Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-15
Old Pension Office in Judiciary Square

All these pillars and columns and the line of
the balcony rail we're first covered with white
muslin and then wound with broad wreaths of
evergreens. Between these spiral lines
fastened broad palmetto leaves for half of the
height of the tall columns. The 141 smaller
columns surrounding the ball room and in
closing the promenade were wreathed with
palm leaves, and on each one was fastened
large satin banner, in stripes of red and
white sash ribbons, with field of blue en-
broidered with heavy silver stars.
'On the north and east ends Of the bah
room, opening from the promenade, were the
supper rooms, under the management of
MeSsrs. Hunting & Hammond of the Murray
Hill Hotel, New York City The tickets for
the supper room were sold separately at 81
each and entitled the holder to any or all of
the viands the menu printed in the little
blue and silver book of the ball prs gram Only
500 persons were admitted to the supper rooms
at time to avoid crowding, and wines were
served in a separate room
"All Washington brilliantly illuminated
during the night, and the sky itself blazed with
many-colored fireworks, with caused the natu-
raj lights CT the armament, for the time being,
to twinkle dnnly in their spheres"
OF course, the Marine Band was there, and
the Germania Orchestra of Philadelphia, num-
berinC 100 members furnished the music for
tbs dancing which consisted of % numbers and
which commenced at IL o'clock and lasted till
nearly the next morning.
Among the notable guests upon this occa-
sion who attracted mere than passing notice
were Mrs. George B. Mcclellan and the widow
of President John Tyler
The attendance is given about 5000.
1T seems that every inaugural ball held in this
building was the best ever and So in 1885,
when Harrison and Morton came into extreme
prominence we find the reporter saying There
never was ball like it before" but the chances
are that it was no better, if quite as god as
the one held in 1885. Continuing The Star
of March 5 says: THE ill-timed rain gave a.
somewhat bedragged aspect to the parade of
the day. but whatever that lacked was more
than made up by the brilliance of the scene in
the vast court of the Pension Building last
night. 1t was estimated that at the height of
the festivities there were fully II 900 people in
the hall. Crowds were waiting to get admit
lance when the d ors were opened at O'Clock -
The ball was wineIess. The only thing that
had even slight suggestion about it of anti
prohibition views was the Roman punch served
with the supper. As a result there was no
scene of the character that sometimes mars
entertainments given on such a scale where
the attendance is not restricted Quiet and
solid enjoyment prevailed everywhere There
was no wine to drink; nothing but water, and
that became exceedingly scarce before the night
had advanced far
Gen. William T. Sherman William F. Cody
cluded among these who attracted unusual at
tention.
In 1893 Mr.. Cleveland began return engage
ment OF four years and brought along as his
running mate AdIai E. Stevenson
incidentally, Cleveland had much trouble
during the early part. Of his first administra-
ton in vetoing private pension bills, which he
did with such persistency and energy and ia
such an extent that an apparent ruthless at
tempt to deplete the Treasury was largely
stopped. Indeed Cleveland believed as he
preached, that public office is a public trust
SUBSEQUENT to President Cleveland's first
Inauguration, he had married on June q
1886, Miss Frances Folsom, who attended her
husbands second inaugural ball as the First
Lady OF the Land, and here the late well known
Washingtcnian, E. B. Hay, acting for the In
-augural Committee, had charge of the ball
which eclipsed all others. according to the
press.
The writer believes there are still many
people living who attended this function. and
he also believes there are some who would like
to read over the program of music played upon
that occasion by the Marine Band under
Fanciulh and the Naval Academy Band under
Leader Zimmerman, and incidentally the
names OF the old dances of 81 years ago cannot
but appeal to the near old-timer. So here
they are:
DANCE AND PROMENADE MUSIC.