The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-03-05
Without Doubt the Event Was
The Most Spectacular Of
It's Kind That Has Ever
Been Attempted.
PENSION BUILDING A
SCENE OF SPLENDOR
The Modern Byzantine Palace
Was Brilliant With Lights
And Sweet With Perfume Of
Rare Flowers.

Rare Flowers.
Warrington, March 5.-The social
administration OF the Tafts in the
White House began last night with one
Of the most gorgeous inaugural balls In
the history Of the National capital.
From the moment when President Taft
and Vice president Sherman, leading
the grand promenade, opened the ball
at promptly $3.50 until 1880 p. M. the
scene was one Of dazzling beauty.
The handsome women, magnificently
kowned. the diplomats in their gorge
ous uniforms, the lights, the superb
decorations, the enhancing music of
che Marine band, made picture that
will live long in the memories of the
men and women who were fortunate
enough to be there.
The grand promenade included Cab
lnet officers, senators, congressman,
governors OF states and territories and
representative men from North, South,
East and West. Seldom, if ever, have
80 many famous men and women been
gathered in one assemblage before. It
was q monster tribute to the merit Of
the new president. A total of nearly
10000 persons was In attendance on
the ball.
j, An Informal Ievee.
Contrary to former custom. Presi-
dent Taft circled the entire ball room
with Mrs. Taft on his arm, and follow
Ad hy Mr.. Sherman and Mrs. Sherman
and his personal cabinet. After this
he held an informal levee, where hs
was attended by his personal friends
and many distinguished visitors. Lat
er he took his place in the magnifi-
Gently decorated presidential stand at
the western end Of the court. From
this vantage point he watched the ball
with the members Of his party.
The scene that met the gaze as the
where the balls have taken place for
the last decade and more, was that Of
the inner court Of some stately palace.
The Old Ivory Tone.
The court was arched over by can,
Opy Of deep cream bunting, the walls
were draped with the same, every
where the old ivory tone being carried
out. the notes OF color contrast being
IN the floral decorations along tho In
nsr wall Of the cloistered. arch way that
extends around the building, tier over
tier, and also In the massing Of a1Aleas
bougGnville and tropical and other
plants that formed mass OF blossoms
about the fountain In the center.
In further contrast to the general ef-
feet OF the old ivory were the splashes
e9 color at the two ends Of the build
ing formed by the presidents box and
the musicians' stand. They faced
each other at the ends OF tho building.
and their dominant colors were red and
gold.
The great vaulted canopy that roof
"a the court vas 800 fest long and 100
wide. divided into squares. resembling
sunken panels. which seemed to be sup
ported ~ the four Sienna marble col
umna vysnE with the columns in I'M
poetance In the decorative scheme, were
the great chandeliers which were sus-
pended from the vanlted dome.
Artistic Decorations.
There were 1S large fixtures, each
one bearing cluster design Of 125
globular lamps Of frosted glass. These
huge chandeliers. which were dis
tinctly new feature OF decoration were
most artistic. There were six long
eilded chains suspended from one
heavy one. bearing tho bowl-shape
mass Of lights. Each light was sur
mounted by rosette Of white plaster,
resembling the calix OF = flower, this
throwing the light down and softening
Il. and giving the effect Of many can
dies, . becoming light to sparkling
eyes. and throwing ! luminous glow
over shimmering satins and cleaning
Jewels
All the light was concentrated in
these huge chandeliers, there being no
side brackets as formerly. Tho mu-
raj decorations OF the cloistered arch
way were purely Of flowers and vines
grouped together. These clusters 81
green's and brilliant-hued blossoms,
crowned the spaces between the short
pillars Of tho colonnade running
around the hall. surmonntinG every
arch Tho prevailing note q color
Wa the brilliant pinkish red Of a1al
60. which were used profnsely. being
masssd with other blossoms in trail.
ing vinss and festoona q Southern smi-
lax and galax leaves.
Jsln shs Grand March.
The president and his party~aftss
entering Ne boz. were there but =
short time. when they descended the
stairs and took port In the grand
lOentanssd - PAN 1lvs.l