of
President Harrison Monday. March 4. 1889,
was. like its predecessor, held in the PEN
sion building. and it was the most stupen-
6ouS success i'll the annals of such func-
tions. The night was q miserable one, a
constant dr,zzle falling continually: but the
elements had no effect upon the attendance.
and it was estimated when the festivities
We're at their height that 1900 persons
were present. The de corations had been
arranged with tasteful regard to the inn
menSe proportions of the court and were
exceedingly striking. Flags, bunting. orna-
mental devices of all sorts. and flowers.
We're used in abundance. and the immense
throng Of beautiful women in evening dress.
officers and diplomats in brilliant uniform.
presented a dazzling sDectac1e. The Pres
iGent and Mrs. Harrison, Mr.. and Mrs. Rus
sell Harrison and Mr.. and Mrs. Nc.
Kee and Mrs. Dimmick, the latter be-
ing the present wife of the honorrd
guest of that occasion, arrived at TIE ball
room shortly before 10 o'clock and rema ned
about two hours. The party was received
with tremendous ovation. and scarcely
.ess enthusiastic was the greeting rendered
Vice President Morton and Mrs. Morton
when they arrived half an hour later. The
Presidents reception, which was intended
to include none but the reception commit
tee. the diplomatic corps and their ladies'
enlarged into a general handshaking and
II was question for a time whether the
President would he able to visit the ball
room- 1t was discontinued, therefore, and
the presidential party entered the immense
court AS soon as President Harrison was
seen the cheering began, which was con-
tlnued when he moved entirely around the
hall. The arrangements for the ball were
conducted most successfully and carried Out
without interruption. The band music for
the promenading was played by the United
States Marine Band. under John Philip
Sousa. and Simon HGsSleer's Orchestra rem
dered the dancing music.
for socal entertainment, there was an early
departure Of the guests. The President and
Mrs. Cleveland and Vice President ard
Mrs Stevenson were the recipients of great
attention and were cheered assiduously
upon their arrival, while promenading the
hall and at other intervals during their
stay.