The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-01-12
CnICAGO's CHARITY BALL.

Newspaper men are creatures OF habit,
and one of the most inveterate habits is
to look for the Chicago Hter-Oce on
the day after the Charity Ball.
The ball of 1892 is past now and the
Inter-Ocedn has come with its CHEEKY
message. From it we learn that /" Like
a meteor across the wintry sky flashed
the Charity Ball last night, leaving
trail Of pleasant memories and lasting
benefits behind" 1t was pretty cold
night, but the reporter didn't get left
He was there to see when on the panes
of the carriage windows needles of ice
shot across as the jewellers were driven
to the great social function. Coachmen,
heavy with furs, came with a rush to the
great doors of the massive auditorium.
About the openings of the canvas avn
ings that kept the finery from the snow
clustered the muflled forms of shivering
spectators, taking a curious comfort in
the fleeting spectacle. The night was
bitter and their teeth chattered but
heavy robes and wraps Of crimson plush
and snowy ermine kept the feminine fas-
tidiousness of the happy dancers from
prairie blasts" The sly wretch peeped
into the ladies' dressing room, 'cur-
tanned with the harmonious weavings of
the distant east within the far-reaching
foyer" There were handmaids, Getty
fed Phyllises," to help prink and prim
the fair dancers. These "handmaids"
drank "the festive lemonade" as the
evening wore on. a captious st. Louis
man suggests that they drank beer, but
the indignant lakefront hurls back the
insinuation.
. But the climax was reached when the
reporter reached the ballroom itself:
Against the obique lines that mark the
place of the organ on the west and its SYM
metrical opponent on the east, were clus-
tered silken flags and banners, always the
stars and stripes The bright heraldic
tinctures shone against the almost neu-
trail background like rubies, diamonds
and sapphires from pale gold.
From the centre of the balcony hung
more of these national emblems, bright
ening the entire scene. From the upper
tier of boxes on each side others depended
with an effect not less striking than beau
tiful. Never from the beginning was
there fairer sight composed of things in
animate.
About the stage n scene was set which
glowed like summer with the greenness
of plants and the blueness of an autumn
sky.
Within its embowered recesses the or
chestra of sixty pieces was placed, dis
coursing the music of the dance. In the
balcony. surrounded by spectators, the
band that kept time for the promenaders
found room above the flags and banners.
In alienation they played, now the har-
monies of strings and wood, and then the
soul-stirring strains from tubes of brass.
EVERYWHERE was melody and harmony.
Most beautiful of all was the mass of
humanity that rose tier above tier The
boxes were parterres of flowers, the sober
black and white of the men setting off the
dainty gowns of their sisters, wives and
sweethearts rs the leaves and thorns of
the rose do its velvet blossoms. And the
ballroom floor outkaleidoscoped the
kaleidoscope.
The ball of 1892 is thing of the past
but that of 1893 is still to come. Might
we not suggest that it should be delayed
till summer so that the worlds fair
guests could come and see its glories?