Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-28
COLUMBIAN BALL
At New York Last Evening a
Royal Time.
For Distinguished Guests and Mag
niicent Decorations
Il Surpassed Anything Ever Before Seen on
this Continent.

| NEw Yoak, April aT.-The Columbian
ball tonight a, Madison Square Garden. in
| respect to magnifcence decoration and ar
| rangement and the large number of world
| famous guests present, was the most splen-
did ever given in the New World.
| Besides the President and his advisors.
chief members of the legislative body of
the United States and the Spanish graniee
who is lineal descendant of Christopher
Columbus, there where the diplomatic
corps, admirals and subordinate officers of
| every great naval power in the world,
Governors of neighboring states and famous
| army officers.
The decorations of the Garden were rich
and elaborate, eclip.ing in magnitcence
| and elegance anything ever before attempted
| in the great auditorium.
| Many handsome and unique designs in
electric lights were shown. A magnificent
model of the national capitol was created
| of white flowers, illuminated with electric
| lights, and rested on the stage of the assem-
bly, room where the Hungarian band was
stationed.
The floral designs were also elaborate.
The large box at the centre of the Madison
avenue end was occupied by Mayor Gilroy
and suite.
President Clevelsnds box was on the
right of the mayors line in white and gold,
with delicate maiden hair ferns, roses and
asparagus in beautiful designs covering it.
A magnificent bank of American Beauty
roses sloped down to the base of the bal.
cony to a large American shield and eagle
Old Glory being outlined in colored lights.
Each post supporting the boxes was fes-
toonei with smilax and palms, studded with
incandescent lights. Large green placques,
bearing bouquets of lamps, were placed at
intervals between the boxes.
The box occupied by the Duke of Vera
qua and party, on the left of the mayors,
and the other boxes on the first tier and
about the mayors box, were occupied by
members of the United States supreme
court. diplomatic corps, Governor Flower
and staff.
The arena boxes were occupied by the
admirals of the foreign and American
fleets and attending officers, the foreign
officers being given the center boxes and
Americans the outer boxes. Major Cen
eral Schofeld, commanding the army. Ma
jor General O. q. Howard. with suites oc-
cupied boxes in this tier.
Lander's orchestra of so stringed instru-
ments played music for the dances. Rog
crs' Seventh Regiment band of 60 pieces,
played during the intermissions and prom
enaaes.
The doors of the garden were thrown
open at . o'clock, and almost Immediately
afterwards guests began to arrive. The
naval officers were met by special com
mittee at the foot of West 42nd street, and
from there taken in carriages to the gar
den.
The President, having other engagements,
did not arrive with his party until some
time after the ball was announced to be-
gin, which was 10 o'clock.
Mayor Gilroy and Mrs. Gilroy officially
received the guests of the evening.
They stood upon the reception dias, and
just behind them were stationed the com
mite of one hundred and the honorary
committees who escorted the more distin-
gushed of the guests from the entrance to
their boxes.
Chairman Varnum of the floor commit
tee advanced to name each guest and intro
duce him to the mayor. No precedence
was observed. Every effort was made to
indicate that the ball was a republican ciii-
zens' affair.
The President was not escorted to the
mayors reception diaz when he arrived half
an hour before midnight. He was met at
the door by the escort of honor.
The bands at his appearance played
''IIail to the Chief" the only piece played
in honor of any guest, and Mayor Gilroy
advanced to meet him. After formal in
PRODUCTION the President and party were es
corted to their box.
The programme of dances was very sim
pie. There were no distinctive figure
dances during the evening. A buffet sup
per for the invited guests was served iD
Concert hall The buffet was handsomely
lo,nrotoJ