The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-07-03 00:00:00

.oss-examini

A. F. R.

COLONIALS AT THE LONDON
GUILDHALL.

The long-talked of Colonial and Indian Reception
and ball took place at the Guildhall on Friday night,
and were a brilliant success. About 4500 guests
were invited, and very few short of that number were
present. All the arrangements nevertheless worked
smoothly, and though there was inevitable crowding
at times here and there, there was no confusion, and
no hitch which did not in the course of a moment
or two unravel itself. A mammoth entertainment
of this description requires much shrewd planning
beforehand; and the long and strong reception com-
mittee, with Lord Mayor Staples at its head, and Mr.
W. H. Pannell as chairman, who were responsible for
the arrangements, deserve all credit for their com-
pleteness. The chief difficulty to contend with on such
occasions is a disproportionate number of arrivals at
one time. Fortunately this strain was not ' felt.
The carriages began to arrive in broad day-
light, and the stream was thencefarward steady.
Cheapside was kept comparatively clear of traffic, and
at the approaches in King-street, as within the pre-
cincts, the arrangements appeared to be perfect. A
large space in front of Guildhall had been covered in,
to form a spacious entrance-hall, which was brilliantly
lighted, ornamented a ith national colours and brightly
coloured upholstery, and a profusion of hothouse
plants and flowers. The guests on arrival here passed
on to the Library, where from half-past eight to ten
o'clock the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress formally
received. Amongst the earliest arrivals were Sir
Charles Tupper (Canada), Sir Saul Samuel (New
South Wales), Mr. J. F. Garrick, Mrs. and Miss
Garrick (Queensland), Sir A. Blyth (South Australia),
Sir P. Cunliffe Owen, the Duke and Duchess of
Buckingham, Sir C. Warren, Sir R. Carden, Sir
H. and Lady Lumsden, and the Hon. Graham
Berry (Victoria). The library soon became and con-
tinued so crowded that it was not easy to hear the
Toastmaster's announcements. Much interest was
excited in the gorgeously-dressed native gentlemen
(and a few ladies) from India and Ceylon who were
here represented. Levee dress or uniform being "de
rigeur " for those entitled to wear them, the Beene
everywhere was characterised throughout the evening
by striking combination of colour. The traditional
hospitality of the City of London was fully
mainectined in all particulars. In six different
places, but notably in the crypt, substantial
supper and light refreshments were served from
the moment dancing began. This was nine o'clock.
The principal ball-room was of course Guildhall
itself, and the floor was as full as consisted
with comfort even when the sets formed for
the first quadrille. Dancers pure and simple had a
better chance perhaps in the Library and the old
Coancil Chamber, which were set apart all nzght
as subsidiary ball-rooms. The very handsome
octagon chamber where the City Parliament holds its
Courts was one of the prettiest sights of the evening
when, at nine o'clock and afterwards, all its seats
were filled with ladies and gentlemen, who had drifted
into its cool atmosphere and refreshing quietude to
listen to the glee singing. In the passages and stair-
cases, lined always with beautiful flowers, ferns, and
palms, and in the Art Gallery and Museum of Anti-
quities straying couples might at any time be encoun-
tered, seldom, however, under the conditions of soli-
tude which had been perhaps sought, but rather in
irregular processious, slow moving, and apparently
never ending. The character of the entertainment
which the City thus offered to the Colonials and
Indians at present at home was pictorially described
on the illuminated card-board sent them, not for
presentation as a common ticket for Guildhall, but for
rentention as a souvenir. It was a work of art
in itself, one of many of a similar kind
designed and printed by Blades, East, and Co..
of Abchurch-lane. The border contained the arms or
names of the whole of the Colonies, on a background
of Indian and Colonial flowers, of which there were
52 varieties. At the top were the arms of tiae City of
London, supported by a City of London rifle volun-
teer, an Australian volunteer, an English guardsman,
and a native Indian soldier. The National and Royal
Standards appeared at the back, and at the base of
the group were a portion of the Canadian arms, viz., the
Rose, Shamrock, and Thistle. In the lower border
were the arms of the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs.
Representatives of North America, Africa, Australia,
and India were shown in their native costumes
within the Indian Arch, which held the words of in-
vitation. There were also engraved views of London,
the Guildhall, Calcutta, Sydney, Ottawa, and Cape-
town. The programmes were equally typical of the
occasion.