The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-03-05
THE BALL The EVENT
.ruoUsANDs ATTENDED THE FEsTT-
VAL AFFAIR.
A SCENE OF GREAT BEAUTY,
,rI1Ow THE PREVAILING COLOR
SCHEME.

sumptuous Arrangements, Bewuder-
iur Decorations and Marvellous
electrical Effects All Added to the
occnsion-President and Mrs. Me-
1<inIey Did Not Lead the March.
Vice President and Mrs. Roosevelt
prominent Figures Among Those
in Attendance.
Washington, March 4.-The entertaining
...7r of the inaugural festivities was
,ba inaugural ball, held tonight in the
vast auditorium of the pension Office,
,i.h the President and Mrs. Mckinley
Ealing in the grand march, and with
MON and women distinguished in every
yak Of life touching elbows, dancing and
mfagling with the plain American cit
,.1 AS a spectacular event it was I'M
,.ralleled in the history of inaugural
,aus. in the sumptuousness of arrange
ment in the bewildering splendor of de-
cor,tions and of marvellous electrical eff
feets. and in the countless throng taking
rart in the spectacle.
When the doors of the great structure
we're thrown open at s o'clock
AL eager crowd besieged every entrance
and lines of carriages stretched into the
surrounding streets and avenues. Platoons
Of police officers guarded the entrance.
Through the long arched entrances. hung
with bunting and vines, passed the mer-
" pleasure seeking throng, the women
in luxurious gowns, with the flash of
Jewels in their hair and at their threats.
soon the vast interior of the building be-
can to take on life and animation.
A wavy, ripping canopy of yellow
bunting covered the walls and skylight
and was broken only where the lining of
the Presidents balcony at the west end
stood out white in bold relief. Myriads
Of yellow electric bulbs glowed and
Minked like fire flies in the garlands of
green that entwined the scores of
pillars supporting the galleries
and shone out from the stars and bars of
The big American shields which hung high
no amid clusters of American flags. The
big fountain in the center of the hall held
a billOwy mass of the purple bouganville,
the flower of the Philippines. In the midst
rose tall palms and ferns bearing scores
of yellow light blossoms, and around the
border, fringed with the white spires
we're placed urns of glowing plants and
flowers.
great gilded sounding board back of
the musicians balcony threw the strains
Of sound TO all parts of the hall.
No less than seventy-six stars, formed
each of eleven frosted electric globes,
were set between the arches on the ground
floor and shone radiant through a net
work of greens.
The effect in the balconies varied some
what Flowers were everywhere in pro-
fusion OFF to the side, on the second
balcony, were the Presidents rooms, the
Vice Presidents room, the diplomatic
room and forty other rooms appropriate
B embellished for public reception and
pomenade. The Presidents room was en-
drely in white and made beautiful with
ribbons, white ochids and greens. The
other rooms held to the all-pervading vel
low. In the diplomat tic reception room the
flags of all nations were clustered.
The expense of the decorations, entire
Is set down at about $4,000 No less than
1000 electric lights We're involved.
The Presidential Party.
The presidential party arrived at 10:1l
o'clock. They were preceded by glitter.
ing array of officers in full uniform and
were escorted to the private offices OF
Commissioner Evans, which had beer
avishly decorated. The President bowed
and smiled as he passed through the
throng The band was ready to break
into the opening strains of the march
from "Tanr.hauser," but word came tina
Mrs Mckinley was indisposed and thai
the President would remain by her side
The march, consequently, was aban'
doned.
The band, however, struck up Strauss
GLUE Danube" and the first regret o.
the assemblage gave way before the
whir of gayety. Vice President ant
Mrs Roosevelt held an Informal leve'
among the groups of Governors and 9th
els.
Mrs. McKinley's indisposition was o
brief duration, and she soon was abl'
10 join the President and the brillian
"SsSihpldse III lhe DVA oNOliOohihS w
say throng below.
As the orchestra and band alternated
the ever-moving throng Joined in prone
made and dance, making a vast kaleido
SCOPE picture.
President Mckinley held an informa
reception in the upper corridor.
The presidential and vice presidential
parties left at 1915 o'clock, and the fes
uvities were continued until late hour
Er,nfra soI4