The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1917-03-02

remained huddled in voluminous wrappngs 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 In the pension building
that held to honor President Clevelands first
Inauguration. The building was then unfinished
and the courtyard rooted by temporary con-
struction elaboratey decorated and lighted by
the then electric lamps The ballroom floor
was 916 by 116 feet, and it crowded. The
ticket sale for this ball brought In $4,000.
1t is pleasanter to contemplate more recent in
augurul balls. A notably brilliant ball was that
which welcomed President Mckinley. 1t was held
in the pension building and for that night the
building was transformed by bunting of white and
gold Not a particle OF woodwork or original dec
oration of the building left uncovered. Elab-
crate electric lighting elaborate for 1s97) and
huge fountain were notable features of this ball
Judging by contemporary accounts this
bill was a complete success. socially and hnan-
ciay.
Mrs william Howard Taft In her charming
book "Recollections 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
experience everywhere.
1t was at the close of very busy day that Mrs
Taft put herself into the hands of her nervous
hairlresser and sat looking at her new ball gown.
spread out on 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 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 have embroidered writes Mrs.
Taft, land the people who did the work surely
knew their art. A pattern of goldenrod was OUT
linz by
the long lines of the gown, and no other trim
mingS had been used except some lace with whlch
the low-cut bodice finished 1t fitted me nd
mrably and hoped that, in spite of all the mis-
hans in nv preparations l looked my best
descended from the White House automobile at
the entrance of the pension office
"The pension Office was not built for balls, in
augural or otherwise, and on the evening of Marcn
A. 1909, after day OF melting sleet ana sno" tne
entrance was not especially inviting. Neither was
the dressing room which had been assigned to
me- l suppose that for years 1t had rung with
the ceaseless click Of scores OF typewriters and
that Its walls had beheld no moro 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 needeo
to do very little 'prinkng' 1t really didn't matter
and quickly rejoned the president ana pro
coedad on his arm to the presidential box, this
being a small round gallery above the main en-
trance OF the great ballroom, which Is ITSELF II
everyday life, the principal workroom OF the pen
sion office.
"A brilliant, an almost kaleidoscope, scene
snread before u.s. The hall is Of tremendous pro
portions pillared with red marble and with walls
tinted in the same color. Every inch OF 1oo
space seemed to be occupied. The bright color'
and the gleam Of women's gowns met and clasnet
or harmonized with the brighter colors of dplo
matte uniforms. officers Of the army and navy II
full regalia met and mingled with the hundreds O.
men in the plain black OF formal evening oress
IT was n wonderful. glittering throng. more mag
nifcent than any had ever seen. 1t was not pos
sible TO distinguish individuals except in the spac
directly below the box, but there. as looked down
1 saw great semicrce of faces-thousands,
seemed to me-smilingly upturned toward us. III
din of human voices terrific; even the loudes
band procurable had difficulty in making itsel
heard But the scene gay in color, and tn
faces that gazed. up at us were so friendly an
happy that I felt elated and not at all ovel
whelmed."