The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-27
THE PARTING GUEST.
Philadelphia Officers Entertain
Their Hosts.
THE SHIP A SCENE OF GAYETY.
500 People anc or Flower
EMPOWERED Decks-The ship sails
Away Southwark Today.

Rear Admiral Beardslee, Capt. Cotton
and the officers OF the Philadelphia have
been Hospitality entertained during their
s%ojourn in Seattle. which probably ends
with today; but they struck an even bal
ance sheet yesterday afternoon by giving
a hop on board the snip which in point OF
elaborate elegance has never been sur
passed in this section. This entertainment
was given especially TO the ladies and gen.
tlemen OF Seattle who have contributed
toward the entertainment of the officers.
10 those who have called on the Admiral
and Mrs. Beardslee, and 10 a few personal
friends of the officers. The hours named
on the handsome invitations were from ?
o'clock until 5 p. m.
The driZZling rain that set in early in
the afternoon merely gave the gallan.
gentlemen OF the navy an opportunity Il,
show their ability to play host in foul
weather as we'll as in fair. The upper
decks of the vessel were protected by
heavy awnings. and the side ladder and
launches were so completely sheltered
that a lady might step from her carriage
at the wharf and emerge on the dancing
floor without damage TO the ddintiest
dress. Everything about the ship showed
an equally thorough preparation. The
decorations Were artistic in design and
execution. In the ward room a general
ground work of ferns and smilax was re-
lieved by fruit and flower pieces. while
on the table a charming medallion design
brought out in central prominence the
letter $ in honor Of the city. on deck.
ferns were arranged arour.i the mast in
the shape Of pluneS, while the cross
beams overhead and the cornices were
decorated with long crossed plumes of
fern leaves. Lanterns, eVergreens. the
f1ags OF all nations, International signal
hags, grouped and massed around the
after bridge and scattered here. there and
yonder, made up a series of rich and ap-
propr1ate effects. which under the glitter
and fash of hundreds of lights were abso-
lutely indescribable. The marine band of
twenty pieces. snugly ensconced on the
after bridge, was almost hidden in an am
bush of color, but the music fioated down
to the deck none the less sweetly TO in
splre the flying feet of the dancers.
Inc dancers and the guests were not the
least brilliant part Of the scene. More
than 800 invitations TO the reception had
been issued. and few of them had been
declined. The little launches had been
kept busy plying from shore TO ship. until
it seemed as if surely there could be room
for no more people on board. And yet.
scattered through the roomy spaces Of the
vessel, the crowd was not unwieIdy. and
with such tact and good grace did the Off
GERS receive their guests that t.ere were
no collisions and no brushes. The state
-10N6@ - NN& VIZ kAa1NNA ~ INV
disposal of the guests. and the ladies'
wraps were deposited in the admiral and
captains cabins.
The refreshments were delicious enough
to tempt the most languid appetite, and
they were served in a way which made
them doubly enjoyable. Sandwiches Of
various kinds. ices of the most approved
favors, cakes and fruits. punch and lem
onade, with coffee and chocolate at the
close. all ministered 10 the comfort of the
guests.
Towards noon today the Philadelphia
will weigh anchor. As she stesms away
she will carry with her the good wishes
OF the people Of Seattle, TO whose pleasure
she has so largely contributed. Rear Ad-
miral Beardslee has insisted from first to
last that the prime purpose OF his coming
here was to give people in this part OF the
country a chance to see the flagship. Al a
reception at the University of Washington
Tuesday morning. when the students had
assembled in a body in Denny hall TO meet
him. he said to them that he could give
them little more Information about the
navy than they already possessed; but
he continued. we have placed IN your
harbor here one Of the vessels OF the navy,
that YOU might see ii for yourselves. ana
not be compelled to rely upon anNbody 10
tell YOU about it," This plan ana purpose
the admiral. the captain and the Jheers
have kept steadily before them, ana Win
unvearyinC patience and unvarying cour-
,asv in the midst of conEeStei crowns
and inquisitivc tormentors, they nave
shown the people the ship, and, not the
least part Of the ship, themselves