The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1917-03-02

remained hudded in vouminous wrappings, look
ing down upon the guests dancing in overcoats
and wraps, dancing like mad In order To keep from
freezing to death.
The canary birds did not sing They tucked
their heads under their wings and Shivered pitt
fully The elaborate refreshments froze into
blocks Of ice. The ball ended before midnight.
The first inaugural ball I'm the pension building
was that held to honor President Clevelands first
inauguration The building then unfinished
and the courtyard rooted by temporary
StruCtion, deliberately decorated and lighted by
the then new electric lamps. The ballroom floor
3l6 by 1l6 feet and IL crowded. The
ticket sale for this ball brought in $4,000.
II is pleaSanter to contemplate more recent in
augural balls A notably brilliant ball that
AS~slich welcomed President Mckinley. 1t was held
in the pension building. and for~~hat night the
building was transformed by bunting of white and
gold Not particle of woodwork original dec
Grafton Of the building left uncovered. Elab-
crate electric lighting elaborate for 1890 and
huge fountain were notable features of this ball
room. Judging by contemporary accounts this
bill was IL complete success, socially and hnan-
cially
Mrs William Howard Taft in her charming
book "Rccollccions of Full Years" tells the story
of the last inaugural ball. Mrs Taft's account Of
how the Taft family moved into the White House
is thoroughly captivating because of its many bits
of domestic color, bits that find an echo in com
mon experience everywhere.
II was at the close of Il very busy day that Mrs
Taft put herself into the hands Of her nervous
hairdrcsSer and sat looking at her ball gown,
spread out the bed. The ball gown had ar
rived at the very last minute and the new first
lady" had wondered for several anxious days
what i'm the world she would to the ball If
the dreSSmaker failed her.
''It was made of heavy white satin which had
sent to Tokyo to have embroidered" writes Mrs
rTnft Tho uho M tbn oil
knew their art. 4 pattern Of goldenrod was out
lined by silver thread and ceverly fitted into
the long lines Of the gown, and no other trim
mings had been used except some lace with which
the low-cut bodice finished. II fitted me ad-
mraby and | hoped that. in spite of all the mis-
haps in my preparations looked my best rs l
descended from the White House automobile at
the entrance Of the pension office
"The pension office not built for balls, in
augIlral otherwise. and the evening of March
t. 1909. after day Of melting sleet and snow, the
entrance was not especially inviting. Neither was
the dressing room which had been assigned to
me- | suppose that for years il had rung with
the ceaseesS click of scores Of typewritcrS and
that its walls had hcheld no more elaborate cos
tune than n business blouse and skirt since the
occasion of the last inaugural ball which had
marked the beginning Of the second Roosevelt
administration four years before. But rs I needed
to do very little 'prinking IL really didn't matter
and I quickly reioined the president and pro-
cecded on his arm td the presidential box. this
being small round gallery above the main en-
trance Of the great ballroom which is itself. In
everyday life the principal workroom of the pen
sion office
~ brilliant an almost Kaleidoscope, scene
sprcod before us The hall Is OF tremendous pro-
portions. piarcd with red marble and with walls
tinted I'm the same color Every inch Of hoor
space seemed 10 be occupied The bright colorS
and the CLEAN of women'S gowns met and clashed
or harmonized with the brighter COlorS Of dtplo-
matte uniforms. officers of the army and navy III
fuu regaIia met and mingled with the hundreds of
men I'm the plain black Of formal evening dress
II was wonderful. gttering throng. more mag
niiccnt than any had ever seen II was not pos
sihe 10 distinguish individuals except in the space
directly below the box hut there. as looked down
I saw great semicircle Of faces-thouSands, II
seemed to smilingly upturned toward us The
din of human voices was terrific; even the loudest
band procurable had difficulty in making itself
heard But the scene was gay in color and the
faces that gazed up nj us were so friendly ana
happy that l felt elated and not at all over
whelmed"