Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-03-05
THE INAUGURAL BALL.
The Closing Function of the Days
Observation-Disclosures of the

The Closing Function OF the DAYS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of the
Decorations.
WASHINGTON. March 4.-The Gull
minating event of the inaugural festiv-
titles was the inaugural ball, held to-
night in the vast auditorium OF h
pension Office, with the President and
Mrs. Mckinley leading tn the grand
march, and with men and women dis
tinguished in every walk of life touch
ing elbows, dancing and mingling with
the plain American citizen. AS a spec
tacular event, 1t was unparalleled IN
the history of inaugural balls, in h
sumptuousness of arrangement, in the
b%ewildering splendor of decorations
and of marvellous electrical effects,
and of the countless throng taking
part in the spectacle.
When the doors OF the great struc-
ture were thrown open at 8 O'Clock
another crowd besieged every entrance
and lines of carriages stretched into
the surrounding streets and n
Soon the vast interior of the build
ing began to take on life and ANNA
tion. The presidential party was not
to arrive until $50 O'Clock and the
early Corners busted themselves in
viewing the exquisite beauties of the
scene.
The decorations of the ball o had
yellow for their predominating o
No cumbersome effects Of light or
color were in evidence, but above and
on all sides stretched a wavy, rip
ping canopy of yellow bunting that
covered the walls and skylight, and
was broken only where the lining or
the Presidents balcony at the west
end stood out while in bold relief. My
riads of
yellow Electric Bulbs
glowed and blinked like frefiies 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 scheme of decoration with yell
low as the all predominating color was
a radical departure from the decorative
plan at the last inaugural ball. Then
three great floral bells, studded with
| colored lights, were the most promi-
nent feature of the work. This year
the soft light effect given by the broad
| expanse or golden color everywhere
was in sharp and favorable contrast.
The subdued yellow glow from the
thousands OF frosted electric bulbs
| made the great hall as bright as at
midday.
The big fountain in the center of the
| hall held a billowy mass of the purple
bouganvillea, the flower of the Phil
ippines. In the midst rose tall palms
and ferns bearing scores Of
Yellow Light Blossoms.
and around the border, fringed with
the white spirea, were placed gilded
urns of growing plants and flowers.
In the extreme west of the hall stood
the Presidents balcony, decked with
groups of Roman wreathes and clusters
, of American beauty roses, bound with
bright colored ribbons. Above the ex-
ecutive's stand flashed a big shield OF
hand embroidered silk topped with fine
stuffed specimen of the great Ameri-
can eagle.
Down at the eastern end was the big
| stand erected for the musicians. 1t
comprises 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 band. Back of the singers and
musicians was a great gilded sounding
| board, which threw the strains OF
sound to all parts of the big hall. In
| front hung a beautiful design SYM
bolic of the muse of melody, in the
! shape of a giant green Tyre with string
| Of purple ribbon, and on either side
| crossed musical Instrumentation the
| left a lutte and trumpet and on the
right a guar and pipe-all fashioned
| of green iencothe with strings Of pur-
| pie.
The B~alustrades and Archways
| presented a brilliant scene. No less
than seventy-six stars formed each Of
eleven frosted electric globes, which
wore set between the arches on the