New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-04

..r,, tore, flashing over the clustered pains
era blossoms at her feet. The memory OF the
Two nrevious balls served we'll ana an aIIansv
ments in the Museum were systema'oo a.u over
feet and the decorations were 'he "'e''
6jsnlayed at the National Capital 80
Io,tber President and Mrs. Garhelo nor eN-
President Hayes were dancers anu ha,ironn1 they
ter they made the circuit OF the pa s pi 10
ou,etlv withdrew the President ana ms VIZ
going directly to the White House anu ~ ard
Mrs Hayes going to the NOME oi ,ore mill
Mrs. sherman, whose sueS'' wv
returning 10 ohio.
IN THE PENSION BUILDING.
Tho architectural advantage of the great court
g tho Pension building made fn ideal ballroom
o1 for tho fret time at the first inauguration
- presiden, cleveland. Its possibilities aHorded
i'd Soma for the artistic skill Of the decorators.
- ~ ooraI and flag decorations. such as no
o,ber building in Washington ever gave: lhousn
{, was nv far the largest inaugural pan ever w
ri,nn there was room and to spare IN the I'M
49,, a. snace of the court, one hundred feet
ionr and nearly as wide. and the tiers OF Galiei
ies where those who wished to look on Vieweu
the brilliant picture below Tres sic sn rs
went 10 the ball accompanied ny fis sis'eI ME-
NcFlrov who had presided so tacttully over tne
White House, and with them were all Oh MS Cdp ,,
met circle. TO whom Mi Arthur presen's9u u%.
.,ckets The presence Of the outgoing ADMINS
,ratio, added to the hriancN or the ball anu
the ease Of the new people. ana apparently was
anpreciated by President Cleveland ana ms SIS
ear
House -.. - .,rosi5o,t yIar
,son was equally brilliant ana large III f'tthu-
80 Rut the precedent set by President Arthur
80 not followed by President Cleveland ana ms
yife who had succeeded mis- sister as mistress o.
.be White House. as MI and MIS- Cieveiaho
80 NOT al the ball. The gowns worn by Presi-
Sent Uarrsons wife and NiCe-President Nor
,ons wife were superb brocades. wholly OF Amer
ian manufacture. The patterns were designed
nv an American woman. That Of Mrs Harrisons
nola COluen-IOu
ssyvar-grav satin, while Mrs Mortons was the
ccotch thistle on pearl satin The SILK Tor inc
,oorn was grown and spun In this country ana
the brocade was manufactured IN NeW-noIk
Sat-. every article in the gowns. which We're
n,ade in New York even TO thread hooks ana
cves was of American manufacture.
The Pension Building was for the thiro tihe
,ha sceoe of the inaugural ball. at the second IN
smrirati0n Of President Cleveland wheH inc
decorations surpassed all former ulSpIa!, III
,oaltb Of flags and flowers. and originality OF oe
60 II Vas Mrs. Clevelduds first inaugural
baH. and she was a charming figure.
while the evolution of the inaugural nall hdS
cached a magnifcence and perfection of detail
90, roesihle 10 imagine in the early Gays OF tle
pnnurlic it is nevertheless true that the balls o.
tba last quarter Of century have been marked
nv a more and more democratic element AS Il
sooial incident perhaps good society is not likely
~ take the inaugural ball seriously. IL Is ike
the great parade on Perrsylvanla- aye.-eNeit
rodv goes to see it. With tickets at - each the
assenblage is certain 10 be as prom'scuons as
the average public ball The Presidents, Cabinet
nnicars visiting statesmen from ali parts or the
corntry and representatives Of tho best society
~ washington maxi certain proportion or the
comnany and with these ming'e large array OK
reople 10 whom the hall is a quadriennal sociai
event. The Inaugural ball is an entertaining
,,ixture The untamed Congressman from the
distant wilds who never wore kid glove IN MS
yfa stems on the toes of the polished diplomat
who speaks al the languages and knows all the
dances and secretly INDUCES in contempt Tor the
occasion The petty local lawyer jostles the SUI
meme Court Justice. the contractor and the SEN
ator the Department clerk with his daughters
and the millionaire with his daughters.
NEGROES IN THE ASSEMBLAGE.
One curious element that could not be seen In
my Northern city, certainly not in any Southern
but only in Washington, on the dividing line
Is the presence of colored people at the Inaugural
ball The Northerner can hardly believe his un-
accustomed eyes when he sees in the gayly
dressed throng Of dancers colored men ana
women some very dark, others so white that ii
IS little startling at first to see them dancing
with their partners Of darker shade But with
A. all several things are conspicuous: they dance
vell-none better-and bear themselves with a
Quiet dignity and altogether refined and modest
department. On this point the Caucasian can
find no fault. If. indeed, in some instances II IS
not an object lesson by which his own manners
might be improved But. Heterogeneous as the
assemblage is. its general character is that or
good manners.