Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-02-05
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Guest of Honor at the State Fenciblei
Dance In PhlIadeIpIiia--Dther Della

Guest of Honor at the State Fencibles
Dance In Phlladelphia--Other Della
wareans Among the Battaiion's Guests.
The annual reception of the State
Fencibles, given Monday night in the |
Academy of Music, Philadelphia, was |
one of the leading social events in that |
city this season. About 1000 people |
were in attendance. Distinguished Off
GERS were present by the score and the
regular army and the navy were repre-
sented, as well as the militia.
Governor Reynolds divided the honors
of the evening with the new adjutant-
general, William HI. McClelland, and
Maior-general Snowden, commander OF
the Pennsylvania National Guard. The
last two officers occupied the Prince of
Wales box, in company with Commo-
dore Neville, U. 8. N, Chief Engineer
Mecklen, U. S. N, Assistant Engineer
L. p. Robinson, Lieutenant and Mrs. r.
L. Pearie, U. S. NJ; General l.. w. Latta,
General Thomas j. Stewart, General w.
D. Neill, Major E. Townsend and Major
Herbert Coke.
Just above them were Governor Rey-
nolds, Secretary of State Marvel, Cen
erals Hart, Wilds and Marshall, Colonies
Borie, Terry, Wilson, Maxwell, Stacey,
Coulbourn and Cullen, Lieutenant
colonies Simpson, Chaytor, Hasson and
Ford and Sergeant-m Grant of Gov
ernor Reynolds staff, Generals Kenney
and Armstrong, Colonies Laytield and
| Hickman and Lieutenant-colonel Newell
of ex Governor Biggs' staff, Commissary
Weller of the First Regiment, Lieu
tenants Evans and Lukens of the First
Cavalry, Captain Rice, Lieutenants
Stevenson and Ocheltree and Commits
sary sergeant Henry of Troop b, III. @.
Carpenter of Dover, George o. Shaks-
| peare, Esq, and Huston A. Culbreth,
formerly of Dover, John S. Jones and j..
Y. Wilkins. In the left balcony box
were officers of the National Guard of
New Jersey and in the other boxes were
National Guardsmen from Baltimore,
New York, Brooklyn and other cities.
Promptly at the curtain rose on $50
stalwart soldiers in the regular Fenci-
bles dress uniform of scarlet coats and
blue cloth trousers, wearing big black
shakos and carrying heavy arms. Major
Chew stood like a statue at the head,
and his men looked as if they had grown
fast to the floor, so stolid and iron-like
did they appear. At the word of com
mand the battalion made their first
move, and they moved like one body.
The bewildering movements of an ex-
haustiye military drill code were per-
formed entire and with that perfect
skill of the long practiced veteran. AS
the boys in red flashed their cleaning
bayonets in the light and began to exc
cute the effective movements of the
bayonet exercise the audience broke
into enthusiastic applause.
This was only heightened when the
lads went through the skirmish drill and
the smooth floor of the Academy was
for the moment transformed into a
battlefield and spectators with vivid
imaginations thought they saw the
enemy preparing to attack the soldiers
in red. A. detachment of the Second
Battery of the New York National
Guard gave an artillery drill with fine
effect. The military march, in which
all the military and naval guests par.
ticipated, was a magnificent sight and
was led by Governors Reynolds and
Albeit, General Snowden and Major
Chew.
Ii the scence at a civilians ball is a
beautiful one, it is difficult to find Q
word for the picture presented by 6
military reception. The brilliantly col.
OGeu ullilOIllS VI tIe sOluleCS HlluSlG Ill
harmony with the dazzling toilets of the
beautiful women, and last nights scene
will live long in memory. If the stern
looking soldiers captured the wearers o.
beautiful gowns while the drills were il
progress, they were sweetly reyenged
by their complete conquest under the
brilliant lights and the influence of the
May dances.
Decorations at the academy were in
keeping with the brilliancy Of the occa
sion. Flowers bloomed everywhere
Flags foated VIGOROUSLY over the scene
Great and small chandeliers of flaming
lights shed sunlike rays upon the gay
jewellers, and the very air was filled witt
enjoyment. The stage was set in resem
blance Of garden in a valley. Among
the Delawareans who danced were Mrs
Il. l.. Rice, Jr., Mrs. Wilmer Ellison
Miss Mollie Blake and DIR. Emanue
Stout.
The banquet, which was served abou
midnight, was most elaborate. The de
lightful reception continued until neal
daylight and the Delawareans were en-
tertained elegantly,