The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1888-01-06
rHE sew YEARS RECEPTION.


j The reception at the Mankato Hons
Monday afternoon, rendered by thu
gentlemen to the ladies of Mankato wa
one of the most social and enjoyable
events that has occurred in this city.
The large hall in the new part of the
hotel had been arranged to aceommo
date the tables, the orchestra and the
reception committee while the pleasant
rooms on either side were set apart fol
the large number of gentlemen who had
congregated TO show their hospitality 70
the ladies and to tender them warm
greeting. The rooms were all brilliantly
illuminated after having been darkened
by drawn curtains and as the jolly party
were engaged in passing the compli'
ments of the season il was truly feast
pleasing for the eyes to behold.
1t would be pleasant could We publish
the names OF all the lady callers, but in
asmuch as several of the cards handed
in were not attainable, and their names
not now possible to recall from memory
ii were better to omit the entire stthan
to fail TO mention any one of the eighty
or ninety ladies who graced the occasion
with their spresence. The callers We're
all, or nearly so, dressed in visiting cos
TUNES, and under the glare of bright
lights their joyous faces shown forth
with unusual splendor, and one would
hardly recognize his own wife or daugh-
ter because of the boyance of spirit ex-
hibited.
The spread prepared under the direc-
ton of Mrs. Hamilton was one of the
most elaborate ever laid before an adj
miring party in this locality. Each lady
as we'll as each gentleman, was supplied
with beautiful button-hole boduet,
while the large table from which the
fruit was served contained service of
choice cut flowers. The ladies were
made perfectly at home by being seated
at tables where refreshments, consisting
of fruit courses, were served, and they
were served in excellent style and with
unusual dispatch. During the entire
receiving hours the Schubert Quartette
added pleasure to the occasion by dis
coursing some of its charming music,
and not until after $50 did the last call
ers depart. The gentlemen then took
their turn at the good things to eat and
satisfied each other that their appetites
were not lacking in any particular.
The day was appropriately closed with
a grand ball in Williams Hall, and it
proved one of the most brilliant parties
of the season. About 65 couples partici-
pated, and not until one O'Clock this
morning did New Year festivities cease
in Mankato.
To those who worked so persistently
to make this affair credit to the gentle
men too much praise cannot be given,
and from the many compliments paid by
the ladies we are led to express the be-
lief that they accorded the gentlemen
due credit for the manner in which |
everything was conducted.
The gentlemen now "know how it is |
and while enjoying the
leap year privileges hugely are, as
rule, satisfied to celebrate it only when |
permitted by custom. They now know
how the ladies have had to work to en-
terrain on New Year, and appreciate |
more than ever that with the pleasure |
derived there is no small amount of |
anxiety and genuine worry.
Let us all hope that the year 1888 so
opened may continue to the
end, and to be fraught with happiness
and good cheer.