Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-02-28
BAL MASQUE.
Great Success of Devils Lakes
First Masquerade.

Great Success of Devils Lakes
First Masquerade.
No event on the social calendar of
Devils Lake has given more genuine
satisfaction or been more prolific Of great
enjoyment than the bal masque of Tues
day evening last. 1t is fortunate that
Messrs. Howard & Wetenhall did not
make their rink smaller, else it would
have failed to accommodate the throng
that gathered there on this occasion; it
is also fortunate that Major Benham did
not put on a full head of steam in work.
ing up the affair, or the ample temple Of
the castors would have been inadequate
as to space.
The merry maskers begun to appear
upon the scene at eight and half
o'clock. The first half hours arrivals
| were for the most part of the home-spun
order, yet of complete disguise and
artistic makeup. Then came small
throng of princes, cavaliers, knights.
errant, crazy quilts, clowns, testers,
athletes, stars and stripes, snow storms,
what-is-it that talked German and two
fat Misunderstanding up an amusing
collection Of mystery and dlssemblance.
Following these came coterie of national
characters-an aesthetic Irishman, a
German senator, Yankee doodle, and n
big Indian "fresh from the Cut-Head
agency" and bevy of ladies in laces,
bunting, frills, tilagrees and furbelows.
Dancing commenced at 9:45 with eight
sets of maskers on the floor, and in
the midst Of the second quadrille an
ourang-outang from Towner county
bounded into the arena, to the great dis
tress of the other monkeys. This way
back specimen, from which, it Is
charged, sprang the ward politician and
territorial statesman, made one revolu-
ton of the hall and was compelled to re-
tire with his tail in his hand, the repre-
sentative of Hibernia having dislodged
the animals caudal appendage in one
round. The last and least expected ar
rival was Sitting Bull, in full war dress,
with long feathers agog and toes turned
in. Mr.. Bull took the queen of hearts
for his partner and walked with marked
austerity through the figures of double
quick hornpipe. His disguise was COM
plete.
Until midnight the scene was one sell
dom witnessed outside of large cities. 1t
was the general remark that the popular
expectation had been more than realized.
Fully one hundred persons were upon
the floor en- masque, and the rare strains
of Prof. Howard's five-piece orchestra
added everything that may have been
needed to make the scene profoundly
grand. The music was the best ever
furnished in Devils Lake, and was rs far
in artistic advance Of what the eastern
metropolite would give "frontier
town" credit for as the weather of North
Dakota is in reality milder and the cli-
mate healthier than that Of the blockade
belt Of Illinois and the sore-throat re-
gion of Missouri. And as to the refined
taste and courteous bearing Of those
hundred Terpsichorean revelers, the
INTER-OcEAN invites comparison with
the cultured communities Of any state
that has star in our common flag. The
usual surprises and good jokes that
came with the unmasking were followed
by delicious supper at the Benham
House, after which the fun was renewed
at the rink. Many of the spectators went
upon the floor, and the dancing capacity
Of the rink was thoroughly tested,
twelve sets (96 persons) being formed at
one time. The last figure was completed
at five o'clock Wednesday morning, and
all went to their homes delighted with
every feature Of the entertainment.
THE MAsKERs.
The following list Of those who were
present en- masque is as nearly complete
and correct as the arduous efforts of the
1NTER-OcEAN scribe, with the kind
assistance of the managers and others,
could make it:
GENTLEMEN.
Frank Converse-Spanish cavalier;
very handsome and attractive.
Chas. .. Maloney-Harlequin a mag
niticent costume.
O.W. Rawson-Prince of carnival; a
good disguise; character we'll taken.
Messrs. Converse, Maloney and Raw
son are entitled to the credit of having
the three best court costumes in the
room.
George T. stuart-spanish cavalier;
very rich.
E. J. Nadeau-Duke Of Brunswick;
attractive.
s. NJ. Dodd-Oscar Wilde; becoming
this is ioke); the costume was very
noticeable.
NJ. 8. Moen-French marquis.
w. G. Stuart-Spanish duke; very
rich.
Frank McKay-Quite a good Hamlet.
NJ. Christensen-Spanish peasant.
A. G. Requa-Mexican brigand; be-
coming. Berts been there.
r. s. Thompson-Der Sherman sena-
tor.
Fred Snore-Sitting Bull.
B. F. Shanley-Indian chief.
These two characters left nothing fur
ther to desire that would make them
| more perfect types Of the tribe of Lo.
Henry Reichow-A good Humpty
Dumpty.
VIM. Hall-Fireman; we'll designed.
w. NJ. Drew-Lone Fisherman; good
| character we'll taken.
]. B. Observation-Disclosures; well sus-
tanned.
J. H. L. Williams-Day and Night;
good.
Frank Caldwell-Song and dance man.
Frank Ferguson-Clown; frst-class.
John A. Burnett-Scotch highlander.
Fred Craft-Acr0bat.
Deshon and Morris-Lively mokes.
John Sieber and w. II. Bradley-Plan-
tation darkies.
r. r. Howard and Chas. s. Smith
Death.
w. E. Pew-Ourang-outan
J. L. Davenport-What-is-i A. NJ. A.