The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1889-04-30
THE GRAND BALL.
Money Was Not Spared and the Re-
suit Was a Gorgeous and
Memorable Spectacle,
The President Takes Part In the
Dance Which Proves a Most
Serious Affair.
Mrs. Morton the Nest Richly Dressed
Woman on the Fioor-A supper
For an Army.


who are throHgiug New York In the days
of the celebration the greatest feature Of
all is the grand centennial ball, which took
place at the Metropolitan opera house to.
night. All that money could do TO carry
out the immense scheme that was 10 give a
night Of pleasure 10 six thousand people,
was done. Carriages began TO roll up 10
| the Bread way entrance soon after \ O'Clock.
| The outer walls Of the auditorium and the
sides OF the double stalrcAses oImed three
sides Of the garden, and trellised vines and
| Towering shrubs added 10 the natural ef.
| feet, while fruit trees set about artistic
ically challenged one 10 dispute the fact
that one had just come In from outdoors.
| There were apple trees in blossom
and pear trees In bud; peach trees
with n strong suggestlveness OF fruitful
ness, and cherry trees with every evidence
except the hatchet sticking In the base.
The decorations included ounces and
prunes and grapes even, while lilacs and
smilax climed the bAlustrade and made up
a continuous panorama Of floral verdure.
| Wherever you might choose 10 20, In the
| safe corners Of the corridors stood still
rarer plants. and on each stair landing was
a miniature grove OF beauty. Around on
the 3sth street side there was another gar
den, but more artificial In appearance than
1 tilht NJ ktt bIODuWhy tnuNItts
| The immediate entrances to the grand
dancing floor were kept clear for obvious
reasons. but when the sight met the eye
/ when once within, there Ia no word that
better describes the first sensation one ex-
perienced on entering the vast auditorium
tonight than 70 say that IL was dazzling
From the center OF the dome long streamers
radiated 10 the sidewalks and all around
| the tiers OF boxes and balconies as well
there was wealth of decoration, such as
never. before has been attempted In New
York. Little knots OF picturesque trim
mings OF red, white and blue were
30 arranged that the advent OF pretty
costumes not only enhanced
the general effect but the costumes them
selves were benefited thereby. The fronts
OF the lower tiers OF the boxes were draped
with red plush, and were festooned with
wreaths and flowers, while great piles OF
| flowers were on the front rails of most Of
| the boxes. On the stage arose huge
architectural mass OF flowers and plants,
their disposition 80 artistic as 10 demand
admiration the more closely IL was studied
| This structure arose apparently &c half the
height OF the proscenium arch. The base
was occupied by several yards Of dancing
floor, but the loss OF space was at0ned for
In the grand spectacle.
| The presidential box was the center one
OF the double tiers erected at the back OF
the stage. The front was almost covered
with palms with large American eagle In
the center, surmounted by the words
"Washlngton, 1889 and 1880" In colored
electric lights The whole front OF both
| tiers was curtained with silk flags and dec
GRATED with groups OF standards and great
masses OF flowers.
| The box parties began 10 coms In long
| DefOre tne mayor mad arrived anu Uy tne
time word went around that the presiden-
tiAl party was coming there were very few
vacancies. Among the families represent
ed in this great concourse OF expectant
people were those Of VIM. Astor, Ogden
toelet. tWm. J. Hamilton, Chauncey M.
Depew, Eldredge Y. Gerry, Stuyvesant
Fish, Robt O. Winthrop, Abram :. Hewitt
Hamilton Fish, Clarence A. Seward
Henry Clewes, VIM. M. Astor, Levi r.
Morton, StephenIB. Elkins, Paran Stevens.
Ward McA lllstes was c0nspicuously alb
sent during the earlier part OF the night,
but was seen In his box when the dancing
had commenced. Two orchestras were In
position. Each conner was handed a dane.
Ing order at the entrance, having twenty
four numbers.
The supper room is one Of great proper
tions. Beginning at the Broadway end OF
the temporary structure erected At Sgth
street Il runs all the way through TO 9Th
avenue and up 40th street, forming two
sides OF triangle. II makes q supper
room forty five feet wide and 475 feet long
with accommodations for 5000 people al
one time. The sides Of this structure are
lined with cheese-c0lored bunting and
, as beautifully dee decorated a,s as soai1 an,
Hundreds of baskets Of blossoms were made
use Of and only one kind Of flower was
allowed In each basket The presidents
table stood at the 7th avenue and 3ath
street corner. Ills party could look both
ays down the lines at the supper table
Just opposite the table was raised plat
form on which was the musicians. On ths
the presidents table were wreaths Of scar
let tulips, white tulips and azalias and by
aciDths, arranged upon platform OF trail
Ing arbutus, the whole floral decorati
resting upon great oval mirror, com
pletely filling the center Of the great ova
table. The tables In the supper room pre-
sented the most beautiful appearance befor,
the work Of devastation began. Ther,
was all an epicurean taste could wish u
choose from.
Mayor Grant arrived at 10 o'clock. Il
was 1870 when the president came. Their,
was then not room to move on the floor hnC
II was labor TO take three steps In the cor
ridors. Finally detachment OF the Sec
ond artillery, Signal corps, managed u
force a passage through the crowd from
the main entrance 10 the stage. At l045 |
blare Of trumpets sounded and Mayo
Grant, offering his arm TO the president
began the walk between the lines OF artil
leTymen. Next came Vice-President Nor
ton and Mrs. Harrison upon bis arm, anc
they were followed by Gov. Hill and Mrs
Morton. Then came the other members o.
the presidential party As they move,
between the walls OF humanity that pressed
close on either side cheer after cheer went NJ
and almost drowned the sound OF trumpels
Arriving at the special boxes on the stage
the president turned and was formally prs
sented TO the members OF th,
committee. Tie strains of "Hail 4
the Chief ceased and the reception
Mrs. Harrison into the box set apart 10
them. Vice-President Morton and Mrs
Morton also entered the box. as did Mr
and Mrs Russell Harrison. The rest o
the party were disposed OF In the othe
boxes and all was then In readiness for III
great quAdrille.
THE GREAT QUADRILLE.
At II o'clock the orchestra struck up th
"Star-Spangled Banner" and the dance be
gan. II was not rapid dance, but was sc
date In the extreme. Senator Aldrtc
smiled on his partner, but otherwise ther
was as much sOlemnity about the affair a
! II II had been the most serious business O
earth. The president busled himself lool
ing at the brilliant scene IN the boxes, an
paid but little attention TO the dancers. A
the presidential party made the circuit {
the ball room Mrs Harrison attracted muc
attention. She looked well and happ,
, Her dress was heavy gros grain, cut wit
, princess train. The waist was trlmme
, with pearl. and the silver corsage, file
with gauze, was held In place with lstric
feathers, As was also the skirt front m
embroidery OF the skirt was In the Grecia
key pattern, worked in silver and pearl
7 meeting panels OF silver OF brocads an
: feathers, and a shower OF ornaments fe
from the skirt.
! The most notable feature In the qua,
. rllle was Mrs. Levi r. Morton. Her col
: tune was heavy white brocade silk, III
!. design being very ancient Clusters Q
plnks and wild strawberries were ha
? hidden behind the festoons OF lilac firing
b with yellow, interviewer In the materia
o The empire coat fronts were Of lilac sill
= falling over princess front Of white creI
+ de lisse. The corsage was of brocad
J. trimmed with lilac, broad sash, the enc
o. lilac silk, being fastened TO the back.
Q Next 10 Mrs. Morton none attracts
more attention than Mrs. VIM. Astor, M