The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-02-04
GRAND CHARITY BALL.
AMAGNIFICENTS PECTAC Gle
THE PRESIDENT AND
PARTY.
A BEAUTIFUL Sees E-FLON ERS,
MUSIC AND RIPPING
WATERS.
Baltimore sun.

The great charity ball took place In
Baltimore last night at the Academy OF
of Music. 1t was a magnificent spectacle
and will long remain pleasant memory
with all who were there Imagine a scene
made up of beautiful women radiant il
lovely gowns and brilliant jewels, of
handsome men in evening dress, OF
dreamy music from two orchestras, OF
blooming flowers and rare foliage
of the murmurous splashing of a
prismatic fountain, of Il thou
sand gas and electric lights shed
ding their rays upon the picture imagine
all this, and it will but imperfectly de-
scribe the charity ball at the height of its
spIendor. Then add to this picture the
/ presence of the president of the United
| States and distinguished party of friends
from Washington, and it will be seen that
everything necessary to make the ball a
memorable social event was there.
! The doors were opened at s O'Clock. A
large crowd was in waiting, many persons
having collected on the pavement in the
hope of seeing the president. whose pOpu-
larity in Baltimore is unbounded. As the
people entered the academy they walked
under a canopy of evergreens and hang
ing baskets, while along the sides were
camelias, azalias, Gala lilies, crotens and
other plants, filling the atmosphere
with fragrance. The auditorium was dec
Grated in a similar manner, the ever
greens INTERVENING around the front of
the galleries and boxes, and the growing
plants and foliage adjoining the sides of
;o, tbo
ira chairs. The stage was set in garden
scene under Manager Conway's direction.
The prismatic fountain was a part of the
scene, and as its sixty tiny streams of
water rose sixteen feet in the air and
were tinted in calcium lights, red, yellow,
blue, green orange, purple and in semi
tones, the effect was very pretty. The word
"Charity" in gas jets was conspicuous in
the center of the stage. On the southern
side of the second gallery was string
orchestra, under Prof. Itzel, and in the
top gallery was military band led by his
nephew Mr.. j Ohm ItZel. The selections
were mostly from the operas of "Jack
Sheppard "Gasparone," "Beggar Stu
dent" "Iolanthe," "Mikado," "BOccaccio,"
"Nanon" and BLACK Huzzar' The
SIrluS OlCneStrd pldyeu une udnCe music, !
and the military band occupied the inter
walls. In speaking of the music, Prof.
Itzel said: u had intended to play Hail |
to the Chief, at the entrance of the pres
ident, but was told he had heard the tune
so often on Inauguration day and since
that he had given the Marine band orders !
never to play it again when he was near.
As soon as heard that decided to play
the 'Star-Spangled Banner instead" The
two Orchestras joined in the national song,
the CLOCK Polka" and others.
large number of the ladies wore short
sleeves and low-neck dresses. Nearly
every lady had cluster of roses as part
Of her costume. OF the roses the favorites
seemed to be Pearls, La France, Mermetts
jacques, BENEFITS and Marshal Niels. |
The demand for flowers was very great
md the florists reaped a harvest. The
livery stable keepers also did unusually
ZIG business, as majority of those pres
mt came in carriages, hacks and coupes.
The private carriages were numberless.
IS for dealers in fine feathers, costly
ans artificial flowers and silk and lace
raperies, they enjoyed regular boom
II trade.