Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-25
WHAT THEY LOSE.

? Washington dispatch In Boston Jour.
nal: Loss to Washington's fashion
able modistes If inaugural ball Is called
on: .'a .a. ...-' '."-> a.t
!, Gowns for 5000 women at $3.50 each,
$450.O00.
SLIPPERS for 5000 women at So each.
$4,000.
Stockings for 5000 women at 81
each, $4,000. ~,
Linger;es for 1900 women at $40
each, 100000. G .r..-.. ..
Total $4,000. g. ,E
Despair. approaching panic. possesses
social and commercial Washington
since the publication Of the letter OF
president-elect Woodrow Wilson that
- disapproved Of the inaugural ball.
'r-rchants by the score have been in
tarviewed and every one condemns
the new president Women of congress
siona1 society who for weeks have
thought &c little else than their cos
tr~'es ar~ nutspoken.
William ~. Taft has been the most
popular rresident in Washington In
many years. Woodrow Wilson became
today the most unpopular within the
memory IF those who go back to Lin
coin. He has touched the pocket of the
merchants and the vanity OF the
women.
His letter to William Corcoran
Eustis, chairman Of the inaugural com.
mittee. fused more genuine grief than
would have followed the assassination
Of a cabinet officer.
Residents Of Washington will not
adnii. It. but to most of them the in
augural ball is a hard commercial pro.
position. Wives and daughters may
view it e"om the social point Of view,
but to the men in business In this city
the ball means business.
For wears back It has been the Gus
tom for the business men to subscribe
the expenses of the show. the parade,
til ;, fireworks and the ball. and they
have nut w in the neighborhood OF
$4,000. But your careful Washing.
tonian looked on this as an investment
The sale OF seats on the ball at IS
each and revenues from commission
accounts Of various sorts have REIN
bursed the contributors.
The surplus has never gone into
the pockets Of the subscribers. but tc
some charitable institution, and the
rofits have come otherwise.
For instance, every hotel will be
filed by the inaugural and the 'lodg
ines Use trust" which charges 81 fol
bed ordinarily worth Is cents. has
been in operation IN fact. 1t ia stated
by enthusiastic residents Of the CAPT
|tal that no fewer than * 900 persons
will come for the celebration.
The ball is the feature Of the cele
bration. Members OF congressional
society attend as matter of course
The old aristocratic society Of Wash
ington does not 20 in strength, since
ticret may he purchased without ar
invitation by any commoner.
Perhans 1000 persons would have
pended the ball. Most OF these would
he women. 70 whom the occasion was
one on which thew should wear some
thing new and striking.
"Why. Of course. every woman who
gees tc the ball expects to wear some
thirr new" said the manager Of thu
! Leading modistes in Washington.
"she would not think Of going in {
gown worn before. Some will brint
gowns with them. hut there are a.
least 1000 who will buy their gowns II
this city. Isn't this terrible?"
THE PERIOD OF PREPARATION.
New York Evening Post: The argu
ment in favor of advancing the dat
of jnaugurating a new president Of tn,
/ United States is by no means so stronI
as the argument in favor of bringing
a newly elected congress togethe
earlier than is done now. In the frs
place. the period Of retardation i
much less in the case Of the president
who assumes ONCE four months afte
his election. .hereas congress wait
Just thirteen months, in The absenc
of "a srecial session. In the secon