Wilmington daily commercial. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1866-1877, 1875-02-23
Anniversary Hall.

Anniversary Bali.
THE WASHINGTON FIRE co. AND ITS rRIENDs A
THE OPERA HOUSE, LAST EVENING.
No greater success has at any time crowne
the efforts OF the Washington Fire Co. in thei
anniversary balls than the thirty-fifth which wa
given at the Opera House, last night. The al
tendance WAS large, the participation general, th
enjoyment universal, and while no very elabo
rate dressing was noticeable, except In few in
stances, there was sufficient to give tone to tn
occasion and dignity 1t beyond an ordinary occur
rence.
Tho hall OF the Opera House was decorate,
somewhat after the manner of last year, bu
more profusely aud with greater scenic effect
The stage much resembled a summer garden
and being lighted up with calcium lights had
most enchanting appearance. There were IL
fact, many displays of natural flowers, Mr.
Brown, the South-Hide florist, having contributed
many choice collections from his lighthouses
In the foreground was built All arch, closel,
twlned with evorgree ns, from the summit o.
which hung fine, large oil painting of Wash
ington, and beneath and upon tho sides Of
which were the Companys silver horns
were the silver torches presented the
company while OH their visit to Charl eston, a
couple Of years ago. Arranged ON either side OF
this arch, and extending quite TO tho proscen-
ium boxes was n line of natural flowers placed
upon ornamented stands, while back of those
were other stands of natural flowers, while va
hes of the same were suspended from the cell
ing by invisible cords giving them tho appear
Ance of ilonting i'll mid air.
Back of the central arch was a smaller one
similarly constructed, boueath both of which
the company entered from behind the scenes.
Inithe background was placed the new scenery
added to the Opera House between the past and
present seasons, forming u very pretty scene of
lake and hill and wood, which with the accom-
panying side scenery formed picture of lovely
sylvan beauty, carrying the beholder quite be-
yond the wintry scene without to the full devel-
opment of the vernsl season. A white picket
fence in the midst of this woodland scene com
pleted tho arrangement of the stage and
gave to. the whole the appearance of we'll
kept summer garden. The ba'c coly hui fes-
tooned with evergreens
Promptly at 8. 80 O'Clock Ritchies band which
was stationed in the balcony struck up the
Grand March and the company filed in passing
out from behind the picket fence and under the
two arches. MIR. John iKeunedy, of the Wasll-
lnston Company, and Miss Lizzie Ferguson, who
was dressed in a suit of lemon colored swisa, led
the sixty-two couples who followed them through
the various eyolniions Of the march, which was
concluded with gallop. Then followed in reg
ular order the well arranged parts Of the pro-
gramme, consisting of mazourkas, polkas, the
lanciers, waltzes, the PARTISAN varieties, the
whole concluding with tho "Early Morn" qua
drlle, which was eminently fitting to the time
Of separation.
A handsome collation. was served in the base
ment of the Opera House near midnight.
Tho members Of the Washington company
were unremtting in their attentions to the
guests of the evening, and certainly no one
failed to receive the full courtesy due The
following gentlemen constitute the managers,
committees, &C.:
Master OF Ceremonies Geo. II. Leech.
Floor Manager-John Kennedy.
Assistant Floor Managers Henry Carr, Thos.
j. Massey, Henry Vandenbraak.
Reception Committee-Wm. Robinson,
Wm H. Stanton, J. II. Edwards, Vim. Hanna,
Vim. ii. Sheppardson
Police Commttee-A. W. Nolen, j. T. West,
A. L. McClintock.
Committee of Arrangements-H. $. Kyle, T.
N. Foreman, G. Mccall, l.. p. Culett, II. II.
Graham, J. Kelley
DR.. BusH's LECTURE.-Dr. L. u. Bush deliv-
cred lecture, last evening, before the Hietori-
cal Society, on the Icelanders One Thousand
Years Ago." which was attentigely head by an
audience which filed the rooms. Speaking first
of the geographical location and physical fea,
tnres Of Iceland, he passed to its colonization by
the Vikings of Norway and sketch of tile lee
lNnder's religion and the veneraton in which
their NEUROLOGICAL chief god Odn was held.
He then reviewed the literature and national
character giving them high praise for intelli-
gence, virtue and enterprise in discoveries for
commerce. OF the history OF their voyages he
spoke of their colonization OF Greenland and
their voyages from this colony to the mainland
of North America, reading from well authen-
ticated ''Sagas" of great antiquity and claim
ing their authority that the Northmen visited
the Atlantic Coast of our Continent Mt various
points from Labrador as far South al the island
of Marthas Vineyard between the years $40 and
1890.