Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-24
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
First Reception of Tancred Command
cry, No. 4S, Knights Templar.
THE ARRANGEMENTS PERFECT.
Novel Manner in Which Hotel and Theater
Were Thrown Together.
LEADING FEATURES OF THE OCCASION

The Alvin Theater last night for the
first reception of Tancred Commandery No
4s, Knights Templar, made most brilliant
ball room. The company playing sus-
pended operations for one night, and gave
the commandery full scope to work their
will, which was done with such energy that
long before evening all resemblance of a
theater was temporarily removed. The
Hotel Schlosser, next door to the Alvin,
had q connection made with it for the time
being and the whole second floor reserved
for supper.
For the purposes of the reception there
was practically space beginning at Penn
avenue and extending to the most northerly
wall of the Alvin, thus making superb
length of promenade that almost included
the entire side of Sixth street to the bridge.
1t was managed thus: The hotel building
and the theater were made one by the
simple connection of . bridge thrown
across the narrow alley, having
its exit from the second floor of
the hotel, at the long hallway,
and connecting with the theater at the
side of the conservatory The altera-
tions were confined to the auditorium pro-
per of the theater, where the floor of the
stage was carried out about to that point di-
viding the circle from the parquet.
Perfection of the Arrangements.
A fight of stairs brought me down to the
level of the floor, and the side of the i'm
promptu ballroom was surrounded by a
substantial railing for the safety or assur-
ance of safety of the dancers.
No theatrical performance ever brought
to the Alvin a more picturesquely arranged
audience. The sightseers, made up of those
who had grown tired of dancing and those
who didn't dance, were almost as numerous
as the dancers. And they constantly
mingled and interchanged. A steady stream
of wearied people were continually seeking
seats, while an equally determined stream
of eager ones were replacing them on the
platform.
The lode held one orchestra. Another
sat at the back of the stage Every pretty
girl with an extra smart frock on was sure
at some time or other to find her way into
box, where she sat with that blissful COM
plaisance which surrounds woman under
sCTuGlHy, WHICH, BIG huOWo suC 10 plCpoiCo
for observation.
Though the grand march was set for the
early hour, fashionablv speaking, of9 o'clock,
that time found more than $50 forming
in line. We'll up in the march were the
notables of the commandery, accompanied
by the ladies of their households. Leading
was General Goblin, the most distinguished
knight Templar present, be being the
Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of
the Knights Templar of the United States,
with Mrs. G. C. Baer, and Alfred
S. Bishop, present Eminent Commander
Tancred Council, with Miss Bishop. Next
came all the past eminent commanders and
following them was the general body of
people in attendance. Rapidly succeeding
the march came the other dances, which
were kept up until an early hour this
morning.
Kept 1t Up Until Dawn.
The dawn brought to close an event
which will be matter of famous story in
the annals of Tancred. Commandery,
when they call to mind the
first reception of February %, 1892.
Over the stage proper hung some festooring
displaying the orders insignia, and away up
somewhere among the flies, in theatrical
technicality, scintillated superb star of
gilded paper-The Star of Bethlehem-set
with electric lights. All that pertained to
the souper was confined to the hotel, where
the large dining room was thrown open, and
the ordinary held in reserve against the
probable chance of being pressed into SER
vice, as it really was at a later time. The
guests were at liberty to discuss the follow
ing menu:
oysters rHotel Schlosser.
Chicken croquettes.
French peas.
Boned turkey, in jelly.
Cold filet de beef. Cold pheasant.
Roast ham. Roast veal.
Cold beef tongue.
Chicken salad.
Lobster salad. Potato salad.
Celery. Olives.
Salted almonds
Ice cream.
Cakes. Coffee.
A pretty scene on the hotel side was the
sight of the interested house guests. They
leaned on the bannisters and occasionally
promenaded past the good-naturedly near
sighted guards of the entrances to make
hurried trip to the conservatory for view
of the ball, and then return to tell less dar-
ing invaders all they had seen and heard.