The record-union., 1893-04-28
THE COLUMBIAN BALL.
Most Splendid Affair Ever Given
the New World.

Most Splendid Affair Ever Given in
the New World.
New YORK, April 27.-The Columbian
ball tonight at Madison Square Garden.
in respect to magniticence of decoration
and arrangement and the large number
of world-famous guests present, was the
most splendid ever given in the New
World. Beside the President and ad-
visors, chief legislative body of the
United States and Spanish grandee,
lineal descendants of Christopher Column
bus, there were the Diplomatic Corps,
Admirals and subordinate officers of
every great naval power in the world,
Governors of neighboring States and fa-
nous army officers. 1t was. in fact, a
gathering of celebrities so varied and so
gloriously arrayed that the oldest and
most-traveled guest acknowledged that
seldom or never before had he seen the
parallel to the gorgeous picture pre-
sented.
The decorations were rich and elabor-
ate. The main entrance was draped with
pure white smilax, asparagus sprays and
cut flowers. Rare eXotics were profusely
distributed throughout. and a myriad of
tiny electric lights shone from the mass
of flowers and verdure. Two silver
dragons with great burning ruby eyes
guarded the Madison-avenue entrance.
In the center of the garden were thou
sands of sprays, and lilies of the valley
formed an arch. At the Fourth-avenue
end of the garden was placed an immense
Japanese fan, studded with electric
lights. Directly beneath this was re-
ception dias, gorgeous with flowers and
plants, and at the two corners were drag
ons such as guarded the entrance to the
garden. Across the rear amphitheater in
huge letters of light were the words:
"a New World Welcome"
A magnificent model of the Capitol at
Washington, created out of white cane
flowers and Illuminated with electric
lights, rested upon the stage of the assem-
bly-room. A miniature reproduction of
the grounds in natural plants surrounded
it.
The Hungarian band occupied the lower
end of the stage, which was banked with
palms and cut flowers, while the broad
stairways between the assembly-room
and amphitheater were entirely covered
with drapery of white and gold and fes-
toons of smilax and tiny lamps.
The entire roof of the garden was hung
with a canopy of white and gold, depend
ent from which were hundreds of clus-
tering flags of all nations. The boxes on
the other end of the garden and along the
arena were decorated with flowers and
flags.
The large box in the center of Madison
avenue was occupied by his honor, Mayor
Gilroy, and President Cleveland's box.
magnificently decorated, was on the right
of the Mayors. The boxes occupied by
the Duke of Veragua and party were on
the left of the Mayors. The other boxes
on the first tier and about the Mayors
box were occupied by members of the
United States Supreme Court, diplomatic
corps and by Governor Flower and staff.
The arena boxes were occupied by Ad-
mirals of foreign and American fleets
and attending officers. Major-General
Schotield, commanding the army, and
Major-General o. o. Howard, with their
suites, also occupied boxes in this tier.
Two bands furnished the music. Land
ers' orchestra and the Seventh Regiment
Band.
The doors of the garden were thrown
open at o'clock and almost immediately
afterward the guests began to arrive.
The naval officers were met by specially
appointed committee at the foot of West
Forty-second street and from there taken
in carriages to the garden. The Presi-
dent having other engagements during
the evening did not arrive with his party
until some time after the ball was an
nounced TO begin, at 10 o'clock.
Mayor Gilroy, as head of the muni-
cipality, and Mrs. Gilroy officially re-
ceived the guests of the evening. They
stood upon the reception dias, and Just
behind them were stationed the Commit
tee of One Hundred and the honorary
committees who escorted the more dis
tinguished of the guests from the en-
trance to the boxes. No precedence was
observed, every effort being made to in
dicate that the ball was republican, citi-
zens' affair.
The President, however, was not es-
corted to the Mayors reception dias,