Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-03-07
THE INAUGURAL BALL.
A Most Brilliant Spectacular Event
Decorations Gorgeous.

Decorations Gorgeous.
Washington. D. c., March 5.-The
inaugural ball, regarded by many per
sons as the most interesting and spec
tacular event of the Inauguration cere-
monies, was held in the pension Office
building last night. This social off
cial function is time-honored affair
that has survived criticism and oppo-
sition by American public men who
regarded it as too much a departure
from the democratic simplicity which
to their minds should surround the
installation of a president
The Decorations.
The decorations of the ballroom had
yellow for their predominant tone.
On all sides stretched q wavy, rip
ping canopy of yellow bunting that
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 blinked like fireflies in the
garlands of green that entwined the
scores of pillars supporting the CALLER
les and shone out from the stars and
bars of the big American shields,
which, in the midst of clusters of
American flags. hung high up in the
center of each side of the immense
crowded hall.
The balustrades and archways pre-
sented brilliant scene. No less than
seventysix stars formed each of elev-
en- frosted electric globes, were set
between the arches on the ground
floor and shown radiant thru a net
work of greens against a background
glinting with powdered glass. Sus-
pended beneath each star, and below
draped festoons of smilaX, were
shimmering trailers of green and cleo
trio bulbs, tipped with yellow globe.
The gid pillars We're enshrouded in
vines and greens. and above the
bright circlets of light that crowned
them were placed invisible boxes of
growing tulips, daffodils, azalias, and
jonquils. In the second balcony the
same scheme of decoration was car
ried out, excepting that in lieu of the
stars were hung electric lights in Gus
tiers 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.
The expense of the decorations en-
tire is set down at about $4,000. The
floral and electric decorations alone
came to nearly $4,000, there being no
less than $4,000 electric lights involv-
ed in the illumination.
A Brave Show.
The elegant uniforms of the staff
officers who came here with governors
of states. were, conspicuous on the
floor, and army and militia officers,
not so gorgeous, however. were plen-
itiful. Then there were members of
the diplomatic corps to land additional
attractiveness to the scene by their
raiment, and other men in the conven-
tional clawhammer-gov sena-
tors, representatives, judges and peo-
pie not in official life. And the women
they appeared to be in greater force
than the men. Those selfish persons
OF the male persuasion who came alone
en-, for a great many of the male
had three of the fair sex.
The White House Party.
All these people walked up and
down and in and out the great space
inciosed within the four walls of the
pension building and seemed to enjoy
themselves immensely, altho the
crowd was SO dense that promenading
/ ;,l,N 81
many woman with sweeping train
found out before she had taken many
steps.
President Mcklnley's balcony was at
| the west END of the court. 1t had
| been built out from the permanent
gallery and was SO situated that every
body on the floor could have look at
the president and Vice President
Roosevelt when they came out to see
and be seen. This is a regular thing
at inaugural balls and follows the
march around, which is always led by
the president. When the president
and his party arrived they were shown
to rooms on the gallery floor which
4 had been decorated profusely with
flags and flowers. The White House
party consisted of the President and
Mrs. Mckinley, the Vice President and
Mrs. Roosevelt, the members of the
cabinet and their wives, Mr.. and Mrs
Abner Mckinley, DR.. and Mrs. Baer
the latter the daughter of Abner Nc
Kinley; Miss Helen Mckinley and
Mrs. Duncan, the presidents sisters;
Miss Grace Mckinley, the presidents
niece, and the Messrs. Barber, the
presidents nephews.
The president and those with him
spent about twenty-five minutes II
these rooms receiving members o.
the reception committee, the diploma
tic corps, and their friends, and a
1915 went to the floor and made {
circuit of the room, while the mer
among the spectators cheered and thu
women waved handkerchiefs and fans
and the band played the President!
march. The President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley were f1anked on each side b.
John Joy Edison, chairman of the in
augural committee, and Lieutenan
General Miles, chairman of the bal
committee. Then came the vice presi
dent, Mrs. Roosevelt. the members o
the cabinet, and others of the presi
dents party. So great was the desir,
to see the president and those will
him that the scores of young men wht