Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-19
RHVELRY BY MIGHT.
The Grand Dedication Ball at then ew
State Capitol a Most Supsrb
Event.
Three Large iplrtm snts Utilized fol
the Occssion-Spsctstors and Par
Elephants ELL the Building.
a Gathering of Beauty and Chivalry-The
Glitter Of Jewsis-rhe Arissocracy OF
the Lone Star State.
A MAGNIFICENT INTERIOR.

Special TO the Gazette.
AUSTIN, May 1s-The exterior grand
eur OF the new Texas capitol scarcely
exceeds the msgnilcence of its interior,
and when illuminated IS on tonight for
the grand dedication ball, 1t looks more
like the creation OF fiction or some fairy
palace we sometimes read a.out in
romance. Ascending q broad stair case
in keeping with the imposing character
OF this stately pile Of granite, the partici-
pants in this scene of festiyity came to
the second floor Of the building, and en-
ter:ng q corridor leading to the eastward
found themselvesli lin the magnificent Senate
chamber which Is one of the three stately
hslls IA which the ball is being held. Vast
in dimension, under the glare of electric
lights it was surprising in splendor
which We'd with the glitter of the jewels
that ornamented the beautiful women
who appeared within its walls.
THE SCENE IN THIS CHAMBER
to- night will never be forgotten by any
Texan who had the good fortune to be
present. In the lofty galleries that sur
round the chamber was seated vast
audience OF ladies and gentlemen who
were disinclined to participate in the
dancing. The crowd WAS so dense that
it even invaded the reporters gallery
which overlooked the ballroom. On The
east were rows Of men and women, many
of them drawn from the best society of
Texas, who looked down upon an as
semblage on the ball room floor that has
seldom or never been eclipsed In the
southwest. Lovely women, young ladies
OF Texas, with graceful figures, fair faces
and the fine physique for which their
brothers are noted, represent G the best
families in the Lone Star state,
claimed the admiration OF all
In contrast with their white
attire, and interspersed through q sea OF
tu}ie and moire antique were the dark
Sue uniforms Of federal officers and Of
Texas soldiers that gave military air
to the scene.
REPRESENTATIVE HALL
in the western wing Of the building,
which had also been improvised into q
ballroom, presented q scens not less bril-
liant or magnificent. It was scene to
G. mpsre with occasions of festivity in the
palaces OF Europe, for here WAS lord'y
hall filed to OVERLOOKING with besutiful
women, Respondent with lovely maiden
hood, and tie strong, stalwart but gal
liant manhood OF grand young state.
The ladies Of Texss-many Of them rep
resenting the old aris.ccratic names OF
the stste-looked lovely, in fact, truly
ethereal, arrayed in the light and
airy ball costumes selected in this
southern climate. Aiming these besuti
full beings who grew up like the blossoms
that bloom on their native prsiries, on
the Brs z0s. the Colorado and the Trinity,
the tall forms Of military officers, both
federal and state, clad in brilliant uni
forms, strobe, the admiration Of the
dancers on the bali room floor below,
and the vast audience in the galleries
above and around the lofty and stately
apartment. From the tinted glass plates,
immense In dimensions and thickness,
which forms at once trsnspare roof
and respondent siling for this msgnifi
cent hall, hung not the old fashioned
chandelier, but the glittering electric
lamps, the thick wires connecting with
which swing across the hall
IN GRACEFUL CURVES.
The soft electric light fell like a.veil
upon the gay costumes of the dancers,
and the scene was one of radiance and
beauty never to be forgotten by those
good fortune to be present.
Nor was this sll of this remarkable ball.
There was still smother apartment not
less striking for its grandeur of construc-
ton than the other two imposing apart
ments which echoed to the light tread Of
the dancers and the melodies and har-
menies made by adetachment of the most
celebrated band in the world. The H.
brsry room in the new capitol is situated
in the northern section and op ns out on
the msjestic granite portico on that side
of this immense and imposing
building. 1t is On the second and
same floor with the Legislative
halls. The vastness of the apartment, in
which appear numerous stately columns,
and from whose lofty walls all the gov
errors of the state and the presidents of
the Republic Of Texas look down from
historical looking picture frames is in
keeping with the rest Of this new granite
state capitol, which
sURPAssEs IN GRANDEUR
all tho cspitols OF the United States ex-
cept those at Albany and Washington
The library was turned into another ball
room in which WAS seen brilliant as
semblsee of fair women, glitteriDg with
wels, Fishing with dismonds, and g.y
cavaliers in handsome uniforms. The
stone walls, the frescoed ceiling within
and the magnificent granite Doric columns
without the chamber echoed with the
strains Of the orchestra even more en-
from the echoes Of the vast
apartment.
A little above and to the left of the
grand entrance to the library, which opens
! lso into stately corridor on the south,
is painting OF General Sam Houson, the
nero of the battle of San Jacinto, the
isther of the republic OF Tex.s ana now
recognized as one Of the great men Of
this era. The portrait is life size.
Around his shoulders are thrown tie
graceful folds of red Mexican blanket
which WAS worn by early settlers In Texas
in place OF overcoats. In his left hano is
held q white broad brimmed fur hat.
General Houston Ieposes in Texas soil
which he wrested from the Mexican
power and freed BY the sword, but the
s,sgly c-Ez.cnElce Of the co-quc-or Of