The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-02-25
A BRILLIANT BALL!
A Reception in Honor Of
Captain WiltSe.
TIE OPERA HOUSE THRONGED VITA
FRIENDS OF TIE GALLANT
=. SAILOR,
The Largest Reception Ever
Given in HOnoIulu-Fun
List of the Invited
Guests.

friends and well-wishers in this
tropical city, and they fastened to
do him honor at the grand reception
and ball held at the Opera House
on Friday night. For several
days the signs of busy preparation
had been visible in and around the
Opera House, and the indications
were not wanting that the various
committees having charge had put
their heart in their work, and were
determined to make the reception
in honor of the Captain of the I.
S. S. Cruiser Boston the most bril-
liant and successful affair of its
kind which Honolulu had ever
seen. The Opera House itself
could not begin to accommodate
with even a semblance of comfort,
the vast throng of guests who were
sure to come, as former Fourth of
July celebrations had proved. In
order to meet this difficulty, the
committee of arrangements very
thoughtfully built a large lanai
addition on the east side of the
house, extending the whole depth.
The walls were made of flags, and
palm leaves were literally and
tastefully used in identifying the
impromptu structure, which af-
forded a cool promenade and smok-
ing room, with convenient corner
for the punch. Instead of serving
supper in the crowded, hot and in
accessible basement, the Arion
Hall was obtained for this purpose,
and a passage constructed connect
ing it with the main building. The
result was that room was found for
all the vast company. Had it not
been for the admirable arrange
ments of the committee, the ball
would have been simply an intol-
cradle crush.
Halfpast eight was the hour set
for the opening of the ceremonies,
and from and before that time a
long line Of carriages stretched
through Palace Square to the
Opera House steps. Here a num-
Der of police were stationed, so that
perfect order was maintained and
the usual confusion avoided. The
ticket office served as hat and
cloak room for the gentlemen, and
the pile of head coverings almost
reached the ceiling. The ladies
dressing rooms opened into the
audience room.
As one approached the wide
inner entrance a scene presented
itself which was beautiful in the
extreme. Everything had been
done which taste and liberality
could suggest to adorn the interior,
and the end certainly crowned the
work. As is natural and appro-
pirate on such occasions, flags fur
nished the principal means of
decoration, and a more profuse
display of bunting was never seen
in Honolulu. Directly in front of
the entering visitor hung from the
front Of the stage OLD GLORY,
supreme among which ruled the
banners as the moon queens it.
To the right and left the
boxes were draped with the
flags of America and Hawaii,
now at last to float and rule to-
gether in the bands of a perpetual
amity. Wreaths of MALE and Jas
samine hung from the lower boxes
in graceful festoons, while over all
the balconies and above them were
hung flags and banners Of every
description. The meteor flag OF
England" was not unhonored, but
unhappily none of the officers OF
the Garnet were there to see it.
Perhaps no feature of the decora-
tons was more graceful than the
basket Of roses which hung from
the center of the roof and served as
the meeting point for festoons Of
the red, white and blue, which
streamed together from all the four
corners.
The hero of the hour was of
course genial Captain Wiltse, and
the first hour was entirely occupied
in the numerous hand-shakings
which occasions like these neeessi-
tate. There was no lack Of friend
ly greetings, Of warm alohas raised
to the superlative with nui loa
and wishes that this adieu might
only prove an au revoir. All the
space from the dress circle to the
back of the stage was given up to
the dancers, and the floor, though
crowded, was by no means so I'M
inhabitable as might have been
feared. Hundreds wisely concluded
that it was better fun to sit still
and leave other couples to eolli-
sion and shipwreck.
Supper in the hall at the rear