El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-12
THE INAUGURAL BALL
A Grand Scene, with Flashing Col
or, Gorgeous Uniforms. and
Lovely Women.

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. March s.
The inaugural ball is always superb
scene. more so than any other social
function in our land. The flowers,
lights and music are always the most
splendid obtainable. women wear their
hapdsomest frocks and the brightest
Jewels their caskets own, and the men
are many of them in all of the buttons
and gold lace of full dress uniforms;
those who wear the conventional dress
suits wear big posies in their button
holes and the diplomats lend the gor-
gaousness of court costume with gold
lace, jewelled decorations, and clank-
ing swords. The elegant uniforms OF
stan officers who come here with gov
ernOrs of states are conspicuous on
the floor and army and militia officers
not so gorgeous. however-are plen-
tiful.
McKinIey's second inaugural ball ex-
ceeded all other inaugural balls in
splendor The great court and the
wide halls of the pension building were
draped in a soft yellow, over which
trailed the graceful southern smilax.
converting wall and ceiling into a
bower of graceful green. Great mass
IS OF azaIea blooms glowed forth from
the cornices and pillars, American
beauty roses, rosy carnations and deli
cate lilies of the valley were festooned
and massed along the walls and wound
about the pillars. There was no glare
of light. Every electric bulb was veil
ed with translucent shade and tiny
festoons of light. caught at intervals
with a diamond star of light, shone,
twinkled and shimmered through the
green
Scarcely less brilliant were the SUI
perb jewels that were so lavishly worn
by the splendidly gOwned women
There were many imported gowns and
very few that were not fresh for the
event From the balconies the crowd
below looked like a flower garden. in
which carnations and roses, sunfowers.
dahlias and snowdrops bloomed. White
was the favorite- 1t was prominently
q white ball.
Most of the ladies were in full even
ing dress few wore high bOdices.
exQuisitely fashioned, and yet small
er number came in tailor-made gowns
wearing big hats. which the floor COM
mittee promptly asked to be removed.
Haley's orchestra and the Marine
band played alternately, filling the air
with continual melody. and after the
presidential party had gone to their
thC 5iCot touA =.
where they could best see and be seen.
the dancers had a merry time of it.
Major Mckinley and his Mrs. McKin-
ley did not promenade through the
halls as is usual for the new presi-
dent and his party to do.
Just as the presidential promenade
was to start Mrs. Mckinley had one of
her SPELLS" and had to be helped to
the dressing rooms where restorativeS
were applied and she soon grew bet
ter. Later she would have been able
to undertake the promenade. but the
crowds on the floor had taken posses
sion of the way that had been reserved
for the promenading presidential par
ty, and the floor committee decided
that it would take SO much time to get
the way cleared again that it would be
too late for the promenade. This
greatly disappointed everybody. The
guests had been waiting eagerly for
the promenade when they would see
the president and Mrs. Mckinley, Roos-
evelt and his wife and daughter. the
cabinet ladies in their Worth frocks
and priceless jewels. close at hand. Mr..
and Mrs. Mckinley were no less dis
appointed but from their balcony they
looked at the crowd and the crowd
looked at them.
This seeing and being seen is the
regular thing at the inaugural balls.
The day has gone by when the presi-
dent stays on the floor shaking hands
with his friends and dancing one or
two dances with the ladies. For many
inaugurals it has been the custom for
the president to retire to his balcony
after walking around the rooms with
the first lady of the land on his arm,
~ 1,n1x
ing next and a long trail of cabinet
officers and their wives and daughters
coming after him. 1t is still very
democratic affair. Everybody who has
the five dollars may attend and may
dance and stare until he gets what he
considers his moneys worth.
The New Vice President.
Roosevelt up in the balcony was very
jolly: he watched for his friends on the
foor and waved his hand and bowed to
them. and it was to be noticed that
his wife and daughter. for all their
modesty and reserve. were not without
proud and happy lights in their eyes
as they watched the special and great
interest that everyone took in Roose-
Welt. Roosevelt is well nigh idolized
and wherever he goes the crowds are
swept OF their feet with enthusiasm
People grow excited with their desire
TO demonstrate their applause and ad-
miration. Outside of all politics. re-
garding him only as fellow citizen
he is typical of the aggressive. deter
mined. optimistic. courageous spirit
that is the essence of American man
hood He is every inch a man. and a
Iusty. vigorous. hard thinking. hard
hitting one at that
The Presidents Party.
The white house party consisted OF