The Raymer enterprise., 1917-03-01

remained huddled in volumnous wrapplngs. look
Ing down upon the guests dancing In oyercoats
and wraps, dancing like mad In order TO keep from
freezing TO death.
The canary birds did not sing. They tucked
their heads Wder their wings and shivered pitt
fully The elaborate refreshments froze Into
blocks of Ice. The ball ended before midnight.
The first inaugural ball In the pension building
was that held to honor President Cleyeand's first
Inauguration. The building was then unfinished
and the courtyard rooted by temporary con-
struction elaborately decorated and lighted by
the then new electric lamps. The ballroom floor
was 316 by 11G feet, and It was crowded. The
ticket sale for this ball brought In. $4,000.
1t is pleasanter to contemplate more recent In
augurnl balls. notably brilliant ball was that
which welcomed President Mckinley. 1t was held
In the pension building and for that night the
building transformed by bunting of white and
gold Not particle of woodwork or original dec
Grafton Of the building was left uncovered Elab-
crate electric lighting elaborate for 1897 and
huge fountain notable features OF this balle
room. Judging by contemporary accounts this
bill complete success, socially and fnan-
clally
Mrs William Howard Taft In her charming
book "Recollectons of Full Years" tells the story
of the last inaugural ball. Mrs. Tafts 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 wis at the close of very busy day that Mrs
Taft put herself into the hands of her nervous
hairdresser and sat looking at her ball gown,
spread out on the bed. The ball gown had mr.
rived at the very last minute and the new first
lady had wondered for several anxious days
what in the world she would wear to the ball II
the dressmaker failed her.
at was made of heavy white satin which had
sent to Tokyo to have embroidered writes Mrs
Taft "and the people who did the work surely
knew their art. pattern of goldenrod was out
lined by silver thread and clevery 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 was finished 1t fitted me nd.
mlrably and hoped that. in spite OF all the mis-
haps in my preparations. looked my best as
descended from the White House automobile at
the entrance OF the pension office.
"The pension Office was not built for balls In
augura or otherwise, and on 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 1t had rung with
the ceaseless click OF scores of typewrlters and
that Its walls had behel1 no more elaborate cos.
tune than a 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 as needed
TO DO very little 'prinking' 1t really didn't matter
and l quickly rejolned the president and pro-
cecded on his arm to the presidential box. this
being small round gallery above the mnln en-
trance of the great ballroom. which Is itself In
everyday life. the principal workroom OF the pen
sion Office
"A brilliant an almost Kaleidoscope scene
spread before us. The hall Is Of tremendous pro-
portions pillared with red marble and with walls
tinted In the same color. Every inch Of floor
space seemed to be occupied. The bright colors
and the gleam OF women's gowns met and clnshcd
or harmonized with the brighter colors Of diplo
matte uniforms Officers Of the army and navy In
full regalIa met and mingled with the hundreds OF
men In the plain black Of formal evening dress.
II was wonderful glittering throng more mag
nnccnt than any had ever seen. II was not pos
sIble to distinguish individuals except In the space
directly below the box, but there as looked down,
| saw a great semcircle of faces-thousands II
seemed to me-smillngly upturned toward US. The
din OF human voices was terrific; even the loudest
band procurabe had difficulty In making itself
heard. But the scene was so gay In color. and the
faces that gazed up at us were 80 friendly and
happy that felt elated and not at all over.
whelmed."