Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-01-09
Inaugural Ball
arrangements
Are Elaborate
Trumans' Day
To Be Crowded
Bv Ann Cline

AS January 20 draws near, plans
for the inaugural ball become more
elaborate. Each day something
new is added to the program and
you can be sure that the various
committees are going all out 10
make this memorable occasion.
Everything from name bands to
the inaugural inscription. done in
four foot-high jeWeled letters, will
be inside the National Guard Ar
mory that night. The ball will
climax very full day for President
and Mrs. Truman and their daugh-
ter Margaret.
After the Chief Executive takes
his oath of Office at ceremonies at
the Capitol, there will be the parade,
that will last for hours, and at 5
o'clock in the afternoon President
and Mrs. Truman will give the in
augural reception at the National
Gallery of Art.
When the reception is over, the
Trumans will have just about
enough time to eat, maybe get a
little rest, and then dash over to
the Armory for the ball that begins
at 10 o'clock.
Responsible for Ball
Directly responsible for the Sue
cess of the gala affair are the three
co-chairmen of the ball. Mrs George
Mesta, Mrs. Edgar Morris and Mr..
Wilson w. Wyatt. They have 20 COM
mittees. made up of approximately
135 volunteers, under them to take
care of all the details.
Most of the distinguished guests
attending the ball-such as menu
bers of the Supreme Court, the
Cabinet, foreign Ambassadors and
Ministers. Governors of the 40
States and high Government off,
cials-Will occupy one of the 116
opera-style boxes placed in semi
circle to face the 40 by 60 foot
stage. Royal blue pile fabric, with
red, gold and white trimmings, have
been selected for the decorations
and the draping on the boxes will
carry out this motif.
The presidential box will be car
peted in blue and will have in IL
blue chrome leather armchairs and
royal blue draperies. The Presi-
dents flag will predominant the face
of the box.
Royal blue fameproof fabric will
be used on the walls and blue-pleated
velour draperies and valances, fin
ished with gold silk tiebacks and
fringe, will be used in the archways
and openings under the balconies.
A 38. by go foot American flag will
hang on the west wall Of the Armory
and an equally large flag will be
hung on the outside of the Armory,
along with two giant fans in red,
white and blue
Can0bieS to Be Used
Just in case the weather is bad,
green canopy, reaching from the
sidewalk to the center entrance, will
be set up and from it will branch
separate canopies-done in red and
white, green and white and blue
and !white-to the other three front
entrances.
Guy Lombardo's and Benny Good
mans Orchestras are two of the
three that will play for dancing in
the ballroom, which has 10000 square
feet of dance space. Obviously, this
will give every one plenty of room
to move around in and there will be
quite conglomeration of costumes
in evidence among the large crowd.
Included in tho orOIln invited IN
the inaugural reception are the Gov
errors of States, the electors, mem
bers of the Supreme Court, the
Cabinet and the Joint Congressional
Committee. These groups will be
received prior to the other groups
which include the Democratic Ma
tional Committee, the Inaugural
Committee, heads Of independent
agencies, the little cabinet, Com
miSsioners Of the District of Column
bia, State chairmen and vice chair
men and State committeeman and
commi'JteeWomen
Also asked are the officials Of the
Truman-Barkley Clubs, officials OF
the Young Democratic Clubs, off,
Gals of veterans organizations, OFF,
Gals of farm organizations, labor
officials, officials of national women's
organizations, Battery D, 129th Field
Artillery Regiment, 35th Division;
family and friends of the President
and Mrs. Truman, and family and
friends of Vice President-elect
Barley.