The age-herald., 1901-03-05
In Beautiful Color Schem.
 Yellow P7edominated
MYRIADS OF SOFT LlGHTS
The Little Yellow Electric Bulbs Glowed and Binked Like Hun dreds of Fireflies in the Great
 Garlands of Green.

the inaugural ball, held tonight in the | vast auditorium of the pension office As a spectacular event, 1t was unsur- passed in the history of inaugural events
 The decorations of the ballroom had yellow for their predominations No cumbersome effects of light or color were in evidence, but above and on all sides stretched a wavy ripping canopy of yell low bunting that covered the walls and skylight, and was broken only where the lining of the Presidents balcony at the west end stood out. while in bold relief. Myriads of yellow electric bulbs glowed and blinked like firef1ies in the garlands of green that entwined the scores of pill lars supporting the galleries and shone out from the stars and bars of the big American shields, in the midst of clus- ters of American flags, hung high up in the center of each side of the immense crowded hall
 This scheme of decoration, with yell l low as the l-predominating color. was a radical departure from the decorative plan at the last inaugural ball. Then three great floral bells. studded with col ored lights, were the most prominent feature of the work. This year the soft light effect given by the broad expanse of golden color everywhere was in sharp and favorable contrast.
 The big fountain in the center of the hall held a billowy mass of the purple bouganvilla, the flower of the Philippines In the midst arose tall palms and ferns burying scores of yellow light blossoms and around the border, fringed with the white spire, were placed gilded urns of growing plants and flowers.
 Presidents Balcony. In the extreme west of the hall stood the Presidents balcony decked with groups of Roman wreaths and clusters of American Beauty roses, bound with bright colored ribbons. Above the execu- tive's stand flashed a big shield of hand embroidered silk topped with a fine stuffed specimen of the great American eagle. Down at the eastern end was the big stand erected for the musicians. It comprised an upper and lower story, the former for the stringed orchestra and the latter for the accommodation of the big inaugural chorus and the brass
 
 clans was a great gilded sounding board which threw the strains of sound to all parts of the big hall. In front hung u beautiful design symbolic of the muse of melody, in the shape of giant green { Tyre, with strings of purple ribbons, and on either side crossed musical instru- ments-on the left d lute and trumpet and on the right a guitar and pipe-all fashioned of green lencothe with strings of purple.
 The balustrades and archways present ed brilliant scene. No less than seven-
 1Or.45ed each ot eleven frosted electric globes were set beneath the aIcnes OH the ground floor and shown radiant through a network of green against background glinting with powdered glass. Suspended beneath each star, and below draped festoons of smi- lax were shimmering trailers of green and electric bulbs, tipped with a yellow globe. The gilt pillars were enshrouded in vines and greens and above the bright circlets of light that crowned them were placed invisible boxes of glowing tulips, daffodils, azalias and ionquils In the second balcony the same scheme of dec oration was carried out, excepting that in lieu of the stars hung electric lights in clusters of three, covered with soft yellow transparent paper and producing a beautiful effect. Back under the bal comics on the ground and second floors, wreaths of green were hung at regular intervals, linked by loops of vines and Smilax.
 Glowing Bulbs of Light.
 Seventy-six additional posts had beer placed on the top balcony, each one sur mounted by a glowing bulb of light Be tween them and bordering the railing oi the balcony all the way arount, were boxes of cut and growing flowers in g great profusion of color.
 Two endless chain of light-studded | green below the balconies looped and | swung around the immense hall, each | loop end hive of brilliant yellow globes l each trailing streamer alive with tiny | glow lights,
 l or to the side. on the second balcony | were the Presidents and Vice Presidents rooms, the diplomats room and forty oth. | CT rooms, embelIished for public recep. | ton and promenade The Presidents room was draped entirely in white an6 made beautiful with pink ribbons white | orchids and grees. Other rooms held to ! the all l-pervading yellow, decorated witt flags, flowers and smilaX. In the diplo- matic reception room the flags of all na- tions were clustered and intertwined, ano | lent a brilliant background for the gorge. ous uniforms and regalia of the diplo- matic officials.
 AlOfSSiue the Hldll DullulIB nau peer built large dining hall, decorated in rec and white, and hung with greens. The expense of the decorations entire is set down at about s, GOO The floral and cleo. | tric decorations alone came to early $20, 0o0, there being no less than 15 GOO electric lights involved in the illumination.
 The United States Marine Band and ar orchestra of over one hundred pieces | played patriotic airs.
 | The Presidential party arrived at 10:1; | o'clock They were preceded by glitter | ing array of officers in full uniform and were escorted to the private office of Com missioner Evans, which had been lavish | ly decorated. As Mrs. Mckinley was In | disposed the President remained by hel | side and the march consequently Was abandoned. The bank struck up Straus | Blue Danube" and the dancing began | Vice President and Mrs Roosevelt ar | rived about the time the President came i in After paying their respects to the | President, the Vice President and his wife proceeded to the ball room floor and l the function was then at it's height. 1 President Mckinley held an informal reception in the upper corridor, Lieuten- | ant General Miles acting as chief of re- i ception committee to escort distinguish | ed guests to the President
 Mrs. McKinley's indispostion was of | brief duration and she was soon able to | join the President and the brilliant as- semblage in an embowered box overlook ing the gay throngs below.
 The Presidential party and Vice Presi- dent and Mrs. Roosevelt left the ball at 12:15 o'clock. The festivities went on un- abated until a late hour.