Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-05-02

and plants, their disposition being so
artistic as TO demand the admiration that
grew as it is studied more
closely. This structure arose apparently
to half the heighth of the proscenium
arch. The base occupied several yards
of dancing floor, but the loss OF space
was atoned for in the gain TO spectacle.
1t arose in several terrace of different
colored flowers. The presidential box
was the center one, double terrated at the
back of the stage. The front was almost
covered with palms, with large
AMERICAN EAGLE IN THE CENTER,
surmoHnted by the words: Washington,
1859 ana 1889" in cclored electric lights.
The whole of the front of both tiers
were curtained with silk flags and dec
Grated with standards and masses of
flowers. Box parties began to come in long
before the mayor had arrived, and by
the time the word went around that the
presid sntial party was coming, there
were very few vacancies. Among the
families represented were those of VIM.
Astor, Ogden Golet, VIM. j. Hamilton.
Chauncey NJ. DepeV, Elbridge I. Gerry.
Stuyvesant Fish, Robert @. Winthrop,
Abram s. Hewitt, Hamilton Fish, Clarence
A. Sewart, Henry Clews, William n. Astor,
Levi 2. Morton, Stephen B. Elkins and
Paren Stevens.
Each com er was given the dancing or
der at the entrance, having twenty-four
numbers. The supper room is one of
grea proportions. Beginning at the
Broadway end CT the temporary structure
erected in Thirty ninth street, it runs all
the way through to Seventh avenue and
up to Fortieth street, forming two sides
of triangle. 1t makes a supper room
SO feet wide and 475 feet long, with ac-
commodations for
SIX THOUSAND PEOPLE
at one time. L he sides of this structure
is lined with cheese colored bunting and
as beautifully decorated as any other
part of the opera house, Hundreds of
baskets of blossoms were made use of
and only one kind of flowers were allowed
in each basket. The presidents table
stood at the Seventh avenue and Thirty
ninth st. corner; his party coulj look both
ways done the lines of supper tables.
just opposite the table was a raised plat
form on which were the musicians. On
the presidents table was a wreath of
scarlet tulips, white tulips and azalias
and hyacinthes arranged upon
PLATEAU OF TRAILING ARBUTUs
and the whole floral decorations resting
upon great oval mirror six feet wide and
ten long, com pIetely filling the center of
the great oval table. The tables in the
supper room presented a most beautiful
appearance before the work of devasts-
tiOn began. There was all epicurian
taste could wish TO choose from. Mayor
Grant arrived at 10 o'clock. 1t was 1890
when the president came. There was no
room TO move on the floor, and it was
labor to take three steps in the corri-
doris. Finally a detachment of second
artillery signal corps managed
TO FORCE PASSAGE THROUGH
the crowd from the main entrance to the
stage. At exactly 1915, the trumpets
sounded, and Mayor Grant, Offering his
arm to the president, began to walk be-
tween the lines of artillerymen. Next
came Vice President Morton and Mrs.
Harrison upon his arm, and they were fol-
lowed by Gov. Hill and Mrs. Morton.
Then came the other members of the
presidential party. As they all moved
through the walls of humanity that
pressed close ON eithor side, cheer after
cheer went up that almost drowned the
noise of the trumpets. Arrived at the
special boxes on the stage, the president
turned about and was formally intro
duced to the members of the committee.
The strains of "Hail to the Chief" ceased,
and the reception was at an end.
The president ushered Mrs. Harrison
into the box set apart for them. Vice
president Morton and wife also entered
the box as did Mr.. and Mrs. Russell
Harrison. The rest of the party were
disposed in other special boxes and all
was then in readiness for the great
quadrille.
At IL O'Clock the orchestra struck up
"The Star Spaugled Banner" and the
dance began. It WAS not rapid dance;
it was sedate in the extreme. Senator
AIdrich
SMILED ON his PARTNER
but otherwise there as much sole mnity
about the affair as if it had been the most
serious business on earth. The president
busted himself looking a. the brilliant
scene in the boxes and paid but little at
tention to the dancers. AS the presiden-
tial party mede the circuit of the ball
room Mrs. Harrison attracted much at
tention. She looked we'll and happy. Her
dress was heavy gross grain, cut with prin-
cess tram. The waist was trim med with
peal and silver, the corsage being filled
with guaze held in place with
ostrich feathers as was also the skirt.
The front embroidery of the skirt was in
the Grecian key pattern worked in
SILVER AND PEARLS,
meeting the panels of silver brocade and
feathers and shower of silver ornaments
fell from the skirt. The most notable
faatura in he nuadriIIa uaG MIRA Levi
Morton. Her costume was of heavy
white brocade silk, the design being very
ancient. Clusters of pinks and wild straw
berries were half hidden behind festoons
of lilac fringed with yellow, interviewer in
the material. The pire coat fronts
were of lilac silk, falling over the princess
front OF white crepe de Iisse. The cor
sage was of brocade, trimmed with lilac,
the broad sash ends of the same being
fastened TO the back. Next TO Mrs.
Morton no one attracted more attention
than Mrs. William Aston, and it was prob
ably the value and brilliancy of the dia-
monds that formed the basis of attrac-
ton.
The crowd on the floor was 30 great at
the conclusion of the opening quadrille
that it was at once seen that it would be
USELESS TO Thy TO GO ON
with the dancing, so the Orchestras play
ed promenade music and the people
moved along as best they could. At mid
night the presidential party led the way
to the supper rooms and the onslaught
then began. This exodus made little
room and dancing then began.
At first there was room for but few
couples, but the number gradually in
L.