The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-28
THE COLUMBIAN BALL
The Most Magnificent Scene Ever Wit
messed In the World.


NEW YORK. April 27.-Ths Columbian
ball tonight at Madison Square garden in
respect TO magnifcence Of decoration and
arrangement and tho large number Of the
worlds famous guests present, was the
most splendid ever given In the New
World. Besides the president and advis-
ers. tho chief legislative body of the United
States and the Spanish grandee, lineal
descendant of Christopher Columbus, there
was the diplomatic corps, admlrais and
subordinate officers Of every great naval
power In the world. governors Of neigh
boring states and famous army officers-it
was in fact . gathering Of celebrities 90
varied and % gloriously arrayed that the
oldest and most travelled guest acknowl-
edged that seldom or never before had he
seen parallel to the gorgeous picture pre-
sented.
The decorations were rich and elaborate.
The main entrance was draped with pure
white. festooned with smilax sprays and
cut flowers. Rare exotics were profusely
distributed throughout and . 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 GEN.
ter Of the garden thousands OF sprays OF
lilies OF the valley formed an arch.
At the Fourth avenue end OF the garden
had been placed an immense Japanese
fan studded with electric lights. Directly
beneath this Was q reception vase gorgeous
with plants and flowers. At two corners
were dragons such as guarded the other
entrance TO the gardens. Across the am
rhitheater. in huge letters of light, were
the words "A New World Welcome" A
magnificent model of the capitol at Wash
ington City had been created out OF white
care flowers. and, illuminated with cleo
trio lights, rested upon the stage Of the
assembly loom. A miniature reproduce
ton of the grounds in natural plants sur
rounded H. The Hungarian band occu-
pied the lower end OF the stage which was
banked with palms and cut flowers while
the broad stairways between the assembly
room and ampisheater were covered with
drapery OF white and gold aud festoons Of
smiiax and Tiny lamps. The entire roof
OF the garden Was hung with & canopy OF
white and gold, dependent from which
were hundreds of clustering tiags of all ma
tions. The boxes on the other ends of the
garden and along the sides were decorated
With flowers and tiags.
A large box in the center Of the Madison
avenue side was occupied by his honor
Mayor Gilroy and suite. President Cleyc-
lands box, magnihcently decorated. WAS
On the right Of the mayors. and the box
occupied hy the Duke of Neragus and
party was on the left of the rnavor's.
Other boxes on the first tier and about the
mayors box were occupied by members @:
the United States supreme court the dlp-
lomatic corps AMI by Gov. Flower and
stad. The arena boxes were occupied bv
the admirais Of the foreign and American
feet and attending officers Mai.-Gen.
Schotield. commanding the army. and
ii Al Gen. O. q. Howard, with suites. also
occupied this tier. Two bands furnished
music. Lsndcr's orchestra and tie Seventh
Regiment band. The doors of the garden
we're thrown omen At Q O'Clock, and a. mos,
i'm medis.ely afterwards the guests began
10 arriye. The naval Offices were me.
nv a specially appointed committee at the
foot Of West Forty-seconi street, AMI
from there taken in carriages 10 the gar
Gen, Iae president, having other engage
ments during the evening, did not arrive
With has party un.ii some time after. Tie
bali was announced To begin at 10 O'Clock
;. 81.
Mayor Giiroy. rs head of the murlci-
Ia.it5, sad Mrs. Gilroy received the guests
81 the eveniu officially. They stood upon
reception dais sud JAS; behind them
~cse STAT Jaed committee OF 100 snd
aonor committees, Who escorted the more
distinguished 81 the guests from the en-
france 70 the aaSe>. No precedence Was
observed, every effort being made 10 infii-
'Aie thai The bali wsS republican citizens
altar. ihe president. however, A. 20. es-
seI1ed 10 the mayor reception CAS- hen