The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-02-12
CELEBRATE THE INAUGURATION
OF THE GROWING EVIDENCE
OF PALATKA'S RESURRECTION
EIGHT HUNDRED DELIGHTED
Guests IN THE LOFTY PAR
LORS AND SPACIOUS COR
RIDORS OFOUR HOTEL.
4 SPLENDID SUCCESS


among society people in East Florida has
turned continually to the first annual
ball OF the new Putnam House at Pa
iatka, given to celebrate the Inaugural
tion Of a series OF entertainments which
Will evidence for many years to come
the resurrection Of the new Palatka from
the ashes Of the old. Until the winter
OF last year thousands had flocked to the
Putnam House and the name of that
hotel had become a common tie which
linked together like that of an alma
mater those in different climes and
widely separated lands. But with the
Old Palatka the old Putnam sank also 10
ashes, and to many the city seemed dead
when the square on which stood our
mos famous hotel was heaped only
with unsightly ruins.
Our citizens went Immediately to
work however, and solid blocks
of stately brick buildings replaced the
ruins Of her old wooden structures, yet
to all OF us the work seemed incom-
plete while tho Pu9nam square was
empty. Our people were too busy till
late to undertake any work of such mag
nitude, but at Iast the foundations Of the
new Putnam were laid. As it stands to-
day it 10 a monument to the public
spirit of our citizens-an evidence of
our deliverance from q calamity so
crushing that those who knew not our
indomitable energy believed it mortal,
and it is a special pride to each of ur. Its
architectural features spacious size and
imposing appearance has already been
remarked in our columns, but the crush
OF last night was needed to prove what
resources for the entertainment of guests
lay within such building under the
superintendsnce of its present manager.
For several days past we have known
from evidences unmistakable that the
leaders Of society throughout the state
would Ne present. Every room in the
immense building had been taken, and
under the splendid light Of its two
thousand gas jets the whole building
seemed rho creation of a brilliant fancy
rather than solid reality. Two thous-
and invitations had been mailed to all
parts of a state celebrated for it's beauty
and gallantry, and the evnet proved that
if Florida is dead her people at least still
live.
Since noon yesterday every boat and
train arriving in our city sent up its
contribution and when the hour for
dancing struck and the Third Artillery
Band, from st, Augustine, made the
long hall echo to its witching strains,
there were between eight hundred and
one thousand people under the roof OF
the building completed within one hun.
dred days!! The floor Of the magnifi
cent dining hall had been polished and
waxed till it was smooth to the feet OF
the dancers a. ice-the beautiful chan
delisrs can never look down upon 9
fairer scene, though these annual ball:
DO reproduced for a thonsands years ant
one room never held more genuine en-
joyment Or vibrated 10 more sincere
wishes for many happy returns of tho
occasion.
Tho lofty walls were decorated in the
most happy taste-wreaths and bouquet:
of lovely flowers testified to the mildnes:
of our mid-winter climate; and the lunch
room was adorned with all the fantastic
devices of the fashionable Japanes,
mode. The magnificent parlors shone il
all the glory Of their pristine splen
dor uuder the blaze of gas light and tn,
arrangement as o whole ELECTED many
compliments from the ripe red lips o
beautie, temporarily wearied of th'
dance.
To the strains Of delicious music pass
ed on light feet the tripping hours
there was q continuous procession o
bright maids and proud danes clad il
splendid robes from the parlors to th
ballroom, and then as the night wore Oh
and those Of riper age sought rest, you'll
longed not in vain for the hooks and cor