Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1901-03-02
GORGEOUS BALLROOM.

The Washington correspondent o
the Baltimore Sun says:
The inaugural ballroom of the new
century will be scene of SURPRISING
brilliaDcy and splendor. Never 10 the
history OF similar events has such su.
perb effect ip decorations been OBJ
! talned. Toe entire scheme is gold,
giving the spectator the impression OF O
great palace OF the First Empire trails
planted and giving it the fioal touch oi
our national banners and emblems.
70 gild the pillars of the double tier
OF u arches and drspe the double fa-
cade lookioe onto the great inner court
constituting the ballroom and avoid
The glare that would result If this ware
not skillfully done required not little
study.
The hundreds OF yards OF chsllis
cloth of gold will be underlaid With
white cioth so soft and skillfully draped
tost The sides Of the walls broken Dy
toe double facade of the two galleries
will AXE on tint OF old ivory, sup
ported By these inDumerable gleamiU q
gold plllars. Over this the canopy 10
t1 be hung. IL will be of deeper
shade of yellow, more OF sn orange
INT, and light and airy by being per.
f,ctly fat overhead. The huodreds Of
yards OF cioln Will be jiped 10 seams
and made into panels about the width
OF each arch underneath. Each Of
ihese panels ia separated from the
,ther by a six.inch valance, which, be-
,ug slightly gathered, will hang down
aaids and soften the otherwise fat
ell -ci. This canopy, resting on the
,ritz OF The eight large columns that
upuoli the center roof, falls in tent-like
effect over The entire court, and Ia this
way shuts out the crude outlines of the
appsr story. Il is as hsbt aud airy as
that of some Venetian palace on fete
lay.
Every line 10 the decoration OF the
ballroom is a curve, and the effect is as
Srscelul and ss hight ss Can possibly
Do devised, The gided pillars of the
facades give cool effect, ss we'll ss
very rich one. Each OF these ie capped
oy tiny stars Of electric light of one
candle Jower. There is not to be an
arc light, with its uubecoming glare,
10 the @hOle misc en scene. Over each
on the upper tier and just under the
cenopy are opslescent globes to shed
the glow Of irridescent light far above
the assemblage. Necklaces OF small
electric Ii ybts are strung about the
arches. Each one terminates in the
centre and is caught up by a star, the
surface of which Is covered with cts of
light, aud from these hang pendant OF
light made like diamond. Two much
canDo, b. said Of the beauty and soft
ness Of the effect in lighting the ball.
room.
Oae of the most effective features OF
the decoration and arrangement of the
Oill ID Toe music gallery. This Was
erected near the floor. and not on q
iiue with the upper gallery, as in past
years The space between the orches-
ira and the four large columns Is to
Oe boarded over and covered with crash
for daucins. This will be reserved
entirely Tor that purpose. The orches
ira of 125 pieces Is assigned to the front
gallery, and back of them is smaller
gallery for q brass band OF 10 men
The two com bined are Haley's Orches
ra aud the Marine Band and orchestra
Together they are to play the cOntinu-
GUS music which makes q ball SO in
sp ring.
A huge eilded sounding board will
bs placed directly back of the band
orchestra. Over The sounding
oosrd the eight h,g trophy will be
me of the most conspicuous Orns.
menis of the ball and at either
side OF the musicians gallery
mere will bs two standards. At the
of tnese ur standards q burst OF
isnt AID ,ecElac OF electric stars ex-
endiDg do~nwsrd to the gallery will
n st To each OF bese Standards will
be :afix d pennon of the national
cVlots
Up over the Presidents gallery, at
the opposite end of the hall, the blue
a,gs will bs arranged iD trophy
raere are eight in all, and the Presi-
d-nts q < comes out on liz staff in the
c-u re aud hangs over the gallery. This
balcony is little below the line o he
gallery proper, and, being bu,lt out for
the purpose and reached by five down.
ward steps, everyone 10 the great ball
room Can see the Chief Executive and
uis parry when hey pass down the
short stairway to the buale call aud
he opening notes of the presidents
March"
This balcony, like the other features
of he b4liroom,i ,is all N yellow drapery,
Tue q ,ral treatment oi the vast ball is
tue most grac fdl and beautiful that
las ever been designed Instead OF
nr masslDg aud hespiDg of flowers and
palms for mere quantity, each wreath
aud garland and floral medallion will
0sve its place and meaning. The most
artistic design OF wreatbs and gsrlsnds
ever attained for decorative purposes
will be strictly adhered to 10 outlining
the spaces along the front OF the gal
leries. Overhead just under the canopy
m sdslioDs OF roses set 10 masses oil
green will run the entire length Of the
hall. From these sprays OF green will
! trail TO the electric stars.
Comparatively few palms are to be
used. A great number of very hand
some specimeDs will be placed In the