Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-02-14
BALL.
A Delightful Social Success and a
Large Fund Left to be Dedicated
to the Poor.

| 1HS iOuI large TOCueSteI DuTUer
chandeliers which were suspended in
the Opera House, gayly decorated with
paper flowers and evergreens, to help
out the meagre little electric sparks
nearer the ceiling, never shone upon
brighter, happier throng than that
which trod the maze of the dance last
Friday evening.
1t was the much contemplated Charity
Ball and all Twin City society was
there in its prettiest TO satisfy the love
OF pleasure and company so character
lstic of human kind, and at the same
time to lend helping hand to the
worthy poor and unfortunate. A look
upon this representative gathering as
they fitted to and fro in rich gowns
and full dress attire would barely have
drawn upon the Imagination a picture
of the destitute homes, the want and
distress and misery to which the pro-
ceeds would eventually find their way.
Jewel appendages glistened like dew
drops i'll the sun; dainty colors with
seeming prismatic properties filled the
room with all the rich hues of the rain
bow; every face beamed with delightful
satisfaction and your local reporter as
he entered the hall and caught the
first glimpse of the happy picture was
won't to exclaim "Why, we have never
before seen SO many pretty costumes
together at one time i'll our town."
The little daisy by the shadow that it
casts protects the lingering dew drop
from the sun, SO this Charity Ball as we
beheld it with all it's beauty, splendor
and refinement seemed to us but the
shadow of protection over many needy
homes in our cities through which the
sunlight must soon break with warmth
and food and clothing; break into
glad, wholesome, material day.
In point of decoration the appearance
of the Opera House cell psed by far all
previous attempts. To the ladies of the
enterprise all praise and honor is due.
We are sure very few present realized
the amount of work therein represented.
| Not a nook or corner of the big hall
escaped their artistic eye or decorative
hammer; every window curtained and
draped (Whlte paper-a roll was sent
from South Centralia milD, trimmed
with paper roses and sprays of hemlock;
the dreary walls converted into Japan
ese beauties with 220 large fans made
out of over GO rolls of wall paper by deft
and willing hands; steps erected and
carpeted leading to the stage across its
fnll width; the stage pretty parlor
trimmed in white and flowers, with
rugs. reclining chairs, oil stoves, card
tables, cards, standard lamps and
everything necessary to help ''sit out'
a dance in quiet reposc; above the
stage the word "Ch;rity" in red roses
on backing of white with green
trimming; beneath this double festoon
of braided flowers from the center of
which, suspended on pink ribbon,
hung a basket filled with beautiful
roses; the ceiling screened by large
festoons, sprinkled with roses-in fact
we cannot devote half space enough to
do comparative justice to these ladies
and the results of their efforts. 1t took
twenty of them nine evenings to
prepare paper flowers, ETC., besides
extra handiwork done at home and
four days devoted in the Opera House
lacking them up. The entire decora-
tons required an outlay of only $500,
almost everything being made of paper
which was donated by our different
business men. For these donations the
ladies wish to be quoted as truly
grateful, they having rendered them
splendid service.
Auers orchestra furnished spirited
music and nicely demonstrated what
this organization can do when it tries
The piano accompaniment by Miss Ina
Lynn made marked and helpful
addition.
When you get the older folks dancing
rest assured your party is complete
Nothing pleased the writer more than
to note the active interest taken in
quadriles and round dances by many of
our citizens whom we have not seen
similarly engaged since our days of
danciug began, such as Mr.. and Mrs. n.
Johnson, Mr.. and Mrs. L. NJ. Nash Mr..
and Mrs. B. r. Goggins, Mr. and Mrs.
H. Wipperman, Mr.. and Mrs. F. Garri-
son, Mrs. Libbie Demarais, Mrs. Matte
DAILY, Mrs. D. NJ. Huntington, Mrs.
Geo. r. Gardner, Mr.. and Mrs. J. w.
Cochran and others. And they all
enjoyed it, too.
Light refreshments were served in
the gallery at midnight to which all did
liustice. We were told that enough was
left from this repast to supply twelve
poor families and that it was distributed
among them Saturday morning.
The net proceeds cleared amounted
to $4,000. This sum has been divided
equally in the two cities and placed in
the hands of committees appointed
who will look after the distribution of
food and clothing as needy families are
found in our midst In no case will
money be given, but actual necessities
will be purchased and given. The
committees are as follows:
entralia:-Mesdames J. w Cochran.
Nels Johnson, Geo. N. Hill and T.
Garrison.