The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1884-05-15
rHE KNIeHrs rEa1rLAr PARTY.
Ban and Banques Given in Conneosien
with ths Meeting of the Grand
COmmsndsry.

BAn and aanqass Given i'm Conneoslen
with the Meeting of the Grand
Commentary.
An Event worthy OF the Town and OF
/ the Resident Commandery.
From Yesterdays Daily.
The prompt and harmonious business
session of the Grand Commandery Of
the Knights Templar of Kansas, held
yesterday afternoon at Masonic temple,
was crowned in the evening by social
demonstration which, for genuine en-
joyment, has never been surpassed in
the history of such entertainments in
Emporia-
It goes without saying that the sue.
cess of an3 thing undertaken by the
Knights Templar is always assured. and
the highly satisfactory results of the
party last evening, while they may have
somewhat exceeded the snticipations Of
those whose rare good fortune it was to
share in the festivities, were
such as might have been
counted upon in view of the reputation
which is enjoyed by Emporia Comman-
dery for the successful conduct of such
undertakings.
That the magnitude OF the affair did
not detract IN the smallest degree from
the pleasure growing out of II is suf-
fclent proof of the skilful management
displayed and OF the careful attention
| which was devoted to all of the details
of the notable occasion. The prepare
lions were on such generous scale, and
the entertainment throughout was so
| we'll ordered, that each guest IN attend
| ance was made to feel that he or she was
the favored recipient of special con-
sideration.
The Sir knights and their wives and
lady friends began TO assemble at Ma
sonic temple at 8 O'Clock. Two very
handsomely furnished apartments on
the second floor, occupied By the Empo-
ria Real Estate Investment company,
served as cloak rooms for the ladies. and
the beautiful lodge rooms of the Masons
on the third floor was converted into
drawing room, where the visiting Sir
Knights were received by the resident
comm andery The tables were spread
in the banqueting hall of the Masons on
the fourth floor, and in the lodge room
of the Knights of Pythias on the second
floor. They were adequate to the seating
of 200 people and the tasteful man
ner in which they were arranged, being
embellished with fruits aud flowers,
stimulated the appetites of those who
surrounded the tempting boards. The
menu, which we understand was in
charge of ]. B. Hslleck, embraced all
varieties of cold meats, salads, sand
witches, coffee, profusion OF delicious
cakes, ice cream and fruits of different
varieties. including generous dish of
strawberries to each cover. The excel
lence of the viands was only equalled
| by the perfection of the service, which
we think was the best We ever saw upen
| like occasion A large corps Of we'll
trained servants mlnistered to the wants
of the guests as promptly and fully as
could have been done at any private
place of entertainment
THE BALL.
At the conclusion of supper the Sir
/ knights end their ladies proceeded TO
jays opera house, which had been pre-
pared for dancing and which presented
an appearance which little less than
magic could have wrought. BY the eff
forts Of the committee having this mat
ter in charge, every imrerfection Of the
hall-wbich suffered very severe usage
during its occupanV as skating rink
Wao concealed and we doubt If 1t eyer
looked SO well on ant previous occasion.
What went for much with the ladies' 1t
was clean. The upper flight of stairs
| was carpeted, the seats at the side of the
hall were covered with red muslin, while
the door was spread with clean canvas
The decorations were proiuse and artis-
tic, embracing significant notices of
welcome aud legends of the order, flags,
festoons of evergreen, Chinese lanterns,
and al abundance Of flags. At the head
| of the stairs was a large motto of
"Grceting," the appropriateness OF
which was generally commented upon.
At the west end OF the hall
was the inscription. IL large letters,
"Emporia Commandery, Nos. Welcome
TO All" This was surrounded by .
border of evergreen and underneath it
were crossed two elegant silk flags. At
the west end of the hall was the victorI-
Gus legend in letters of red and gilt,
ain Hoe Slgno Vfnces" and beneath this
was q large Cross and crowd. The walls
were also adorned with pictures. and
lavish display of splendid potted plants
at the front of the stage added greatly
| to the agreeable effect of the decora-
lions. Here, as at the ban
quet, servants in livery were
in waiting who conducted the guests to
the stage dressing rooms which were Mt
ted up with degree of elegance which
was duly appreciated by the ladies.
| Pending the arrival of the dancers the
the Z. T. band enliye ned the occasion
with some of its fine music.
| At about half past 9 O'Clock the
Knights Templar grand march, led By
Col. }. n. Steele, took place. This was
participated ia by sl1 the Sir Knights
present-nearly 2o0-and the ladies
who enjoyed the distinction
on this occasion OF having knightly -es-
oorts.. The handsome uniforms Of the
Sir Knights and the great variety Of rich
and elegant toilets worn by the ladies
combined to make this ceremonial pc
culiarly effective and it passed Of In
manner worthy of its gallant leader
Then began the filing up of the pro-
grammes for the dance, aid We take par
ticular pride in noting that the whole
care of the resident SIR Knights seemed
to be that their visitors should be prop
} erly entertained. and to this end theil
guests were introdaced TO everybody IL
the hall whom they did not already
; know, and special palns were taken by
: the EmpOria knights 70 the end tha'
i their brethren from abroad should
: always have places on the door. Thil
g work, which was so successfully accom-
! plished, was in the hands Of the follow
1