Evening star., 1909-03-04

Gen. Grant was held in the Treasury
building, and was d great success as TO
attendance. and financially to the man
ayers but there were some confusion and
loss to others in hats and wraps. The
second ball in honor of Gen. Grants
presidency was March 4. 1873. i'm spe-
cially erected frame building in the east
ern portion of Judiciary Square, $50 by
100 feet. with dancing floor of 10000
square fee. 1t was by far the most elab-
orately decorated and lighted room ever
seen TO that date. thousands of yards
of flags and streamers being used, and
over 2.Go gas burners lighted, and flow
erS and plants in profusion: nothing in
view to dispel the Illusion of a fairyland
The dais to which the President was es-
corted was, of course, the principal point
and II was richly carpeted and furnished
with chairs, sofa. etc, the walls being
red. white and blue glazed muslin. The
building of frame was impossible TO heat
and few remained till the close of the
ball. despite there We're present many
notables. richly attired ladies. an ever
changing scene in the variegated uni
FORMS and the music of the highest Or
der. sixty in band for promenade and
!oO IN an orchestra for dancing
Inc next night grand masquerade ball
toliowed here. and. the adplission being
at popular prices and the costumes fur
nished at the ballroom at reasonable
rates. the attendance was fully as large
as on the previous night; and the scene
was long to be remembered, for there
was, outside those in uniform. every con-
ceVable Character represented and there
were but few who did not wear a domino
When the ladies' emerged from the dress
ing rooms and took the first arm offered
there We're some il-assorted couples
formed The surprises were many but
the best of humor prevailed, the hilarity
| continuing till daylight. The two balls
paid well, the guarantee fund being re-
turned and handsome surplus realized.
mere was no ball on the occasion of the
inauguration of Mr. Hayes in 1877. the
contest between him and Mr.. Tilden. re-
ierred TO an electoral commission, being
set'ieu put four days prior to March L.
leaving no time for arranging for it.
In 1881 the National Museum was tho
scene of the Garfield inauguration hall
The building had just been completed
ana was by the decorators transformed
to bower of beauty, and the attendanca
was over 5000. 1t was a success in every
respect. for the arrangements were COM
plete. The music was by a band of s.xty
pieces for promenade and orchestra of
fn for dancing. The guarantee fund was
returned and handsome surplus was
realized.
First Time in Pension Building.
The first inauguration ball to take place
in the pension building was that in honor
OF Cleveland in 1885. When Gen Meies
was engaged in the erection of the build
ing, hearing some adverse comment on
providing SO large room, he replied that
he was not building for that time, but for
a hundred years in the future. and at the
first use as ballroom il was realized
that such room was not too large. The
roofing had not been completed. but by
using canvas the ballroom was made
comfortable, and the first democrat s.nce
the Buchanan regime was honored by the
most brilliant bali ever given at the capi-
tai. There were to be seen bellies and
beaux from every section of the country
We may say the world. and the former
with their elegant toilets and many of the
/ latter in uniform and dress suits helped
| to enhance the view bepeath decorations
which were unsurpassed The music was
! all that could be desired. furnished as II
was. by. the Marine Band and the Ger
| mania Orchestra. and the arrangements
| for supper and refreshments were unsur-
passed.
! In 1889 Benjamin Harrison attended the
| ball, which was held in the pension bui d.
ing. If four years before the ball was "a
thing OF beauty" this went beyond & in
every particular. and the only criticism
heard was that the assemblage estimated
at 1900, left but limited space fer dane
! ing.
! The balls I'm homer of Mr. Cleveland in
! 1895, Mr. Mckinley in 1897 and 1901 and
Mr.. Roosevelt in 1905 took place IN the
pension building. and can best he de-
| scribed by the word progress" for each
has surpassed its predecessors.