The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-12-15
Infantry Hall The Scene Of a Gay
and Festive Event Last Night.
ELEVENTH ANNUAL POLICE BALL
The storm Braved by Thousands OF Ad-
mirrrs of the Hue Goats = Music
and Dancing Kept Up to n Late
Hour.

whose lives while at the post OF duty are
hourly threatened, the general public re-
spends promptly and in manner be-
speaking the greatest OF admiration for
those who literally carry their lives IN
their hands. Therefore ii was that even
the driving storm of last night was braved
by hundreds and even thousands, and that
Infantry hall was packed TO the very en-
trance with both sexes throughout the
evening
The occasion was the eleventh annual
concert and ball Of the Providence Police
association and for several hours, until
the first gray streaks of dawn appeared In
the East, the patrolmen, for the time
being. forgot the cares of daily work and
entered into the gaiety and festivities
heart and body.
A continual stream OF people poured
into Infantry hall at an early hour in the
evening and the number was increased
with every passing moment. AT
O'Clock Bandmaster Reeves took his posi-
tion behind the screen of tropical plants
on the stage, and minute later the fol-
lowing concert program commenced;
The Grand Concert.
Overture, Robespierre. erre.....................L .Litof
Reeves American Band.
Ths Soom Sn%olliss; IS on the Bishop
The Falstan Quartet.
Solo for Piccoo, Lila Polka. .Padiey
Mr. Fred Padley.
a Royal Standard March. Jennings
La Serenati Watzes. =. .yhsohe
Il The Falstan Banjo, Mandolin and Guitar Club,
J. H. Jennings, Leader.
Solo for Cornet Hurricane. Nicholson
Mr.. Bowen r. Church.
Episodes In q Policeman's Lfe.......D. w. Reeves
During the rendering of the program
the reception committee escorted Gov
ernor Brown and staff, Mayor Potter and
the members of the city government and
other invited guests into the hall, con-
ducting them to the seats reserved at the
right of the stage.
Then mt $3.50 O'Clock the ball was
opened. The grand march included
about 150 couples, and, headed by CHIEF
Marshal Lieutenant Fred A. Rankin and
wife, the long column wound in fantastic
movements though the hall and at sig
nal broke into sets for dancing. The
dance sovenir included list of twenty
OF the popular figures OF the day, and
uuadrille followed waltz, schottische, gal
lop and lanciers in rapid succession. At
midnight the supper was served by Gelb
q Norton, caterers, and the hungry
Oaue'Srs tooh uAfohtubc Va eA'S sAiiAS W Az
ouperate.
Tho Beautiful Decorations.
The hall was lavishly decorated and
seemed transformed into veritable
pleasure bower. Bright colored
streamers shot from corners and
sides of the room to meet
in tasteful group in the
centre, and the national colors were dis
played in gorgeous profusioR Dense
banks of potted plants were ranged at in
tervals around the front of the balconies
and the green OF the clumps mingled har-
moniously with the bright coiored flags.
All the larger spaces were filled with sun
bursts and an immense sun OF flags con-
ccaled the back of the stage. Clusters of
flags OF Germany, France and Italy were
arranged in pretty groups along the south
balcony and shields of the colors of every
nation depended from punches of bright
hued streamers on the walls. The front
OF the stage was q mass OF Towering
shrubs and tropical plants tastefully in
terwoven with flags and bunting and in
the centre arose two massive shrubs, be-
tween which the prompter superintended
the dancing. Il. j. Fales decorated the
\ hall, which surpassed in beauty and COM
pleteness Of detail any previous effort.
Hall Room Scenes.
From the gallery the scene was one OF
great interest. The sweet strains of
music, the scent from myriads OF flowers,
and the throng of rapidly whirling
dancers all combined to enthrall the at
tention. Here and there could be seen
(, strudy patrolman guiding a fair partner
through the mazes of the dance, his hand
! some dress, uniform with resplendent
Z decorations, contrasting agreeably with
the civilians dress and the bright cos
( TUNES of the ladies.
Outside in the reception room the guests
were looked out for, and altogether the
entire affair passed of in manner reflect
ing great credit on the committees in
Z charge. At the close OF the ball cars were
gun over the principal routes.
The committees in charge OF the ball
were ss follows:
The Committee.
General superintendent, William Brad
bury. General committee, William Brad
& bury, chairman; Leroy Il. Bennett,
secretary; James Fcely, treasurer;
Fred A. Rankin William Kent