Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-28
The COLUMBIAN BALL.
The Grandest Display of Uniforms and
Things Ever Seen in the New World


Things Ever Seen in the New World.
New YORK, April 27.-The Columbian
ball tonight at the Madison Square
Garden was, In respect TO magniticence
OF decoration aDd arrangement and OF
the large number Of world famous
guests present, the most splendid ever
given ia the New World.
Beside the President and his advisers.
the chief legislative body OF the United
States and Spanish grandee who Is
the namesake and lineal descendant OF
Christopher Columbus, there were the
diplomatic corps, the admirals and sub
ordinate officers OF every great naval
power in the world. Governors OF neigh
boring States and famous army officers;
it was, in fact, a gathering of celebrities
so varied and so gloriously arrayed that
the oldest and most travelled guest ac-
knowledged that seldom or never before
had he seen parallel to the gorgeous
picture presented.
The decorations Of the garden were
rich and elaborate, eclipsing In their
magnificence and elegance anything
ever before attempted in the great audi
torium.
The large box on the centre OF the
Madison avenue was occupied by
His Honor, Mayor Gilroy and suite.
President Cleveland's box was on the
right Of the Mayors. 1t was lined with
white and gold, with delicate maiden
hair terms, roses and asparagus In
beautiful and design covering 1t. A mag
nificent bank OF American beauty roses
slopes gently down TO the base OF the
balcony to a large American shield and
eagle, Old Glory being outlined In
colored lights. Each post supporting
the boxes is festoened with smilax
and palms studded with incandescent
lights. Large green placques, bearing
bouquets OF lamps are placed at inter-
walls between the boxes.
The box occupied by the Duke OF
Veragua and his party was on the left
of the Mayors. The other boxes on
the first tier and about the Mayors box
were occupied by the members OF the
United States Supreme Court, the
Diplomatic Corps and by Governor
Flower and staff. The arena boxes were
occupied by the Admirals OF the foreign
and American fleets, and their attend
ing officers. The foreign officers had
been given the center boxes and the
Americans the other boxes. Major
General Schofield, commanding the
army, and Major General o. o. Howard,
with their suites, also occupied boxes in
this tier.
Two bands furnished the music in the
ball room. The doors OF the Garden
were thrown open at nine o'clock and
almost immediately the guests began to
arrive. The naval officers were met by
a specially appointed committee at the
foot of West Forty-Second street and
from there taken in carriages TO the
Garden. The President. having other
engsgements during the evening, did
not arrive with his party until some
time after the ball had been announced
to begin, ten o'clock.
Mayor Giroy, as head Of the munich
pality, and Mrs. Gilroy officially re-
ceived the guesJs of the evening. They
stood upon the reception dais and just
behind them were stationed the COM
mittee of one hundred and the honorary
committee who escorted the most dis
tinguished OF the guests from the en-
trance to their boxes.
Chairman. Varnum advanced to name
each OF thesguests and introduced him
to the Mayor No precedence was OBJ
served, every effort being made to indi-
cate that the ball was Republic citi-
Zens' affair.
The President, however, was not
escorted to the Mayors reception dais
when he arrived half hour before
midnight, but was met at the entrance
by his escort OF honor.
The bands at his appearance played
Hail TO the Chief" the only piece
played in honor OF any OF the guests,
and Mayor Gilroy advanced to meet
MIN. After the formal introduction the
President and his party were escorted
TO his box.