Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-28
THE COLUMBIAN BALL.
Most Splendid Entertainment Ever Given
I'm the New World.
lBy telegraph to tho Dispatch.l

Most Splendid Entertainment Ever Given
I'm the New World.
fBy telegraph TO tho Dispatch.l
New YoRE. April 27.-The Columbian
bal tonight OF tho Madson-Square Gar
don was IN respect 10 maguitcence of
decoration and arrangement and the largo
number OF wor,d-famous guests present.
the most splendid ever given IN the New
World. Besides tho President and his adj
vlsers, the chief legislative body OF the
nited States, and q Spanish Grandee. who
il the namesake and. linoal descendant OK
Columbus, there were the diplomatic
! corps, the admirals and subordinate
| officers of every great naval power IN the
world, the Governors of nelPhborinS
| states. and famous amy officers. Ii vas.
| in fact. a gathering of celebrities so varied
and SO gioriOusly nrroyed that the Oldest
and most-travelled guest acknowledged
| that seldom, or never before. had he seen
parallel to the gorgeous picture pre-
| scnted.
| The decorations of the garden were rich
| and elaborate, eclipsing IN their magnih-
J cence and elegance anything ever before
attempted in the great auditorium. The
/ main entrance had been draped with "a
| BACKGROUND of pure white festOOned with
/ a delicate tracing of smilaX and asparagus
sprays. and cut flowers and rare eXoilcs
I were profusely distributed through this
/ rIch-green ground, while myriad or tiny
| electric-lightS shOne from out OF the mass
of flowers and yerdure.
sTEIKING DECORATIONS.
Two silver dragons with great, burning,
/ ruby eyes guarded the Madison-aYenue
| entrance.
In the centre Of the garden thousands
I of sprays Of lilies OF the valley formed an
arch. Cpon the keystone was perched a
! smiling cupid, whose fairy wings were
! studded with miniature lamps and VINO
| held In his hands "a chain of varl-colored
| clectric-lights. The base of the arch was
| composed Of many-colOred lights whose
! hues were constantly changing. surround
| ing TINS beautiful arch was grove OF
| palms and large foliage plants, and nall
/ hidden amidst their verdure was a Japan
| ese jucgler balancing bamooo-wheel Oh
! coIOred revolvIng-lamps.
At the Fourth-avenuc end OF thegarden
was placed an immense japanese IAN
| studded with electric lights. Directly be-
| meath this was the reception dais.
MORE DRAGONS.
! It was gorgeous with flowers and plants
and at the two corners were dragons Sucn
a. guarded the entrance TO the garden.
| Across the rear of the aIrphltheatre IN
/ huge letters OF light were the words, A
: New M0ll0 = htlfOillts y luhE iAAb'' %
/ model of the CaWtolat Washington. Great ell
out Of white flowers and illuminated with
/ electric lights, rested upon the stage OF
/ the assembly-room. and a miniature repro
| ductiOn of the grounds IN natural plants
/ surrounded it, The Hungarian Band occu-
pied the lower end OF tins stage. which was
/ banked with palms and cut-howe.s, while
| the broad stair ways between the assembly
room and the amphltheatre were entlrely
r..Fr rrh 70 "a N
I and fcstOons of smilaX aud tiny lamps.
COST OF IT ALL.
Pie cost Of these magnificent decorG-
! tions was Sl0.O .OOJ.
The balcony pillars were twined with
smilax ana flowers, and the entire rGoi- roo.
! Garden was hing with canopy OF white
! and gold. pendent from which were nun
! dreds of clusters of the flags of all ma
| tions. The boxes a. either end OF the gar,
/ den and along the arena were decorated
! With flags >.
/ Jhe large box in the centre Of the Madi-
son-avenue end was occupied by Mayor
| Gllroy and suite.
THE PRESIDENTS 5 BOX.
President Cleveland's box was on the
rioht OF the MAYORS. IL was lined with
white and gold. dellcate maiden hair ferns,
/ roses. and asparagus IN beautiful designs
covering 1t. A magnificent bed of Ameri-
can Beauty roses sloped gently down 10
the base of the balcony into large shield
and eagle. "Old Glory" being outlined IN
colored lights covering 1t. The posts sup
/ portlng the box We're teStOOned with sm'-
lax studded with lncandescent lights.
( Large green plaques bearing bouquets Of
Q lamps were placed at intervals between the
boxes.
] /. fr-.E the LETT OF tlf
/ MAYORS. The other boxes on the first tlel
! were occupied by members of the Dlplo
matte Corps and 10y Governor Flower and
staff. ,
Tho arena boxes were occupied by tho
! admlrals of the foreign and American heet'
! and their attending officers. lhe foreign
officers had been given centre boxes anc
the Americans the outer boxes. MAJOR
I General SchOGcld, commander or me
army, and Maior-General q. O. Howard
| with their suites. also occupied boxes II
/ this tier.
Two bands furnished the music IN The
! ballroom. one being stationed on the
south and the other on the north side OF
the garden end One played for the
dancers and the other III the intervals.
THE GUESTS ARRIVE EARLY.
The doors of the garden were thrown
! omen at . o'clock and almost immediately
! afterwards the guests began TO arrive
/ The naval officers were met by specially
! appointed committee at the foot OF weS
| FOrty-secOnd street and from there taker
in carriages 70 the garden. The President
having other engagements during the eve
nlno did not arrive with his party unit
some time after the ball had been an
nounced 10 begin Mayor G1rOy, as heal
of the municipality, and Mrs. Gllroy OF
Gclaliv received the guests OF the evening
They stood upon the recepuon-dlas. ant
lust behind them were stationed the Com
m'ttee Of One Hundred and the honorary
committees who escorted the most dlstin
guished Of the guests from the entrance
to thelr boxes.
rvFpyrHING SEVERELY DEMOCRATIC.
No precedence was observed. ever'
effort being made to indicate that the bal
was republican citizens ahalr. me
President, however. was not escorted u
the MAYORS reception-d dais when be ar
rived. Int was met at the entrance by hl
escort OF honor The bands at his appear
ance played Hail to the Chief the only
piece PLAYED in honor of auv OF the guests
and MavOr GilrOy advanced TO meet nun
After the formal introduction the Gresl
dent and his party were escorted 10 tnel
box.
The programme of dances was very
simple affair. There was no distinctly
figure danced durlug the evening. Ih'
Floor Committee in charge of the ball VA
composed of seventy or the best-knowI
men in New York.
A buffet supper for the invited guest
was served in the concert hall. IN
buffet. whIch extended around two SIDE
of the room. was handsomely decorated.
British View of tho Pageant.
| [By Anglo American cable 10 ,he Disoatch.l
LONDON. April 27.-ln q leader on th'