National Republican., 1884-11-29
THE MUrEs' MASQUERADE.
Deaf and Dumb Dancers, Who Kept
Excellent Time with the Music.

Excellent Time with the Music.
There was long row of Chinese Lam
terms swinging from the balcony Of the
National Deaf Mute college, at Kendall
Green. These lanterns were like beacon
light to a lost mariner. The cars arc five
blocks from the college, aud tho wet
weather had made the walk anything but
pleasant. The lanterns could be seen,
though, as they cleaned through the
mist, and encouraged the people who
went in that direction. The mud that
lines the sidewalk leading to the college
is of the sticky clinging sort that per-
son finds hard to get rid of. Up this
sidewalk and through the storm many
people went last night aud as their
wraps parted tn ere came q CLEAN of tlnsel
and highly colored dress goods.
At the college everything looked warm
and bright. As the guests arrived
young man at tho door gave them
pretty souvenir programme, with gilt
head on the front. Invitations were sent
to about 300 guests, about 100 of whom
braved the disagreeable night and re-
sponded. At s o'clock, the time dancing
began, the halls of the institution were
filled with all sorts of people in all sorts
VI uAco5s uO bbuuOutb WcIo NSiS hOopi-
table and threw their rooms open, and
lent their blacking brushes and combs
with hearty good will.
The college hall adjoins the chapel in
the main building, and it was in front Of
this that the lanterns hung. The hall is
q cozy one, in which there is just room
enough for dancing without crowding
The students had decorated it in hand
some manner. Tiny silk flags looked out
from punches Of evergreen that adorned
the walls and chandeliers. In the west
end of the room was q large platform,
from which tho musicians discoursed
music for the eighteen dances. A shield
on either side of the platform contained
the figures 1884, 1885"
The grand march called out about fifty
couples, and few minutes later sets for
quadrille were formed. About half of
the dancers were students, and these
could bo easily discerned in spite of their
costumes. In dancing qusdrille one
person, who can hear, is required to set
the time. When the time is set tho
mutes find no trouble in following, and
tho mistakes were very few.
In waltzing the same peculiar hop is
seen, that the pupils display in othor
dances, although, strange to say, the
dancer rarely misses the time. They
generally manage to 60 through all the
dances with few mistakes.
The unmasking occurred OF 11:30, and
the faces of some we'll known young peo-
pie were seen when the masks were taken
of. A reporter invaded the room before
this occurred, and attempted to obtain
the names of the guests for publication.
He was unsu ccessful. however, and every
lady approached pretended that she could
not hear, and when written request was
given shook her head. One young lady, who
had declined to give her name, became
very angry, and, suddenly forgetting her
role of mute, said, IF you give him my
name I'll mover speak to YOU" to q gem
tleman who had volunteered the informa-
ton.
The characters represented were in
many instances original and handsome.
Every character in fiction and history
was represented, and a good many mis-
takes were made by persons in attempt
ing to find their friends.
During the evening Prof Gallaudet
and other members of the faculty visited
the ball and remained some time. At
midnight an excellent supper was served,
and at 2 o'clock those not fortunate
enough to have conveyance walked
through the mud to ii street, where car
awaited to carry them to Seventh street