The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-03-04

Inaugural Ball to Be Repre-
sentative Gathering.
PENSION OFFICE DECORATED
Keen Rivalry Over Matter of Dress.
Mrs. Roosevelt's Handsome
Gown.

inaugural balls are the biggest social
functions that occur in America. This
evenings reception at the Pension build
ing promises TO exceed in grandeur its
predecessors in the great edifice, Ia
NOUS as the largest brick structure IN
the world.
For weeks artists. painters, decorators,
experts in electrical effects, florists,
diapers, and a host of ali kinds of arti-
sans have labored and experimental in
Transforming the vast interior Of the
barn-like building into a fairyland OF
beauty wherein the beautiful women
and brave men of Washington and the
nation may pay social homage to the
President. This they viii do at So per
head. and thus VIII De largeIy deI 1T1.esa
the expenses of the inauguration There
viii be in the neighborhood OF 12.0o0 per-
sons at the ball.
A Representative Gathering.
Drawn from all classes, the congrega-
ton will probably include as representa-
tive and welI-dressed a throng as could
be collected There viii be diplomats
and army officers. Cabinet officers and
Government dignitaries, justices and
Judges, and a great mass Of the plain
people, many of whom will go tor no
other purpose than to rub elbows with
the nobility and to tell their children
about 1t when they get nome
Mrs. Roosevelt's ball gown is made OF
a special weave of robiL-egg blue silk
with figures Of plumes IN gold unsei.
The doves, which are represented as
flying diagonaily across the blue OF the
dress, are of the same color as the
gown.
Mrs. Fairbanks will wear a gown of
white satin dUchesse, embroidered with
roses OF gold in the natural size or the
flower. The lace trimming is of BruS-
sells point dappIique, with a design OF
bow-knots and marguerites interviewer.
Every man who has the right to sport
a uniform will do so. Diplomats have
been heard to sigh in years gone by
when some Western governor and his
staff has hove in sight. The odds were
on the governor that his staff members
would show more decorative beauty than
the diplomat and his attaches; but
American army officers in their new and
variegated dress clothes will take their
hats off 10 none.
Beautiful Decorations
The decorations of the ballroom outde
anything that ever before has been at
tempted Walls, columns. windows, and
every nook and corner will be covered
with greens and cut flowers, palms and
ferns, faEs. banners. and bunting, sc
that the thousands OF guests may look
with interest upon something else OF
beauty than dazzling gowns and gilt
tering jewels
A carload of royal palms from Port,
Rico with leaves twenty-five feet il
length viii challenge the roses, orchid:
and ferns for the admiration of the
multitude. Along the balconies VIII bt
strips OF laurel, caught up with wreaths
In front Of the first balcony, at tn,
top OF the columns, viii be placed large
plaques OF aZaleas and other brilliant
flowers, with vines and greens radiatina
tneTefrom. Tiny electric-Iight bulbs will
De grouped IN arches, circles, Semieir
Giles, and squares. Fire-proof bunting
viii be draped from every vantage
point, and shields and eoats-of-arrns o
the various States viii hang in conspic
uous places.
As an additional attraction there viii
be a mixed chorus of GOO voices tina
the new Chief Executive. Prof. Fan
ciuih, formerly leader of the Marin.
Band. has composed q song entitlet
zone Flag and One Country whicS
viii be sung for the first time at thu
ball another Is Union and Liberty
by Horatio Parker, composed especial
" for the inaugural choral work. TIL,
dance music h&s been selected from
the masterpieces OF the most renowned
OF the Old World composers.
The doors of the Pension building vii
be thrown open at g o'clock but tn,
President and his party viii not arriv
until s O'Clock. They will 90 imme
carpeted, and decorated for their re
Ception, and half an hour later IN,
grand march viii commence, Presfdeu
and Mrs. Roosevelt leading All fes
Ivities VIII have to close sharply a
midnight, because it Is believed best L
trespass no Sabbath principles.
The moral decorations We're by j. H
Sr1raI1 Sons