The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-03-10
A FEW COSTUMES
Worn at the Inaugural Bail

worn at the inaugural Ball
Readers of the HERALD will be inter
ested in the gowns worn by the wife of
President Mckinley aud some of the Ia
dies of her family party u. the inaugural
ball, which is said to have been the
crowning glory of the Inauguration.
The gown worn hy Mrs. Mckinley
was very handsome. The material was
bat is known as cloth OF silver. The
groundwork was of white satin, heav ily
woven with a silver thread i'm conven-
tionalizei lily design. The train. which
was plain, full and sweeping, measured
two yards and half in length. On the
left side it was open over a panel of seed
pearls embroidered on satin.
beginning at the bottom was a fiounce
of Venetian point lace of a special and
beautiful design, a half-yard in width,
which was cascade narrow at the bottom
and gradually widens toward the top, un
til il is extended its full width over the
hip and out to the back, where it was
partly concealed under the full train.
The right side of the skirt was also slash
ed open half way up, and under that also
was an embroidered petticoat of pearls.
The bodice was tight fitting and slight
ly pointed at front and back. The lower
part was of silver cloth. aud the upper
and the back of pearls. The same lace
that is used in the Iounce was fastened
at the waist line itto an arrow point and
draped wider toward the shoulders in
V-shape From there it spread out over
the sleeves and under a strap of silver
cloth, two inches at the top and four in-
ches at the bottom. This strip was also
embroidered in pearls.
The collar was of pearl embroidered
satin. From il was high Medici collar
of the lace, wide and full, TO show the
pattern. Long and fairly tight were the
sleeves and they were finished AT the
wrist with Yandyke effects, embroidered
at the edge, from which they fell from
narrow lace of the same design as that on
the skirt.
With this gorgeous gown Mrs. Nckin-
ley wore a number of diamonds To fasten
the lace, the handsomest being dia-
mond star and sunburst of unusual
brilliancy. She also wore exquisite side
combs. The fan carried was of the small
empire shape, of lace the same design as
that on the gown, exquisitely embroid-
cred in pearls.
The lining for the gown was of white
satin, heavy and rich. Around the bot
tom inside were half dozen RIFLES 10
give full effect play 10 the train.
Ill sV,la
handsomely in pearl blue brocaded
satin. The bodice was decoliete, and
trimmed in pearl butterflies and Vene-
tian lace. The girdie was of pearl and
brilliants. and a plastron of the same was
laid over the back of the waist. The
skirt was plain. with a full train, She
wore an exquisite collar Of pearls and dia-
monds aud "A diamond crescent and
aigreite in her hair.
Miss Grace Mckinley was gowned in
white satin brocade and chiffon. The
corsage was made of chiffon and lace and
she carried a bouquet OF white roses.
Miss Mabel Mckinley, daughter of
Abner Mckinley, was dressed in white
silk, embroidered in lilies ofthe valley.
1t was decollete, and halfway around
the front was spray of the lilies. 1t
was trimmed with chiffon and ribbons.
She carried bunch Of lilies of the val
ley tied with long ribbon bows ofwhite.
The belle Of the ball was really that de-
lightful little old lady, "Mother Mckin-
ley"
Since she arrived in Washington, when
she greeted the thrOng as she stepped from
her carriage at the hotel with wave Of
her small handkerchief and a cordial
smile, she has won all hearts. She
took her meals in the dining room,
where she could see ard hear everything,
instead of upstairs in the private dining
room with her son and his wife, and in
every way she has manifested the keen
est interest in her happy surroundings.
At the ball she wore in honor Of
the proudest event of her life stately
gown of black satin, with plain demi
trained skirt. The short, pointed corsage
had surpliced folds Of white chiffon. The
waist had a ripple back and Medici collar
the sleeves being finished in rose point
lace TO match the cape. There is a mark
ed resemblance between mother and son,
and the way she speaks his name and
watches every movement speaks more
than words can tell of the pride she has
in him.