The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1896-02-06

SOCIETY WELL REPRESENTED


The armory of the Fourth Regiment,
which looks all the world like a minia-
ture fortress, was in the hands of the
civilians last night, and within It's battle
naented walls were the fairest of invad-
ers. making merry at the annual ball.
While the officers appointed to look after
the arrangements for this big event did
everything that could be expected of and
possibly could be performed by five such
able and Jealous gentlemen, the weather
was s'aboon their might" It was the
meanest kind of a night and one which
offered plenty of strong reasons to re-
main at home; but a wet. sloppy night
can frequently be enjoyed while a Fourth
Regiment ball only happens once a year.
Consequently Jersey City people put on
their wraps and rubbers, coats and
scapes. bundled themselves into abs and
trolley cars and hied themselves to the
ball.
Bergen avenue outside the grim build
ing at ten o'clock was eminently calcu-
lated to encourage hypochondriasis. The
streets and sidewalks were inches deep
in slush and mire and the wind blew and
the rain descended with a never-let-up
persistency; but inside the armory what
a contrast There was light, warmth
and a brilliancy of surroundings which
fired each Jerseymah's heart with pride.
Such a b~ewildering gathering of beauti-
full women. in beautiful costumes, such
utterly irresistible young gentlemen in
natty uniforms, and such handsome
veterans in all the glories of gold lace
and decorations which made every plain,
everyday civilian in swallowtails and
white tie yearn for the suits and trap
pings of the soldier.
1t was indeed a beautiful sight to stand
in the balcony of the vast structure and
gaze at the transformation scene spread
before the eye. Last year, on February
rs, when the Armory was opened, every
one who saw the decorations of the CELL
ing. the galleries and the boxes. then
thought a fairer sight was not possible,
but last night the decorations eclipsed
even that. A delicate material in pink
and white coiors screened the massive
iron struts and frames of the ceiling,
concealed the woodwork of the boxes
and hid from view everything not in
harmony with the artists conception of
- ~ - boAA dllQ lllC LOulO
ensemble was simply enhancing.
Away at the end of the hail, opposite
to the entrance, was the marquee set
apart for the p-atronesses, and this was
a small Grecian temple with white Ionic
columns delicately gilded. Along its
sides were rows of Towering plants, the
foliage Of which blended with the
aesthetic tints of h ladies' dresses.
~ u z--L--A--
directly behind the glare of a big cleo
tric light and the illuminated gas jets
forming the legend, Fourth Regiment,
N. q. N. j."
Equally effective were the decoration
and arrangement Of the boxes to the
right and left Of the Patronesses' box
and the galleries above, which communi1
Gated with the dressing rooms for the
ladies. and still another flight upstairs
to the cloak n smoking rooms for the
gentlemen.
The very efficient committeeman, Major
Robert J. Smith. Captain II. H. Brinker-
hoffs Jr., Lieutenant A. La Rue Christie,
Lieutenant John ]. Broderick and Lieu
tenant T.. Pringle, starting out with the
determination to make this ball surpass
that given last year. accomplished their
task beyond the possible shadow of a
doubt. Nothing was left to chance, each
did his part. result, success.
Long before ten O'Clock a squad of po-
lice under the command of Captain Cox
took possession Of the entrance and di-
rected the arrival Of the carriages. In-'
side Detectives Doyle, Douglass, Pear
son Dawson. Larkins and Keenan, moved
about the guests and the doors Of the
ladies' rooms lest some OF these people
who persist in installing the ~pronouns
meum and teum might think it a good
opportunity to get in their fine work.
AS fast as a carriage deposited it's bur-
den at the door the ladies' were ushered
in one direction AND their escorts in an
other. Each man received a supper ticket
and 1t was wonderful to see how some
hung on to that piece Of green pasteboard.
Then. when outer garments had been re-
moved. the mem rejoined the women
and strolled from box to box exchanging
greetings.
A few minutes before the Seventh Reg
iment Band. of New York, opened the
musical programme with the grand over
ture to William Tell, Brig. Gen. Wanser
and his staff, Gen. Bird Spencer. Gen.
Kruger. Col. Muzzy, Col. Lee members
Of the Old Guard, Of New York and
other officers entered and took their
seats In a large box at the. left of the
entrance. Then one by one these patron
esses came in and were escorted to the
marouee:.
Mrs. Jonathan Dixon, Mrs. Job H. LIP
uincott, Mrs. Abel I. Smith. Mrs. Marcus
Beach. Mrs. William C. Heppenheimer,
Mrs. Hugh H. A~bernethy.. Mrs. Oh