The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-03-04

| iAr, was SWIM 10 dkOuSc AZ sAS
Of the great crowds the stirring VVen0
Of nearly half century ago. As spe-
cial escort Of hoi,Or Mr.. Taft had tip
veteran soldiers and sailors Of the
Grand Army of the Republic and thD
Spanish War Veterans.
Great Display - Firs~orsA
| Distressing for needed refreshmeA
after the willingly borne fatigue OF see
ing the great parade pass. the CROWDS
reaS>emhed III The evening to witness
the fireworks display ON the plot bace
Of the White House. Approximately
$50 600 people gazed with wide EYED
wonder and delight at what NO doubt
was the finest display ~ aerial ire
| works ever seen at the national capl-
tai. The exhibition. which was given
on the ellipSe south of the executive
mansion. began at $50 O'Clock. and at
that hour the great open spaces OF the
White lot and the Washington monu-
ment grounds were crowded by
dense thron". all expectant and ea4og
to see the really wonderful exhibition
Of pyrotecinics It is believed that
|
12J,OCO Tim there were probably as
many mcr" occupying the roofs a1
windows of the tall apartment houses
and other buildings. private and pub
lie. which would make 4 total larger.
it is thought. than amy eSer before as
sembied in Washington ON similar
occasion. The great fireworks display
began by the discharge of 1Ol aer1o4
guns. the national salute, and was fol-
lowed 10y the lighting Of $50 prismatac
fires which changed color 4 number OF
times. The illumination was superb,
and the effect Of the changing t10ts ON
the towern. marble shaft Of the
Washington monument was extremely
| beautiful. The star spangled bannesS
in especial excited the admiration q
the great throng Of spectators.
| A number that set the great crowds
cheering was the salute to the Annex
lean flag" IN immense shell which
was fred several hundred feet Into tho
air released 1 monster streamer In The
inspiring colors Of Did Glory. While
the crowds gazel the dag fioated away
and finally disappeared. During these
| moments the national salute was 6red.
Then came two miles OF floating fes-
toons, which were followed by 1he
ascent of four large balloons. each
bearing Il gigantic letter forming Ito
name Taft" Nearly the last and the
creates, sensation of the whole exh2
bition MAS Il set piece, the battle In
the sky showing city. with its
spires and lofty buildings. some OIL
them Il hundred feet high and filing a
space on the ground 500 feet long. An
airship Was seen passing over 1t, fol-
lowed 10y others. These turned and
| We're met by an OPPOSING aerial feet.
when Il battle ensued. One airship
after another was set Oh fire and fell.
In thu meantime other airships flOated
over the city. dropping fiery bombs
ami wrectilig the buildings, which
crumbltd and TELL until ali were utter.
| iy destroyed.
Inaugural Ball Closes Day.
To the thousands of women visitors
70 Washington the browning event of
inauguration day was the great ball
| give! il the beautifully decorated pen
! Sion office. The function was honOred
| by the presence Of President Taft and
| Vice President Sherman, with their
| respective families. and un interesting
! feature WAS the presentation to them
! Of the guests from the various states
with that ehri III view the Inaugural
| ton committee had selected a commit
tee composed of one prominent man
! from each state and territory, whose
duty it WAS TO see that as many as
possible Ut the visitors from his state
| were presented to the new president
| and vice president
| The bail was Il public affair omen TO
all who We're able TO pay the IS apiece
asked for tickets The pension office
| large as 1t Is Was filled to suffocation
| and, as usual dancing was out of theI
question. The music for the occasion
was furnished by the celebrated Ma
Inc band nnd other organizations.
The great court of the pension build
| ing. which has been the scene Of tho
chief social function Incident to tho
! induction int" "i.t e Of six presidents
OF the Int"d States. was Il picture ~
| rare beauty
Tie decoration. fer other fuaupurs,
balls have been greatly admired. but
there can he litlc douht that the com.
mltt"t IF architects ami decorator
| who had change # !i,is years wm
secured Wonderfully beautiful eefec-
rarely If ever '.cfo!" accomplished.
| i he trrtc.t care vas pXercised toI
avoid a.'vthinc H. til" illuminating NJ
| floral Vsi'. .h"t W"Ult We nh:ruaivo or
| .hri~il. and oft # rs and nt.rt,..t hsr
| mnny ai;i' IL. all the clements " IN.
decorations Were tI.t. result. The roc-
erul color sEem. VT, cream aud .,o,A
| but lavish rs" N':i :t.., .igue of 6sps
ferns, orchids aud American Beauty.
roses.