The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-01-30
A Social Gathering of Great Magnitude
"a Brilliant AssembIage.
The Doors Of the Palatial Harper
House Thrown Open for Be.
neyOlent Purposes.
THE CHARITY BALL

and ID pleasure. When the ARGUS first
preached the subject of charity ball, it
hardly believed that such an event would
transpire, much less one of snch brlliancy
and beneficial results. To the ladies who
managed the affair. too mnch credit can
not be given, nor to those who so kindly
and generously rendered assistance. Mr..
Ben Harper was unsparing in his efforts
to please his guests, and the active part
he took in this charity entertainment has
won for him fresh laurels as q generous
and free giving Individual Prof Bleuer
also comes in for his share of the praise,
having gratuitously furnished nine excel
lent musicians. who gave the best of sat
isfaction
The guests began TO arrive by nine
O'Clock, and carriage after carriage rolled
up in front of the Harper house. and unload
ed its freight Of gaily bedecked ladies and
| gentlemen. About $50 Bleuer's orchestra
struck up the first waltz. aud the evenings
amusement began. The reception COM
mittee, composed of Mesdames Henry
Curtis, James s. Gilmore, Morris Rosen-
field Henry Schmidt. c. W Halves. S. B.
Edison, c. W Durham, j. j. Parks, ]. M.
Montgomery and L. NJ. Buford. stationed
| themselves at the entrance 20 the dancing
hall, and welcomed the guests as they
made their appearance. The floor man
ayers were |. -Liberman ]. ]. Parks, c.
c. Carter. John F. Cooke, yChas. Trues-
dale and James K Cooke. and
right well did they perform the
parts assigned them. Soon after
the beautiful strains of music began to
float through the hall, the dancers were
gliding over the smooth floor with grace
full and easy motion. The spectator as he
sat gazing on the dazzling scene. was
| forcibly reminded of the fantastic move
ments of the colored glass fragments in a
kaleidoscope 1.-the female forms whisked
| by in all the colors of the rainbow and
numerous fashionable colors that the
rainbow never knew. Around these figures
in these various colors, could be seen now
and then black band, which to stran-
| ger might have appeared to be new fan
gled belts. But they were not belts, they
were the arms of young gentlemen
and old ones, too, for that
matter. Occasionally when the madness
of the waltz had cooled down and the
movement became slower, pair of bright
eyes would loom up over broad expanse
of shoulder, and then disappear in the
terpsichorean maelstrom. The checks
which before had been calm and pale
appeared flushed and Redeemed, and the
eyes again appearing, were doubly bright.
And then the music stopped, arm in arm
the couples walked around the mirrored
ball room, presenting as many different
styles of beauty as styles of dress and
shades of colors. There were pale blondes
that might have graced a Norwegian
court reception. and near by brunettes
that might have leaped living from the
pages of Lalla Rookh. There
were glittering diamonds in ala
baster ears, and similar gems on
tapering fingers. There were manly
forms supporting these, and the whole
scene was study for any who was minded
to philosophize, if such thing can be
done under such circumstances.
REFRESHMENTS.
Before the announcement. was made
that supper could be obtainedin the ladies'
ordinary, adjoining he dancing hall, the
ARGUS representative was allowed the
privilege OF viewing, and also sampling
one of the finest spreads ever prepared by
an epicure. There were eatables of a
substantial as well as delicate nature,
temptingly arrayed on lengthy table
with places for twenty two people. The
table fairly groaned under the weight of
cold turkey, tongue, chicken salad, celery,
oranges, grapes, jellies, cakes without
number, and variety of other food of the
choicest kind. The beauty of the table
was enhanced by the bright
and shining silverware, which is
a late addition to the Harper house
dining room. Over this important depart
ment presided the obliging steward, Mr..
Michael O'Connor, assisted by large
corps of assistants, who allowed no one to
enter their domain without partaking OF
the hospitality thereof
i THE FINALE.
i The pleasures of the dance continued
long after the witching hour of twelve,
and until seventeen numbers had been
successfully executed. The lights were
then turned out and quiet reigned So.
preme. But the memory of the affair viii
: not soon fade away, andthe remembrance
{ of flashing colors, laughing eyes, ant
, lively music, will make it theme o.
, happy thought.
!, WHO WERE PRESENT.
Among those present representative
of the ARGUS noted the following:
Col Henry Curtis and wife, ] S Gilmor'
and wife, Chas W Durham and wife, Ma
2 L M Buford and wife, M Smedley AMI
, wife, M Montgomery and wife, Capt ,
. Parks and wife, DR., Calvin Truesdal
and wife. Morris Rosenfield and wife
Louis May and wife, Henry Carse ant
wife, Capt T Robinson and wife, Bel
Harper and wife, Ben T Cable and wife
D Donaldson and wife, S FL Velie ant
wife. Ben Keator and wife, George Lam
tn T. -