New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-03-05
GORGEOUS SCENE AT
INAUGURAL BALL
THE PENSION BUILDING
TRANSFORMED.
Wonderful Effects Produced by
architects and Florists -Descrip-
ton Of the Go1cns.
rFrom The tribune Bureau

-.-..b4rz-on March At would be difficult 70
.-.ri,e q more beautiful or imposing sight than
-. which greeted the President and Mrs. Taft
-. +onig+t they stepped into the great i'm
..5sad ballroom in the Pension Building. where
- talents Of architects and artists combined with
vronderful effect
-...-ed in the great ivory ballroom were nota-
-, -,sn and women from all parts Of the world,
-. b-5lfant costumes adding additional charm
- animation while all the languages Of the
-, world inrermixed with the varied accents
:, americans we're heard mingng with the tread
u % &C., and the clank of the swords dangling at
Tho soldiers sides 1t is estimated that ten thou
rd rersons attended the ball
go -. she first casual glance about the room.
= -,igh+ have been absolutely other point Of
- 81 nersistently were all eyes turned tow
- +te 1oeria where the President and Mrs. Taft
aa LEW the scene and the starting point of the
- aisle down which they made their triumphal
march
ruF PRESIDENT NEAR HIS PEOPLE
IT, --ire scheme Of color for the whole room
- - concentrate here with strong but
s-.irr effect and adroity enough too so that
.,t 5e-racted from the rich gowns OF the
80 or the splendid view Of the entire party.
- =. hing the new President close TO his peo-
lie the large octagonal loggia was at height mid
- bstuvesu the two floors. where one might al
-. 80 shaken hands with him, close an in
-, ,rss given Where the two heavy yellow
- old curtains divided. The back OF the box
- tined with scarlet, against which the shield
. -. United States on blue ground was seen.
r-o.stns the curtains lambreQuin Of the
-. -icb material finished. like the curtains. IN
80 gold fringe Above this was the trophy of
American flags, with a gold ball and eagle its
central feature Below this the box itself. with
its two great square pedestals surmounted each by
q tall bronze Pompeiisr lamp, upon which were
huge globes Of light. At either side of the box
and resting against the square pedestals tall,
sIsrder oedars OF rare growth the base Of which
rambler in riotous protusion- The gold
railing about the front Of the box draped with
tbs Presidents flag against background Of smax.
and Immediately n front of the President was .
huge display-aln1ost like a forest-Of American
Beauty roses, some Of them standing as tall
mar upon their long. slender stems
There great interest added to the furnishing
If ire box from the fact that the chair in which
che President sat-and there was great caution
shown in getting sufficiently strong and ample
was brought from New York by E. c. Caldwell
snd loaned for the occasion. Upon either side were
TWO chairs as rich in history as in establishment
losned by Mrs Albert Clifford Barney, the artist
and phianthropist for the occupancy Of other mem
hers OF the party. To reach this box. which stood
-idEsr between The two floors, the President and
his family passed down a flight of broad steps,
IN. railing for which was draped in cloth-of-goi2
and trailing vines and the newell post was capped
with profusion Of flowers
TIE MUSICAL ARRANGEMENTS
The music stand flied the east end Of the ball
room for g distance Of about nifty feet, and TO &C
conmodate the band Of seventy members and an
orchestrs Of 1c pieces with chorus Of 500 voices,
vas made to form great octagonal amphitheatre,
with perfect acoustic properties The interval back
Of this great structure and the railing Of the sec
ond gallery were filed with series OF medallic
panels serving sounding boards but appearing
as a gold background upon which there were
graceful garlands Of flowers, that it might be IN
keeping with the rest Of the scheme Of decoration
The lunette above the music stand served as a
background against which a great trophy Of Ameri-
can Tags corresponding 10 that above the Presi- |
dents box. arranged The front Of this
structure was finished with series OF panels, the
tops OF which were network against which plants
Of bouganvllea were freely disposed. giving the
solo structure light and airy effect Of pale, rosy
purple and gold as q foreground for the splendid |
uniforms worn by the musicians grouped in the |
centre Of the box.
It from this point Of vantage that the first |
blast of the instruments announced the approach |
Of the President and Mrs Taft, the Vice-President
and Mrs Sherman and their escort for the great |
triumphal march about the room Constant practice
with view 10 accommodating the volume Of sound |
70 the acoustic properties Of the surroundings, rem
dered the musical feature feuIuess acquisition 10
the delightful effect Of the whole The well ar
ranged programme. upon which weeks Of study |
were spent follows
Music b. United states Marine Band and Minister'S |
Orchestra. slteruajingJ
PROMENADE ooNcERT-e TO 10 P. II.
Band
fsef Nsn' .ciries
"reminiscences Of the Chambers
Overture. ssriranias Rossini |
Second Pe0nsise. List
Band
pANclNG PRoGRAMME-lo P " TO a N
vsS-t'ep staunch ana TieIse !
Waltz. Waltz Dream s Eisg
Waltz The Bacheiors On ,, zion
1aEo-step. Old Faithful. tIaifzmsnn /
W.. 1890 II Old Berlin starIe
Tzn-,s ~ ~ Herbert
Waltz Vienna Beauties 5Zlehel
w5- seR The Msa Of ATonson |
Waltz Manila IIehar /
,1rMoo--s'e2 Rainbow. W-enrich /
Ma.tz Artist Life. ''-'' Sense
Waltz. Bad Ter Madin. 80 80
Wsit pI A1neoa Centennial Sanford
-@allz- Bite Danube. StraTfss /
Waltz. Golden sunset ne 91Iih1
Eo-step. On the Avenue I5, - a.
"si si.r s,1.3 FIiedeniann
Orchestra and hand
Ipon The arrival OF President and Mrs Taft and |
uier FAMILY in their big automobiles AT the west
.o Of NE building. they passed through a corridor
., - ehC4lsFeiy for them during the period
"a tner arrival and departure and At once hurried
10 me splendid suite arranged TO- 49, - .ha
1'n"est corner Of the Pension Office There a
- oD'alned which We'd in beauty with the hall
So, ~ 'eseiL Inc walls were hung in drapery Of
son Old ivory tone, against Which = friaze If
Sr.a-a s'niiax and festoons and wreatbs Of
osn,-., o'aped with artistic effect The grand
'enlFal feature os the nom, ~. . -, -.
u me Earest orchids ever h-o,,gl,t q, ,bte
rTe 49,, arranged against an airy Iattioework in
Tan ,.r - qua entWined with asparagus vines
Sa 3ars were filed with American Bes',,. go
T,t. II q iact that they quite dwarfed gturdv Mr.
oeptlon .ls $1,000 beside them In the great re-
lur,,, 'o'H was an array II costly furniture and
-. appointments Of al kinds vile mon
enc - vas spread goodIy fortune in Persian
ba g'aer Oriental rugs Rich Pod GA IT,.