The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-03-05

Vice President and Mrs Sherman re-
! turned from the supper to their box
at 11:30 O'Clock. The president party
left the pension building shortly before
midnight.
| The president and his family re-
! turned to the White House as they
! had come in a new automobile. Mr.
and Mrs Sherman remained for a
short time after the president had left.
President Taft was given a cordial
| the ball made a fitting close to Mr..
Taft's day. He did not join, in the
dancing and generally refused when
called upon for speech.
The Decorations.
Washington March 5.-The great court
of the pension building, which has been
the scene of the chief social function
six presidents of the United States, was
last night picture of rare beauty.
The decorations for other inaugural
balls have been greatly admired but
there can be little doubt that the COM
mittee on architects and decorators
who have had charge of the present
work secured wonderfully beautiful eff
fects rarely, If ever before accomplish
ed.
The greatest care has been exercised
to avoid anything in the illuminating or
floral work that would be obstrusive or
garish, and soft lights and perfect har-
decorations have been the result.
Above the music stand a large trophy
of American flags was suspended from
the vaulted ceiling overhead The front
of the stand was finished with series
of panels. the upper one in each series
being filled with a gold network against
which large BOugainvillea plants from
the Philippines were placed about. pro
ducing at this point a light and trans
parent effect of pale rosy purple and
gold as a foreground to the orchestra,
and particularly to the uniformed bands
occupying the central portion of the
music stand.
The presidents box was the most
ornate and a very pleasing feature of
the whole scheme. The box was located
at the west end and projected about Is
feet into the hall at a lower level than
tire floor of the second gallery. with
which it is connected -bp a flight of
broad steps. This balcony extends to
the floor, ard in order to enhance its
architectural effect. well as to re-
Guce the mount of space occupied on
the main floor. the corn ars are cut off,
forming an octagonal bay. This ar
rangement brings the presidential party
into full view The presidential box oc.
eupies the width of three sections of
the arcade, about 80 feet in extent, and
depth has been made by opening the
central one of the sections and drdpifIg
it so as to form a loggia. The logga
was lined with scarlet and indirectly
lighted to produce a sole glow. The CEN
trail opening with its arch and columns
of gold was thanked by two broad side
head by a heavy lambrequin with bands
of gold and gold fringe, the whole
crowned by a trophy of American flags
with a gold ball and eagle as its CEN
trail feature.
What They Wore.
Mrs. Taft's gown was one of the
handsomest models ever seen in Wash
A i,
of heavy white satin formed the foun-
dation. over this was draped with con-
summate skill the gown of. white chif-
fon, on which an exquisite pattern of
golden rod, the national flower. was en-
broidered in silver. The golden rod &C.
sign was repeated in the embroidery
of the long court train. Point lace
formed the sleeves and served to trim
the decolletage. She wore a pearl dog
collar and diamond aigre- in her hair.
Miss Helen Taft wore a girlish gown
of white embroidered mousseline de
sole. made with extreme simplicity.
tistic touch to the frock. Her abund-
ant light hair was simply coiled and she
wore no 1ewelry.
Mrs. Sherman's gown was one of the
most beautiful costumes seen at the
ball. On a foundation of heavy white
satin, tunic of white lace heavily
embroidered in silver and crystal. fell
in graceful folds. In place of a decol-
showed draped scarf effect of the sill
Yer tissue. and the silver and crystal
motifs were repeated in the long train
and the closely-fitting sleeves. She
wore a single diamond ornament in her
coiffure and a diamond brooch.
Mrs. Sheriff. Sherman, wife of a son
of the incoming vice president, wore a
white lace directoire gown over white
satin, a diamond necklace and other
diamond ornaments.
Mrs. Thomas Sherman, another
daughter-in-law, appeared in a white
lace princess gown, with pearl and dia-
mond ornaments.
Mrs. Knox wore an artistic toilette of
Napoleon pink satin made on the new
est French lines, with a gracefully
draped tunic of crystal beads Her
jewels were a diamond dog collar and a
diamond aigret.
Mrs. Reed Knox's gown was of maize
satin, trimmed in lace, with motifs of
gold embroidery.
Mrs Tindle, Mrs. Knox's daughter.
wore a black crepe, trimmed in Vene-
tan lace and pearl and diamond orna-
ments.
Mrs Elkins, wife of Senator EIkins
wore a handsome imported toilette of
dark blue satin with serpentine spang-
les and her Jewels were diamonds.
Miss Katherine Elkins' gown of rarA
old lace was made over princess slip
of white satin. She wore pearl neck
lace.
Miss Wilson. daughter of the secre-