, 1905-02-14
PROMINENT WOMEN AT CAPITAL
FINDING TIME TO DISCUSS
THIS FEATURE.
Presidents Wife Will Appear in First
Seemingly Extravagant Gown
Of the White House-Same Old
Kick About Precedence.

augural ball. Once on a time within
the memory of the present generation
official women thought anything good
enough to wear to these national
brushes. The condition of the bal
room, the absolute lack of any sem.
blance of comfort made it rank extrava
gance to wear IN expensive dress.
But all this has changed. The veil
ed rcasm of diplomats and travellers
about holding state balls in an adapted
building with cheese cloth and green,
cry covering the unsuitable environ.
ments, unfortunately still applies to
the preparation. But the inaugural
committee are bravely using the mater
ial in hand to make as brilliant an ap
pearance as the possibilities of the pen,
sion building will allow.
That the capital needs a great state
hall for such functions as the inaugu
raj ball is apparent to the most econ
omic legislator, such a hall as exists
in connection with the home of the
president of France at the Elysee. or
il every other large capital of the
world, for that matter. 1t is designed
that such an apartment form a part
of the projected state building. and
that it be suitably furnished and kept
only for state occasions. Portraits OF
former presidents, their wives and
statesmen, soldiers, scholars and patri-
OTIS of the nation will cover the walls.
But even in the pension bureau the
host of women in official life and hun
dreds of notable people from all parts
of the country are determined that in
the matter of fine plumage and wealth
of gems this inaugural ball will be
memorable in history. Mrs. Roosevelt
will appear in the first seemingly eX-
%travagant gown which she has worn
as mistress of the White House. 1t
will be of American make, though the
lace and silk for the foundation are to
come from Brussels and have been
carefully selected by Miss Carow, her
sister, who has been spending the win
ter abroad, but who will be here for
the Inauguration. The color and gen
eral design of Mrs. Roosevelt's gown
are kept a profound secret. but small
hints are whispered in society about
the extravagant ost of the gown. Mrs.
Fairbanks is also t. appear in a regal
gown, now being designed in New
! York, and all the cabinet women are
ordering handsome toilets.
The women of the diplomatic corps
are holding off until they know just
where they are to appear in the pro
cession. The grand march will ap
proach in dignity and brilliancy all
that should be expected on such oc'
casions, and will, of course. be led by
the president and his wife, with Mr..
and Mrs. Fairbanks second in line.
Then comes the Russian ambassador,
dean of the corps, and the piquant
Countess Marguerite. followed by the
| OlItT dlllbdSSdhois. 'he NubihN JIM
GERS and their wives. the chief justice.
the president pro tempore Of the SEN
ate, and the speaker of the house.
1t has again been suggested that the
five heads of the three cooperate
branches of this government form a
distinct class. This would make the
procession consist, first, of the presi'
dent and vice president and their
wives, then the chief justice and his
daughter, Miss Fannie Fuller; the
head of the judiciary, the president
pro tempore of the senate, Senator
William P. Frye, and his gr~and-daugh
ter. Miss White, who is his chatelaine;
and then the speaker of the house and
Miss Cannon, typifying the legislative
branches of the great triumvirate.
But the ambassadors will not listen
to any such argument. They must
come after the vice president, or they
will simply witness the grand pageant
as guests from the gallery. This lat
ter course probably will be, after all,
the most satisfactory. The inaugural
ball is a national and not an interna'
| tioHal affair, and the diplomatic corps
Genes merely as guests and not in any
official capacity.
Nothing could be more graceful or
tactful than the visit hat the Sice
pr~esident-elect and Mrs. Fairbanks
paid last week to the widow of the la
mented President Mckinley. In hel
retirement at Canton, Mrs. Mckinley
is not often remembered by those VIII
shared her high fortune when She
reigned at the White House. Mr.. Cor
ltelyou was one of her most faithful
visitors and only stress of duty has
prevented more frequent pilgrimases
to Canton. Mrs. Fairbanks a one O.
those to whom Mrs. Mckinley was gen
timely attached. They belonged to tht
same church, and were drawn together
by many other kindred interests.