Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-29
THE BALL TONIGHT.
GRAND AsseMBLAGe OF COLONIAL
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
A Scene Of fBewiidering Beauty Promised.
Together with an Imposing Recep-
tion aud stately Minuet.

The Colonial Assembly takes place at the |
Theatre tonight.
! Its object is to raise money to put into |
the treasury of the Association for the |
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities--an
organization which is trying to rescue
from the tooth Of time and from the hand /
of spoliation objects of historical interest
throughout the State.
This evenings enterprise aims, too, to re-
produce here in Richmond one of those
assemblies which constituted marked
I feature of the vice-regal court OF Williams
? burg when Virginia was happy colony 1
I of Great Britain and when all our good |
folk were distinguished for their loyalty |
to their Sovereign Lord King George III.
WHAT OF IT?
The ball will bring back out of the mists /
of years the cooked hat and be-sworded
gentry. For the nonce bagged-legged |
trousers will disappear and knee-breeches,
garters. and buckles will supply their place,
and the queue will dangle from cropped
| crowns.
As for the dear ladies, powdered hair, jew
/ els of ancestral lustre, rich brocades and
iaces, and the styles of long ago will make |
them even more charming than were |
their great-grandmotbers. who listened to
wooings rs they walked the stately minuet
with men who were to become creators OF |
the republic.
There is an exceeding suitableness in
ball of this description. II teaches his
tory. 1t pictures the past. 1t brings back |
the gracious memories of an adventurous
and heroic age. II stimulates the study OF /
genealogy and places the young people OF |
this day almost within speaking distance of
their ancestors, who were the most loyal OF |
loyalists until their liberties we're assailed,
/ when they harama tho rnOet rahalliOug of |
rebels.
Seven years of bloody war and almost |
uncomfortable privation, ending with the |
victory at Yorktown and the acknowledge |
ment of the Colonies independence. sub !
stituted upon the pages of history the ,
word patriot" for that of rebel"
THE ARRANGEMENTS.
The Colonial Assembly will be the most |
| conspicuous society event in Richmond 1
/ for decade. One only in ten years is en- |
titled to be mentioned along with it; that /
was the citizens ball given at the Allan 1
house, Main and Fifth streets, in 1891, IN |
/ honor of the French and German visitors /
to the Yorktown centennial celebration.
The ladies have worked hard to make |
Z this success Ii has been immense
labor, and now with their prepara-
tions nearly complete, with pleasurable |
anticipatons they see the evening APP |
.
violin sounding the Welcome" and all |
the chorus of instruments joining in tho
strains which will usher in the ball.
THE FEATURES
The Theatre is girdled and sashed, fes-
tooned and blazoned, with flags and
streamers in gay colors, while trophies and
| coats-of-arns hang on the walls and pot
ted plants. set in appropriate places, mako
/ II n picture of coZiness and beauty.
The spectators will occupy the boxes.
the dress circle. and the two galleries.
The orchestra chairs will be out of sight
| Of the spectators, for flooring Extending
forward from the stage) covers them. This
amplified stage is the domain Of those who
will appear in costume and on it the re-
! ception and minuet will take place.
/ OF the reception Governor and Mrs.
Mckinney will be the central figures.
while Mrs. Philip Haxall will head the
committee to introduce the distinguished
couple 10 the Richmond people.
The reception will last from Q to IL and
then the stage will be cleared tor tho
minuet.
THIS ANTIQUE DANCE.
What is the minuet?
Oh. you have seen il in Romeo and Ju-
BET; but If you have not, read what an an
cient authority says:
"The minuet IL q very graceful kind OF
and balance. 1t begins a-beat and its
motion is triple"
Now you understand it. do you not?
The minuet will be led ,by Mrs. Willie
Allen and Mr.. Byrd Warwick, and will last
some half hour.
all may engage.
Krause's Hotel, adjoining the Theatre,
being now untenanted, will be used for
supper-rooms. To reach it you have only
TO pass through o door which has been cut
from the Theatre stage into Krause's back
yard. whence a covered walkway leads
into the hotel.
Two additional private boxes have been
put in the Theatre adjoining those on the
lower floor.
Cloak and hat-rooms have been well To-
Gated.
THE INVITATION.
Following is a copy of the invitation sent
out to those who were expected TO buy
tickets:
You will be welcomed at the Colonial As
sembly,
An Honoure to be rendered to
His Excellency
The Governor of Virginia-Philip Watkins
Mckinney and lady,
At the Theatre in Richmond Town
On the nine and twentieth day of the first
month of the year Of our Lord
Eighteen hundred and ninety,
at the time of the clock
Past Meridian.
ADox FOR SALE.
The managers desire To state that the
box which was reserved for ex-Presldent
and Mrs. Cleveland will be sold at auction
at NJ. Il. Ramos Il Co.'s music-store at 10
o'clock this morning sharp.
DE PROMPT.
Guests at the Colonial Assembly are
urged to be promptly on hand at p. NJ,
as the reception begins at that hour and
will close punctually at IL ?. NJ. All who
are late will lose the opportunity of being
presented to the Governor Of Virginia and
Mrs. Mckinney.
PERSONAL.
Mrs. Fitzhugh Lee is in the city and is
the guest of Major w. Miles Cary. The
General will not be here. 1t was impossl-
BILE for him to arrange to leave his business
at this time.
THE SALE OF SEATS.
The sale of seats has been Unexpectedly
large. Four hundred tickets have been
sold to the foor-252 to the dress-circle;
200 to the family circle, and 100 to the
uppermost gallery.
THE REHEARSAL
The minuet dancers. under the direction
I OF Professor IauUe, udu Icucufoti w eho
Theatre last evening.
They have made great proficiency in the
step, and will appear to great advantage
tonight.
Colored calcium lights will be thrown
upon these minuet dancers while the
minuet is in progress, which will greatly
heighten the brilliancy Of the scene.
HOW TO ENTER.
To provide against the contingency of
rain an awning will be stretched from the
/ Theatre doors to the curbstone in front.
A like awning will be stretched from
Krause's door to the curbstone in front OF
that hotel.
The Reception Committee will enter
through Krause's door. =,
The rest of thoee in costume aud all
Others will enter through the Theatre
doors.
The Theatre doors will be opened at
o'clock. Reception begins at g. Those VINO
{ great crowd there is to push through.