The Washington herald., 1909-03-03
INAUGURAL BALL
A BRILLIANT FETE
Room Nearly Ready for Great
Social Event.
PLANS TO HANDLE THE CROWD
Ceiling Draped with Bunting and
Corridors OFnameRted with smiIH1,
EverEreens and FIOwerinE Plants.
Hundreds of Electric Lights In
siSued-MuSicaI Features.

The exercises at the Capitol. the parade
the fireworks and the inaugural ball con-
stitute the four greatest features OF in
auguration day.
AT the Capitol VIII be carried out the
Official requisites OF installing the new
President and Vice President. and viii in
crest statesmen. diplomats and politicians
more than any other feature OF the oc-
casiou.
The parade and the fireworks. day and
evening, are the popular diversions, TO
yieE which thousands come from every
state in the Union That they vii be in
reresting and imposing goes without say
-ng-
But the inaugural ball. more than any
other event Of the day and night. is
;ooked upon as the croEning feature OF
Inauguration Il lends itself 70 the social
Instincts OF the American people. and to
participate in one Of these 0uadrenniai
functions is the wish OF every well-to-do
saatron in the United States It Is to
the ladies' particularly that the great ball
appeals, and 10 make II worthy Of them
n the fullest sense OF the word. the in
tuguraI committee gives big share Of its
line and attention.
Ballroom VIII Be Brilliant.
The great ballroom al the Pension
5uiiding this year viii be brilliant
place, apart from the crowd. the dis
iiaguished men and women who viii be
there, the hne music and the dancing
The room is now nearly ready for the
Junction. BY tonight it viii be finished.
me flowers and decorations win be in
place. and the inaugural committee viii
Gather 10 see Il lighted and made ready
-or the big gathering Of tomorrow night
Photographic views presented herewith
show how the room looked yesterday aft
-rno0n with the work OF preparation IN
progress Some Of the walls we're yet
without the decorations; some Of the big
-handeLers we're yet unhung; much of
the material was in heaps about the
floor. and the views give only a glimpse
Il the elaborate decorations as they viii
appear in all their splendOr tomorrow
evening
The Presidents Box.
Across the west end Of the hall is the
Presidents box This is built upon the
eveI OF the second story Of the building
nd Is high above the heads Of the peo-
ole Here President Taft and Vice Presi-
lent Sherman and the ladies Of their
oarty viii look down upon the festivities
for about an hour after the promenade Of
the haH below Here the President U-in
near the music specially prepared for the
occasion, and here he viii receive some
4 his intimate friends. the governors Of
states, and other eminent men and
women who may be present.
Opposite the Presidents box is the big
stage for the musicians. where will be
seated the Marine Band, the orchestra Of
I50 players. and the chorus of COO voices.
Between stretches the great hall Of the
Pension Building court. which will be oc-
cupied by the thousands OF people who
VIII attend the ball from every part Of
the United States and the world The
room viii be brilliantly lighted by electric
chandeliers by myriads Of lights strung
along the ceilings. about the pillars and
along the corridors OF the court
Ceilings Hung with Bunting.
The ceilings are hung with pearl white
bunting, gracefully drsped IN q series of
festoons. which give the impression Of
waves The sides OF the room within
the corridors. are likewise draped with
similar bunting, and along the ledges is
woven a mass Of smilax and evergreens.
Palms. Towering plants, and azalias viii
be used in abundance TO give the room
a specially tropical and fete-day appear
ance. When ali is in readiness and the
lights are turned on the ballroom viii
be much finer than It has ever been in
the history Of inauguTations. This has
been made possible by the advance in
the Development Of the uss OF electricity.
and in little more liberal use Of natural
greens and flowers than IN former years.
It has been the aim Of the committee
this year to overcome by the free use of
electric lights the dimness OF the room
in former years. and the expectation is
that this has been done The setting for
the bah Is all that could be hoped for.
and that It viii be the most brilliant AFFAIR
ever pulled of N Washington Is no
exagseration.
Thousands OF Tickets Sold.
That a big crowd viii attend the ball
is evident rom the number OF tickets
that have been sold. Several thousand
OF them have been purchased. Indicating
the intention Of as many persons TO at
tend and witness the festivities.
Anticipating crush at the BAH. the
floor committee. under the direction OF
Sist Blair. and the reception COMMITTEES.
under the direction OF Theodore Noyes.
have made elaborate preparations TO
handle the throng and provide for every
body's comfort and pleasure The floor
committee alone numbers $50 men. Wear
ing appropriate badges OF white ribbon.
these men VIII be IN all parts Of the
han looking after every detail Of the ball.
giving directions. keeping the crowd in
order, and avoiding congestion at any
given point
This committee is made up OF quick
thinking. keen-witted men. who viii
Know what to do in emergency, and win
be fearless TO co It. The floor arrange
Haents have been their careful study for
weeks They have a well-matured plan
to be carried out This plan has In view
the ease and comfort Of all. but IN the
ii1A--lA-tE % - 4dl x a ClDWQ Il viii De
found necessary TO enforce some simple
rules concerning the movements Of people
10 and fro about the room, and this viii
be 50 managed as 70 cause the least trou-
Die 10 the multitude and 70 individuals.
want All 70 Have Good Time.
The idea before the committee is for all
to have a pleasant time. Each patron OF