The Portland daily press., 1893-04-28
A SOUND OF REVELRY.
All Went Merry as a Marriage Bell
at the Great Ball.
BEAUTY AND CHIVALRY UNDIS-
TURBED BY HOSTILE SOUND.

New Yorl's Fair Daughters Danced with
Naval Men of Many Nations, While
the President, the Descendant of CO.
Iumbus and Many Another Famous
Ball the Most Splendid the New
World Has Ever Seen.
New YORK, April 27,-The Columbian
ball tonight, at the Madison Square Gar
den, in respect to magnifcence of deco
ration and arrangement, and the large
number of worid-famous guests present.
was the most splendid ever given In the
New World. Besides the President and
his advisors, and the Spanish grandee,
who is the lineal descendant of Christie.
pher Columbus, there were present the
diplomatic corps, the admirals and SUBJ
ordinate officers of every great naval
power in the world, the governors of
neighboring states, and famous army of
fcers.
The decorations of the Garden were
rich and elaborate, eclipsing in magnifi-
cence and elegance anything ever before
attempted in the great auditorium.
Many handsome and unique designs in
electric lights were shown. A magnifi-
cent model Of the national capital, Great
ed of white flowers and illuminated with
electric lights, rested on the stage of the
assembly room, where the Hungarian
band was stationed. The large box at
the centre of the Madison avenue end of
the building was occupied by Mayor Gill
roy and suite. President Cleveland's
box was on the right of the mayors, and
was decorated in white and gold, with
delicate maiden hair ferns, roses and as
paragus, in beautiful designs covering it,
magnificent bank of American beauty
roses sloped down from the base of the
balcony to large
American Shield and Eagle.
Old Glory being outlined in colored
lights. Each post supporting the boxes
was festooned with smilax and palms.
studded with incandescent lights.
Large green placques bearing banquet
lamps were placed at intervals between
the boxes. The box occupied by the
Duke of Veragua and his party was ON
the left of the Mayors. Other boxes on
|sthe first tier and about the Mayoris box.
were occupied by members of the United
States Supreme Court, the Diplomatic
Corps and Governor Flower and his
staff. The arena boxes were occupied
by the admirals OF the foreign and
American fleets and their attending Off
GERS. The foreign. officers were given
the center boxes and the Americans the
outer boxes. Major General Schofield,
commanding the Army and Major Gen
eral 0. 0. Howard, with their suites, also
occupied boxes.
Lander's orchestra of eighty string
pieces played the music for the dances
and Rogers Seventh Regiment band of
sixty pieces played during the intermis-
sion and promenades. The doors of the
garden were thrown open at 9 and almost
Immediately afterwards the guests began
to arrive. The naval officers were met
by special committee at the foot of
West s42nd street and escorted to the
hall.
The Ball Was Announced
to begin at 10 o'clock. Mayor
Gilroy and Mrs. Gilroy -effcially received
the guests of the evening. They atood
upon reception dais. just behind them
were stationed the committee of one hum
dred and the Honorary committees who
escorted the more distinguished of the
guests from the entrance to the boxes.
The chairmen of the various floor
committees advanced to name each guest
and introduce him to the mayor. No
precedence was observed. Every effort
was made to indicate that the ball was
republican citizens affair. The Pfesi-
dent was not escorted to the Mayor's re.
ception dais when he arrived half an
hour before midnight, but was met at
the entrance by an escort of honor. The
bands at his appearance played Hail to
the Chief,' the only piece played in
honor of any guest. Mayor Gilroy adj
vanced to meet him and after the formal
were escorted to their box.
The programme of the dances was very
simple, there being no distinctive figure
dances during the evening. A buffet
supper for the invited guests was served
in the concert hall. The buffet was hand-
somely decorated.
Mrs. Cleveland was taken ill on the
Dolphin while the Presidential boat was
making its reviewing tour today. When
the Dolphin anchored off Goth street,
Mrs. Cleveland, Postmaster-g general Bis
sell and Secretary Turner were taken
ashore and driven to the Victoria hotel.
Mrs. Cleveland was not violently i'll, but
it was deemed best that she should not
attempt the trials of the ball and soon
afterwards she started for Washington,
accompanied by Mr.. and Mrs. Bissell and
the Presidents S secretary.