The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-03-09
GORGEOUS SCENE
AT INAUGURAL BALL

Washington, d. C.-No other
incoming President looked upon
so brilliant scene as that which
unfolded to the gaze of Presi-
dent Taft at the inaugural ball
in the Pension Office The gray walls
and the dull blue ceiling of the court
of the vast building were shut from
view by a wonderful combination of
bunting, American flags and flowers
and plants gathered from all States,
from the Philippines, Hawaii Porto
Rico and Panama Not an electric
light was visible, the soft illumina-
ton being thrown over the fairyland
by reflection from every side. The
scheme of the decoration was cream
and gold, with the Presidents box
adding splash of color in its pre-
vailing note of scarlet.
A chorus of 500 voices, concealed
behind plants in gallery, burst into
the Jubilee Chorus of Won Weber
when President and Mrs Taft first
appeared, leading the pageant around
the fiower-decked avenue of the ball
room. The singers we're accompa-
MED by an orchestra of 1915 pieces.
Behind the President came Vice-Pres-
ident Sherman and Mrs. Sherman,
and then came the official represen-
tatives of thirty-five nations, with
Baron Mayor des Planches, the Italz
ian Ambassador, who is dean of the
Diplomatic Corps, at their head. The
Ambassadors or Ministers walked be-
side their wives, who were gowned as
if for court, with coronets or tiaras,
or gay ribbons or other bright insig-
MAS of title or rank. The flash of
color, with the uniforms of the for
eigners, the full dress of Navy and
Army officers, the Annapolis and West
Point cadets and the frocks of the
women, was dazzling and enhancing.
The path of the procession led to
the fountain in the middle of the ro-
tunea, around the fountain and back
the same way, passing around the
Presidents box and up to the sec
ond floor.
Following their appearance in the
box the President and his party re-
tired to rooms especially reserved
for them, where supper was served.
At the ball Mrs. Taft made her in
itial appearance as the First Lady of
the Land. She wore rarely beau
tiful robe of filmy white chiffon en-
bellished in a trailing design of gold
en- rod-the national flower-worked
in silver. Great plume-like sprays of
the nodding blossoms trailed the en-
tire length of the paneled skirt. Over
the wide flowing sweep of the mag
nificent court train, from hem to
shoulders, the full-blossomed sprays,
pointing upward, were skilfully en-
broidered.
Months must have been consumed
in encrusting the fairy-like fabric
with it's heavy burden of blossoms.
Over a robe of heavy satin, such as
our grandmothers fancied, the chif-
fon was draped Empire bands of the
silvered gauze formed the bodice and
the shoulder straps AS a finishing
touch about the decolletage and be-
low the tight band-like sleeves fell
a frill of exquisite point lace.
A spray of diamonds trimmed the
couture and a necklace of pearls and
diamonds, supplemented sby the jew
els presented by the members of the
Philippine party, were Mrs. Taft's
chosen jewels.
Fully $4,000 persons attended the
ball, and it was the most brilliant in
the history of such affairs.
The Presidents party left the PEN
sion Building shortly before mid
night. The President and his family
returned to the White House as they
had come, in his new automobile.