The morning call., 1894-12-08

deter society from attendance at the first
suspicious gathering for months During
a period of ten years, the Friday Night
Club has set a pace. as il were, with its
cotillons and assemblies and to be alb
sent from the first is simply equivalent to
social Punishment, until the Christmas
german claims the attention of the local
400 Few among the list OF invited guests
wonld forego the pleasure OF the company
of San Franchises fairest debutanteS in
whose honor the opening assembly Is es-
pecislly arranged, and hencs the fury Of
the storm king fell short of its purpose if
intended to bring about slim attendance.
Reaching from the sidewalks edge to
the main entrance large awning of can
vas had been erected. the walk itself and
the steps leading to the door being covered
with stout burlap. Once within the sub
stantial storm-doors. which had been
placed in the main yestbule in anticipa-
ton of a December gale, truly magnifi-
cent sight greeted the astoDished gaze of
the beholder. The swinging doors leading
to the dancing-hall were thrown open and
a floor covering of new snow-white canvas
was the first to catch the eye. The cold
waxed floor was completely hidden from
fIoW3 anu lnQOOus was 4uL-
zlng whiteness of the texture to which
the boards had been made to give way.
The interior decorations were, in truth, a
triumph of artistic taste. On the outer
edge of the stage line of tall palms and
choice potted plants had been arranged so
as 10 hide the orchestra from the view or
the dancers. The effect was rendered
more pleasing by five large vases, filed
with. chrysanthemums, placed at intervals
among the green foliage. Overhead and
just within the proscenium front was hung
a beautiful drapery con insisting of white
silk trimmed with border and fringe of
gold and set off by graceful festoons Of
pure white and delicate shade of green
cheesecloth. The two latter tints formed
the basis Of all the decorations in all the
other portions Of the spacious hail.
The gallery railing was draped with the
same material, and at intervals around the
walls portieres of white and green were
made to set off the lighting fixtures with
very pretty effect. From the main chan
delier were hung long streamers of red.
white and blue, the ends Of which were
fastened with graceful rosettes TO the walls
and the rear of the gallery, and in the Gen.
ter of the canopy so formed was sus-
pended huge Japanese umbrella with a
very pretty border of white and green ma
teriaI. From the two smaller chandeliers
at the ends of the hall were suspended
handsome lanterns. Three flags were
placed in each of these and gave an artls-
tic finish to the graceful canopy suspended
from the center light. Over each of the
fine entrances leading from the circular
hallway to the dancing-hall graceful por-
there's relieved the dizziness of the dark
woodwork, and in a very decided degree
gave the finishing touches 10 what was un-
doubtedly the most artistically decorated
ballroom ever seen in San Francisco.
But the main assembly hall was not
m ade the sole object of the decorators
| artistic labors. The concrete steps Of the
wide staircases were covered with burlap.
and potled plants were TO be seen on all
sides in the outer Railways. The banquet
room below was also transformed into q
veritable fairy retreat. The floor was
covered with carpet lining and burlap and
the pillars were decorated with fern leaves
and winding strings of smilax. Dainty
| draperies were placed on each window
and graceful festoons of smilax and ma
| tional bunting obscured the ceiling.
Long before the hour of 10 o'clock ar
rived a perfect procession of carriages
commenced to arrive at the Seventh and
Stevenson streets entrances to the build
| ing. The carriage company has had ample
experience in similar events, and in conse-
| quence not hitch was noticeable in any
| OF the arrangements either before or after
| the assembly. The guests were conducted
| to the various dresslng-rooms set apart for
their use. and when the first strains OF the