Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-05
LEGISLATIVE GALL.
The Great Society Event Of the
Season.


| At precisely o'clock last evening, Chand
ler's superb orchestra commenced playing
their sweetest tunes, and a stream of ladei
and gentlemen began to pour into Grant,,
| Hall. Governor Davis and lady and Presi
dent Locke Of the Senate and lady stood OF
| the left of the hall, in front of pavilion
composed of siiken streaners am gra
ciously received ali guests as fast
| as they arrived. Mr. Frank q. Whitehouse
acted as master of the Introductory ser.
vices in very acceptable manner. The
throng poured into the great hall for nearly
an hour,--a living tide OF pretiily colorcd
silks and natty broadclcth. Is soon the
formalty of an introduction To His Excellen-
cy was gone through with. the couples would
promenade around the hall for few times,
and then take a seat either on the row of
settees which ran around the hall or in the
galleries. where they could gaze upon the
moving panorama below.
The Decoration Of the Hall.
When the ball was at its height then the
full beauty of the elaborate decorations could
be appreciated. They were rich and abuu-
dant in the extreme. and probably more ex-
tensive than anything of the kind ever seen
here before. Flags of red. white and blue,
streamers, banners, festoons and draperies,
were all displayed in the greatest profusion,
and arranged with the most consummate taste.
rejecting great credit upon the artist. Mr..
Geo. Nelson Beais, OF the Boston Decorating
Company.
Visitors to the hall received suggestion
of what was to be seen within from the ap-
pearance upon the wall, at the head of the
broad flight of stairs near the entrance, of an
elegant decoration, composed of banner,
and tri-colored bunting radiating from de-
sign bearing the inscription
'.Weleome to Our Governor
In the hall the rear of the stage was &C.
cupied by large center piece, composed of
a casket of flags, pedestal formed of blue
of stars. with silver border, a large centre
piece formed of brilliants of many colors,
the whole being surmounted by the Goddess
of Liberty, with background of green baize
and red velvet curtains each side. Over
the proscenium in the centre of folds of bun
ting was the State coat of arms, and extend
ing from it on either side was a
canopy of bunting sixty feet long,
ending at the columns at each side of the
stage. The galleries were draped with
orange tinted cloth, trimmed with blue. and
at intervals crossed flags of various nations
were placed Strcamers also festooned the
galleries the entire length. At many points
army corps badges were suspended upon the
walls. The rear gallery was specially
draped with heavy folds, and in the centre of
it was an elegant wreath of flowers, contain
ing the emblem of music-a Tyre and crossed
was most elegantly draped with red and white,
and blue starred streamers. the largest num-
Der ever used in any hall. The centre of the
streamers overhead formed globe. On the
they were also on every gas fixture in the
hall. The special novelty was the spangled stars
suspended from the chandelier, which kept
moving in every direction while the dancing
continued.
The windows above the galleries were all
draped in fancy colors. Over each window
was an eagle, and between them banners of
every nation, also seals which adorned the
walls of the Centennial buildings. The cx-
IRENE end of the hall bore heavy festoons of
bunting, and the windows under the galleries
were hung with American flags. The Gov
ernor's
Reception Tent
was very prettly arranged affair, and was
located under the east gallery near the stage.
1t resembled tent in form, but in coors
rivaled the rainbow.
Soon the orchestra began to play a waltz
step, and the evening festivities were begun.
The following is the
Order Of Dances.
|. Quadrille.
2. Lancers' Quaarille.
3. Waltz and Redowa.
4. Portland Fancy.
INrERMIssroN.
). Round Dances.
6. Quadrille.
I. Boston Fancy.
s. Waltz.
The floor directors, Messrs. Hon. Samuel
F. Campbell, Col. J. Manchester Haynes,
Col John r. Richards, Col. Henry S. Osgood
Hon. T. j.. Simonton, Hon. Melville =. Mil
liken, Charles d. .Whitehouse, Esq. and J.
Frank Pierce ESQ., were untiring in their ex-
ertions, and per formed their duties very ac-
ceptably and efficiently.
what . Crowd! -
was the expression of everybody as they
poured into the hall or looked down from the
galleries. We venture to say that the grey
old walls of Granite Hall never held so large a
! marty or so many eminent renple at a Cover