Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-12
ALLEN g. GLNTER'S BALL.
An Army or Happy Operatives at Armsry
Hail Last Evenins-Grand Music ~ Two
Runds-Feastipg, Dancing, kc.

An Army or Happy Operatives At Armery
Hail Las, EvenIns--Grand Music ~ Two
Misunderstanding, Daneing, kc.
Sometimes rift of sunshine comes
through dark clouds to make bright for
a brief while clouded skies. Lastnight
at Armory Hall complimentary ball
was given by Messrs. Allen & Ginter to
their employees, and this to them was
like the sunshine on the dark day. A
grand ball, ard that to 700 employees of
a mandatory.
Think Of it
Those earnest toilers, many of them
females who labor from I O'Clock in the
morning to 6 in the afternoon. made
happy.
The spacious Armory was in every
department thrown open, and an enter
tainment to which 5000 handsome in
vitations had been issued was conducted
with rare management. All seemed JOY
and contentment.
The proprietors must have felt them
selves happy in furnishing an evening OF
such genuine delight. Systematic in
their work, they are appreciative Of sue
cess, and seem to desire that those whom
they employ should also be. Messrs.
Allen & Ginter, in their cigarette-msnu-
facture, have attained a fame that is
worldwide, and each year it has been
their custom to give hemany young girls,
clerks, and men in their employment a
picnic gotten up on large scale. The
absence of Mr.. Ginter i'll Europe last
summer caused the suspension of this
usual custom, and he conceived Of
grand ball to make reparation for the
omission. The occasion last evening
the outgrowth of this idea--was with
out doubt a grand affair. The princi-
pal features were the music, the sup
per. and the order maintained. For
the music there were two bands
employed, comprising nearly fifty men
an orchestra and a brass band. The
orchestra, under the management of
Mr.. John Baseler, consisted of nearly
all the instrumental musicians of the
city twenty five in number. The band
was that excellent organization the Sol
diers'- Home band of Hampton. under
the direction Of Professor d. Leavy.
The programme consisted of forty
two numbers, beginning with a
march. {" Richmond Straight-Cut No.
l." and ending with the Old Nir-
ginia reel. This arrangement was
so made that there was continuous
sound Of music-first the band, and then
the orchestra 80 that there was pro-
menade and dance alternating from the
beginning to the end Of the evening.
The orchestra occupied the stage at the
end of the main hall, on which had been
erected music-stands for the occasion. Ii
was surrounded by decoration ofgrow-
ingplants, and the hall generally showed
tasteful ornaments in the shape of flow
ers. The promenade band occupied the
space in the centre Of the gallery and
discoursed sweet and soul-stirring mu-
sic.
The supper was furnished by pizzini,
and was given in the hallway in front Of
the company rooms. The repast, which
was sumptuous one, was begun at II
O'Clock and continued until the large
company dispersed.
Ii was remarkable, the large assem-
blage considered. what perfect order was
maintained. This showed that the idea
Of the ball was not only happily con-
ceived, but well executed. Messrs.
Allen & Ginter in this work had able
and efficient assistants in many Of their
principal clerks, and especially in Mr..
John Pope, member of the firm.
The enjoyment seemed upbounded.
and to one looking upon the sea of
faces on the floor Of the dance a marked
contrast was visible between that of
unusual pleasure and the festive occa-
sions Of fashion. Men and women
seemed equally joyous. All were hap
py, and lived life in the few hours
Of rare recreation that was theirs last
night.
The firm who dispensed so much
pleasure in this event gave holiday to
their employees at noon yesterday, and
viii not require their presence until
noon to-day, thus giving, as it were, q
world Of enjoyment to those who toll
for the luxury Of many.