Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1901-03-11
PENSION BUILDING ABLAZE FOR
INAUGURAL BALL.
SCENE OF MA0NlFicENcE
Function EcIipses That of Any of Its
Predecessors-Flower of Philip
pines Feature of Decorations
Distinguished People From All
Official Walks Present.

| in the vast auditorium of the pension
office, with President and Mrs. Nc
Kinley leading in the grand march,
and with men and women dlstln-
guished in every walk of life dancing
and mingling with plain American
citizens. AS a spectacular event 1T
was unparalleled in the history OF in
augural balls, in sumptuOusness OF ar
rangement, in bewildering splendor
| of the decorations and of marvellous
electrical effects, and in the countless
throng taking part in the spectacle.
When the Gcors Of the great structure
were thrown open at s O'Clock an
eager crowd besieged every entrance
and lines of carriages stretched into
the surrounding streets and avenues.
/ PlatOOns of police officers, mounted
and unmounted, guarded the outer en-
| frances, keeping back the rush OF cur
| ious spectators, and bringing order
out of the tangle of carriages. The
presidential party was not to arrive
until $50 and early Corners busted
themselves in viewing the exquisite
DGauLl0S I'll lie SCGuO.
The decorations of the ball room
had yellow for their predominant tone.
| No cumbersome effects of light or
color were III evidence, but above and
on all sides stretched Wavy, ripping
canopy of yellow bunting that covered
the walls and skylight, and was bro
ken only where the lining of the pres
idents balcony at the west end stood
out white in bold relief. Myriads of
yellow electric bulbs glowed and
blinked like firefiies 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, in the
midst of clusters of American flags,
hung high up in the center of each
side of the immense crowded hall.
| This scheme of decorating with
| yellow as the all predominating color
was radical departure from the dec
orative plan at the last inaugural
ball. Then three great floral bells,
studded with colored 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 favor
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 billowy mass of the
purple bouganvillea, the flower of the
Philippines. In the midst rose tall
palms and ferns burying scores of vel
low light blossoms, and around the
border, fringed withs the white spire,
We're placed gilded urns of growing
plants and flowers.
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 executives stand flashed a
big shield of hand embroidered silk
! topped with a fine specimen of the
j great American eagle. Down at the
eastern end was the big stand erected
for the musicians. 1t comprised an
upper and lower story, the former for
the stringed ochestra and the latter
/ for the accommodation of the big in
augural 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 symbolic Of
the muse of melody, in the shape Of a
giant green Tyre with strings of pur-
pie ribbon, and on either side crossed
musical Instrumentation the left a
lutte and trumpet and on the right a.
guitar and pipe-all fashioned Of
green lencothe with strings of purple.
! The balustrades and archways pre-
scented a brilliant scene. No less than
! seventy-six stars formed each of
| eleven frosted electric globes, were
set between the arches on the ground
!, floor and shown radiant through net
work OF green's against a background
| glinting with powdered glass. Su5-
| pended beneath each star, and below
| draped festoons of smilax, were SHIN
mering 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
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
clusters of three, covered with soft
| yellow transparent paper and produc-
/ ing beautiful effect. Back under the
balconies on the ground and second
floors, wreaths of green were hung a.
/ regular intervals, linked by loops OF
vines and smilax.
Seventy-six additional posts had
/ been placed on the top BALCONY. each
! one surmounted by glowing bulb Of
! light. Between them and bordering