The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-01-14
The Fraternity Entertaiu ment.

The entertainment last night at the City
| Hall for the benefit of the Portland fraternity
was so multform in character, and so elaborate
| in detail that we are compelled to yield to the
necessity of giving only the barest outlines OF
| the affair and of mentioning slightly or not at
all. many things which deserve detailed re-
| port
| In the great hall the scene was most bril-
liant The floor was crowded with gaily
dressed throng walking about, chatting and
dancing, while the galleries were filled with
| lookers-on fascinated by the kaleidoscope
changes in the shifting mass Of jovial humani-
| ty below Around the hall under the galleries
were the tables and booths where one could
have button-hole bouquet attached to himself,
could try his fortune on the tree, at the wheel
or in the grab bags, could find out all about the
House that Jack built, could get drink
(strictly within the statute) from the Old Oaken
Bucket and could supply himself and her with
fancy articles and confectionery, all from the
hands of young girls, pretty enough to lure 'ns
ultimate ducat from fintiest hearted ohyiooh
conceivable
In the Reception Hall supper was served up
on lono tables ranged all around the sides ana
cosv LITTLE tables in the center. Inc dehcious
u;avds-.be best of everything AMI such coffee
Gained additional zest for the appreciative
euests. who kept the tables constantly full,
from the fact that they were waited on by six
teen girls who looked "too pretty for anything"
in their neat uniform Of black dresses with
snowy white aprons and caps The committee
of matrons who were in charge of this depart
ment merit the highest commentator for their
skill in catering. Why, bless them, they beam
upon their hungry guests as if they took solid
comfort in seeing them eat.
But the browning charm of the whole affair."
after ALL was the Dickens supper in the Rossini
Hall. Here was all the abundance and excel
lence of victualling of Reception Hall. supple
mented by presentation of many of Dickens
leading characters most cleverly personated
1t is a shame not to have each one written up
as it deserves But space and time circumscribe
US, we submit to the inevitable and can only
say that Capt. Cutie was there with hook in
arm, exaggerated watch, knobby sountenance
and ready rhymes. accompanied by his oracle,
the sententious Bunsby; there was Susan Nip
per the irrepressible capitally done; little
S0hi VI d N4d1cuiouooS, tuc 1AItlul OouScI, WIZ
showed his natural aptitude for the part by
"prigging wipes" from the unwary in most
exasperating way and reducing them-the I'M
wary-to confusion by ostentationsly returning
them thu wipes; the charmingly got-Hp Mrs.
Nickleby with the heart ever young; Miss
Havisham, the ghostly; Sally Brass and Mr..
Richard Swiveller; Florence Dombey, who
looked pretty in an impossible bonnet;
Mrs Boffin, with the enormous headdress. who
looked jolly enough, but not quite old enough
for the part, and-and-well we must stop
somewhere, though We want dreadfully to
name more of them and to say more things
about those we have mentioned. We should
lar stars of this galaxy, but Betsey Prig, who
looked frightful enough to scare any of her
patients into delirium, told us we mustn't, and
we should never dream of defying Retsey. The
tables were kept in perpetual roar Of laugh
ter by the happy and accurate personations
and everybody hopes that they will do it again
at the Calico Ball in aid of Preble Chapel,
which is soon coming.
Much money has been gained for the Frater-
nifty and much pleasure has been had. We
must all remember the debt of gratitude to
those who have contributed of their labor, care
and substance to achieve this great success
The poor boys and girls who are thus afforded
way, and are trained up to be good and useful
citizens, may well bless the noble hearted men
and women who have done this good thing.