Evening star., 1909-03-05

time. The members reported at 1:30
o clock and at once began preparations
for forming the lane. The members took
position in two lines facing each other,
twelve feet apart.
An amusing feature occurred just prior
to the arrival of the President. After the
floor committee had been FORMED lnt
double line the assistants to the chairman,
representing the states and territories.
widely advertised as ''the handsome aids, y
were escorted into the cleared space and
given position circling the fountain. The
throng pressed forward, and there was
a spontaneous murmur of Abs The
chiefs of sections of the floor committee
were importuned, especially by the ladies,
to point out and indicate by name those
who were reported to be the handsomeSt
men in their respective states.
Not until the President had been in the
building fully half an hour did the ball
| room assume the appearance of being at
all crowded. BY 1890 o'clock moving
about was with difficulty. and by mid
night the huge building might have been
likened to an immense sardine box. prior
to the removal of the contents. At one
time the floor and galleries were almost
jammed. but hundreds departed as like
numbers arrived so that at no time was
the situation actually uncomfortable. The
musical program continued until l
o'clock Notwithstanding the ball was
announced to formally end at that hour
a large number of persons did not reach
the building until long after midnight.
| Shortly after 1 o'clock. however. thin
ming out was apparent, and soon the
scene of festivity had passed into his
tory and the structure was in possession
of the watchmen and the firemen detailed
there.
The arrangement for the comfort Of the
guests were carried into effect in a man
| IA
| lay anywhere. The immense throngs
| were promptly admitted to the structure
and their wraps cared for Immediately,
and handled In manner that did not
admit of criticism in any instance. The
| hat boxes were in charge of several hun
| dred local letter carriers. the boxes being
arranged as are mail boxes In the post
office. The carriers. who are familiar
with distributing mail in such boxes,
| were therefore thoroughly at home fac
| ing the hat boxes at the ballroom and
| were able to hand out the right property
at once on presentation of a strip of pa
per bearing the number of the box.
An important detail of the arrange
ments that came to the attention of only
| a few who attended the ball was pro-
vision for complete hospital to care for
emergency cases. 1t was located near the
4th street entrance, and was fully equip
ped PHYSICIANS and trained nurses being
| on duty. with a detail of hospital corps
men to handle litters. Two wards were
| fitted up, one for men and one for wom-
| en-. During the evening several patients
| were cared for in the hospital.
Only a comparatively small place was
reserved for dancing, it being assumed
| that but fdw of those attending the ball
| would carr to attempt anything in the
| terpsichorlan line. But dancing proved
to be a tery popular. diversion. and as
the crow1 grew larger the dancers moved
| outside the bounds allotted them, and
soon daacing was general all over the
| floor
Thousands seemed to take chief interest
| in the music. which was continuous from
| 9 O'Clock until l o'clock the band and
the orchestra playing alternately Many
took positions In the balcony at the east
| end of the hall, just above the music
stand. and remained there during the
greater portion of their stay at the ball.
| Mr.. Leslie r. Fort son of the Governor
or New Jersey. and private secretary to
the latter. who is member of the gov
ernors official party attending the inau-
guratlon. was specially appointed mem
Der OF the floor committee and performed
active and valuable duty as such.