The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-02-22
a SILVER ANNIVERSARY.
The Brilliant Reception. Banquet
and Ball OF the Knights OF
Pythias.

"If any person was TO be suddenly
brought and set down in this room to-
night he wouldn't know where he was"
was the remark Of one Of the guests at
Union Hall Tuesday night, and the re-
mark did not in the least ~exaggerate the
case. The celebration OF the twenty
fifth anniversary Of the found
ing of the order of Knights of
Pythias, held by the Mankato lodge, was
a complete and gratifying success in ev-
cry particular. The bare walls and floor
of the ball where the event took place,
had been transformed as If by magic,
and the large room presented the ap.
pearance of a fairy bower. The various
colored lights cast a softened brllliance
upon tapestried walls, carpeted floor
and the manifold streamersand festoons
that extended from ceiliig to chandelier
and from chandelier to ceiling. The
stage was transformed into a beautiful
canopied throne, from which the Ger
mania orchestra dispensed its sweetest
otAhtIt6 hO btdtI way lC0uiuk oOmu iutO
the b~anqueting ball was surmounted by
a castle, which lowered to the ceiling. |
On the left of the orchestral throne was
a fine imitation fire place. Other well
constructed decorations aided to com.
plete the delusion. Upon the floor was
a white canvass. Never before have
such elaborate decorations been attempt
ed in this city.
The attendance included the greater
portion of Mankato's elite, old and
Young. In all there might have been
n hundred couples present. The Ia
dies appeared in finer costumes and tot
lets than ever before, many of the dress
representing greet cost, and we'll dis
playing the graces of the owners. The
gentlemen, too, presented their finest
appearance, and all the swall w-tails in
the city were made to do duty. The
Uniformed Rank appeared in their at
~tractive uniforms.
The Knights and their guests at first
occupied chairs in the hall and there lis
tened to al interesting program of
speeches and music, G. C. Isidor Longini
presiding. This program was as follows:
Overture-"O, How acknowledgements.
Address of Melcome-D D. d. G. G. l.. p. Hunt.
Quartetm"Welcome"- Knights Brett, Force,
Address-"Our order"-P. C.. w b Davies.
s3lo5"A Bird from Ger the sea"--Mrs. W..
Solo--Mrs. Geo. II. Fox.
Baritone Solo -"Heart Bowed Down"-Kt.
Isidor Lonsini.
soprano solo--"Queen of the NiGht"--Miss
Caddie Lee.
The first speaker heartily welcomed
invited guests, bidding them en-
Joy themselves to the fullest extent, and
explained the principles of the order.
Mr.. Davies gave a complete history of
he order. Each of the singers won
we'll deserved applause, and added
greatly to the evenings enjoyment.
The banquet was then announced, and
he company proceeded down stairs and
here found a sumptuous and attractive
'epast awaiting them. This over, and
he hall being cleared of the chairs, the
remainder of the evening was given over
the dancers, who fingered in the en-
RANGING whirl until several hours past
midnight. The canvass covering to the
loor proved a great success, and was ,
highly approved by all. While the ,
was in progress a part of the !.
ompanv REPAIRED to the smaller rooms
n ear of the hall, and spent a few
pleasant hours manipulating the cards.
1t was with feelings of regret that the :
'arty finally dispersed. The evening :
the event was n that will long be :
leld in pleasant remembrance by all
yho were SO fortunate as to be present. :
t was undoubtedly the greatest event of :
he kind ever held in the city, and was :
eneralIy so pronounced. The greatest !
redit Is due ali those who aided in its :
PREPARATION, both IN decorating the hall :
nd attending to the smaller details. /,
The following were the committees: !
Reception KITS. L. p. Hunt, j. b !
richards, III. M. Hamilton, L. o. Ram ,
d. F. McGraw, Geo. +. Brett, p. {
(. Wiser, and w. B. Torrey. 5
Presentation-Kts. M. B. Haynes. F. ]
'orce, L. S. Pearson, G. Dice, F. Zeigler q
F. Pay, ]. B. Coy, and W. B.. Fora :
wee. q
Banquet-Kt. n. P. Lee, Mesdamei T
Dice, G. c. Truesdell, and N. p. \
zee.
Floor-Kts. Isidor Long1ni, G. ca 7
'ruesdell, f. Rausch, H. Zimmerman, :
!. E. Wise, Andrew Under, H. ID. Will :
ans, and Jacob Wagon. !,
To Mr.. Geo. c. Truesdell is due in a. I
Irge measure the success of the affair. I
lie had entire charge of the decorations e
the hall, and displayed rare taste in !.
his matter. His services would have =
cen indispensable in this as well as 9TH