The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-03-05
THE INAUGURAL BALL BRILLIANT CLIMAX TO FESTIVITIES
 OF THE DAY. Thousands of Beaux and Belles Paid Their Social Duties to Nations Chief Executive at Spen-
 did Event.

festivities closed at midnight with a ball that in splendor, attendance and artistic effect fittingly ushered out brilliant spectacular day.
 Thousands of handsomely sowned women with escorts from every State in the Union and nearly every civilized lcountry in the grand illuminated court of the pension building paid their so- cial duties to the nations Chief Exec utive for the next four years. The set tings for the ball were beautiful in flowers, evergreens, lights and plants. The ball opened formally at 9:30 with the arrival of the President and Mrs. Roosevelt and party and the Vice-Pres- ident and Mrs Fairbanks.
 | The balconies were crowded five deep with early corners and the main court of the building was rapidly becoming filled. The Scene was gorgeous. Im- agine a vast hall so large that from one end the lights at the other were lost in haze and with height to cor respond. Surround this hall with two tiers of balconies, decorate the sides with smilax, evergreens, ferns, bou- gainvilleas, flowers and plants from | the tropics and our own Southland, bank these sides with rich red frieze and through all the greens and flowers have lights shining forth in softened bril- | liance, place a flower bordered grotto | in the center of the vast court with | fountain splashing. gorgeously at | tired band at one end of the hall filling l the air with soul-stirring national melodies. and then people the balco- l nies, the grand court and every space with an animated throng of magnifi- | gently gowned women and escorts in | evening dress and brilliantly light the entire building, and & fair idea may | be had of the scene when President Roosevelt, the guest of honor arrived. The President arrived by way of the westetl entrance of the pension build l ing. He and his party were met at the threshold of the; ball room by the chairman of the floor committee, Cor | coran Thorn, and his vice-chairman, Colonel Thomas w. Symonds, while | the members of the reception commit
 tee formed broad aisle down the cen | ter of the court. As the Presidential party entered the Marine Band at the
 east end of the court struck up The Star -Spangled Banner"
 The chairman of the floor committee and his vlce-chairman walked in ad- | vance of the Presidential party. Be-
 hind them came the President and Mrs | Roosevelt; Brigadier General Wilson, | Chairman of the Inaugural Committed
 in full uniform. walking to their right and Colonel George Truesdell. vice. chairman to their left. Immediately
 back of the President and Mrs Roose- welt walked Frank Tyree and James Sloan, Jr, the Presidents body guard
 The Vtce-President and Mrs. Fair banks followed. The Presidents mili- tary and naval aides, Lieutenant Colo mel Cromwell and Commander c. McR
 Winslow, brought up the rear of the Presidential party
 | As the President and Mrs. Roosevelt reached the grotto In the centre of the ball room, they paused. and, facing their box, saw their children. For the moment the Chief Executive and the first lady of the land seemed to forget all else save their children. They waved to them and smiled.
 Completing their promenade, the Presidential party ascsnded the stair way to the first gallery. where the Presidents reception room was situ- ated.
 A reception was held for specially | invited guests, and at 10 o'clock the President and Mrs. Roosevelt entered their box overlooking the main court. About 6,O00 persons thronged the i'm provised Italian garden and cheered and applauded several minutes. Their | cheering was supplemented by the stir
 ring mrs1o of the band at the eastern
 end of the building.
 The inaugural gown of Mrs. Roose- welt surpassed in beauty and simple elegance all expectations. It was of ,pale electric blue satin made with n train, and decollette with short puff sleeves. It was delicately brooaded in gold thread which outlined flocks of doves, the blue and gold softly merg- ing
 Mrs. Roosevelt wore in her hair pale blue plume and carried a beauti- full bouquet of orchids and lilies of the valley. Around the neck of her gown was rare old point lace and she wore a magnificent necklace of diamonds that shone and glistened under the soft electric lights of the court
 Mrs. Fairbanks wore a gown of white satin duchesse, the fabric being richly embroidered at intervals with roses of gold in the natural size of the flower, the graceful folds of the full train skirt showing to advantage the beauty of this odd design.
 The gown was trimmed with exceed ingly fine Brussels point d'applique :n dainty design of bow knots and mar guerites interwoven. The costume was of special design, the pointed corsage being particularly effective, revers of gold adorned with lace turning back gracefully from the shoulders and drawn to a point at the waist line, re- vealing a series of volantes Of lace. this idea being continued in broad eniyHg panel of lace which forms the tvN Sming of the front of the skirt.