Bridgeton pioneer., 1888-04-05
GRAND MASQUERADE.
William Fl. Ballenger and
Wife Surprised by a Host
Of their Friends.

The beautiful residence of VIM. H.
Ballenger, at Moore's Mill, a few miles
from this city, was the scene Thursday
night of the grandest masquerade sur
prise party ever given in this section
arrived on the scene at about $50
o'clock, all was quiet and snug at the
Ballenger mansion, while just across
the way. lat the home of John H. Cook,
all was commotion, removing outside
wraps, putting on the mysterious
mask and preparing in general to make
the attack. By nine o'clock all was in
readiness, and the party accompanied
by music, furnished by Carlfs Indepen-
dent Band, of Bridgeton, filed into the
spacious home of Mr.. and Mrs. Ballen-
ger, taking them by complete surprise.
Instantly every room in the house was
lighted cp and thrown open for the
comfort of the guests, while the large
reception y room was arranged for
dancing, which was largely participate
ed in. After couple of hours the
masks were removed, and the custom
ary .tOh, was that you was heard on
every hand. After several selections
by the band, the party betook them
selves to the dining room, where was
found tables laden with all that the
heart could desire. 1t was after one
o'clock before refreshments were over,
soon after which the guests began to
depart.
There were some elegant costumes,
but the greater number were gotten
up in some ridiculous style, represent
ing every nationality under the sun.
Mr.. John H. Cook was made up as
frog, and amused the company very
much with his more RUM and pecu
| liar frog antics. Mr.. Jacob Mengel
wore ali elegant kings costume, Mr..
VIM. Service and Capt. Jos. Mulford
| represented the Irish twins. The
| ''three little maids from school was a
pleasing feature, and was initiated per-
fectly by the Misses Grosscup and
Miss .Sallie Burgeois.
Its 4 ,timated that $50 persons were
present. The following being among
the invited guests from this city
Mr.. Jacob Mengel, wife and daugh-
ter; Walter Bond and wife; William
Allen and wife; Samuel Allen and
| wife; Robert More, Sr., and wife;
Robert More, Jr., and wife; Joseph L.
Mulford and wife Frank Penpell and
wife; William H. Lucas and wife; John
Trenchard and wife; William E. Rice
and wife; William E. Service and wife;
Thos. B. Woodruff and wife; John b.
4 Clevenstine and wife; John E. Schenck
and wife; William Harris and wife;
Richard Moore and wife; Duy Johnson
and wife; David Davis and wife; Will
bert Moore and wife; John Fithian and
wife; Azariah Moore and wife; Chas..
milford and wife; Samuel Rogers and
lady; Will Sithens and wife; Samuel
Rogers and Miss Lizzie Moore; Oscar
Anderson and Miss Laura Kerr, Ches
| ter Anderson and Miss Mamie Loder;
AL. Grosscup and Miss Sallie Burgoise; !;
Elliot j. Tomlinson and lady; Oscar
Whipple and Miss Mamie Grosscup;
Walter Elwell and Mrs. Minnie Smith;
Len Wentzell and Miss Emma Dare;
John Richmond and Miss BERTHE Ba-
con; Dave Appelgate, Milford Appel
gate, D. P. Mulford, Jr., Charles Laws,
VIM. E. Riley, Capt. Ebenezer Whita-
ker Enos Paulin, Daniel McGear,
Mrs D. O. Garrison, Mrs Wilcox, Mrs.
Albert Fish, Martin Mulford, Beulah
Wentzell, Joseph Allen, John Morris
and wife, Millvilie, N. j., John Whita-
ker and wife, Millville, N. j.. Miss
Garrison, Elmer, N. j.; Mrs. Hattie
Fullerton, Wilmington, Del. Mrs. Lyd
ia Fish, Camden, N. j.; Miss Maude
Hinchman, Camden, N. j.. and others
whose names it was impossible to Sc
cure. The whole affair passed off in
an elegant manner and much credit is
due to Mr.. and Mrs. John HI. Cook for
their superb management. 1t was
early morning before the guests de-
parted, and Mr.. and Mrs. Balenger
shook hands with host of their warm
est friends.
Mr.. Griswold Harte, son of the
novelist, Bret Harte, and recently city
editor of the Herald, of Elizabeth, has