Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-02-19
THE LEAP YEAR BALL,
The Great Event Historically and PhiIoso-
phically Treated.


The Great Event Historically and Philoso-
phically Treated.
Tuesday evening, February lith,
1888, will long be remembered by the
merry-makers OF Miles City as the oc.
casion of the first leap year party in the
history of our city, but its claim to re-
membrance rests not alone on this cir
cumstance, for it was by all odds the
jolliest dancing party ever given in
this bsiliwick. From its inception
weeks ago until the last giddy aud art
less dude WAS safely housed after the
fstigues and conquests Of the dance,
everything was managed and conduct.
ed by the ladies, and as il was their
first attempt at anything of the kind,
the measure Of success attained wss
truly marvellous. The dance was CIV
en- at the Mscqueen house, and in au-
ticipation Of the important event,
Mine II Jst, Callahan, had dressed the
spacious dining hall with flags aud fes-
toons, which in connection with new
ly completed decorations OF walls and
ceiling combined to make the dancing
hall look prettier than it has ever
looked before.
Possibly because of tho standard
joke relative t. the tardiness Of the
fair sex on occasions of this kind, the
lady managers fixed the hour for
dancing at $ o'clock, but il was not
until half an hour later that any con-
siderable number of guests had assem-
bled. Tnen the leap year significance
Of the affair became apparent; hereto.
fore the gentlemen, after visiting their
dressing room aud divesling them.
selves Of their outer clothing have
had the right to stroll forth into the
halls or where their fancy directed
while waiting for their ladies TO ac-
complisb the tedious but important
finishing touches 10 theitoilet, but in
this instance no gentleman was allow
ed to leave the dressing room unless
called for by his escort, aud IL WAS
particularly noticeable that the ladies
took their own time IN coming TO the
relief. Iu due time, however, the ex.
tradition OF the gentleman began aud
rs it proceeded it was noticeable that
only the young, fascinating and elgi-
ole were called; this course was con.
tinued until finally only half a dozen
staid marrledmen andpdsse old bschel'
ors were left, on them the light sud-
denly dswned and in the frm belief
that they were getting left, they burst
bonds and guided by instinct trooped
up stairs TO the parlor where their be-
lief was confirmed, for here they found
a busy scene Of ladies soliciting dances
and filing programmes in which they
uhu ueltuer part uOt wv uuth III w
fault of better meterial they were TAX en-
up and allotted such enjoymeDts as
remained open on the ladies cards.
This ceremony being ended and each
OF the gentlemen being bedecked with
handsome boutonnsirs of natural
flowers furnished by the ladies, the
party repaired TO the ball room where
dancing commenced at hall past nine.
Here the pleasures Of the evening CON-
menced aud continued without abste.
ment until the end. While many OF
the ladies' had filled their programmes
with the names Of the most popular
entlemen, there we're those who rose
superior TO self qualification and most
nooly inundated themselves by de-
voted attention TO the few gentlemen
whose programmes were not filled, SC
that there were no wall flowers. The re,
sult was that many gentlemen, who
honestly concious OF being on the sha-
ay aide of the hill OF d p,pulsr ity, anc