The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-12-04

stood UP and lightly tapped his baton
against the nearests music rack. He
turned quickly to Capt. A. B. Johnson,
Z. s. A, who was detailed by the
women to the post ofschief floor man
ager. Capt Johnson surveyed the
floor and the impatient throng for a
second and then bowed to the director.
The baton fell in a quick swing. There
burst into full volume the melody of
the ''Toreador" waltz by Royle. For
several moments the waltz continued,
growing in tone and tempting swing,
until at last the ice was broken. Those
who had been waiting for some one
else to start off could stand it no
longer, and one couple. swung into the
center of the floor. Then another and
another, until witfinls minute 200,
800, and even 400 walters were bending
and swaying to the rapturous music.
No one could Withstand the melodies of
that waltz. 1t must have been a block
of stone which could have withstood
the teasing, coaxing, tantalizing swing
of the first waltz. Looking down from
above, the scene challenged all the
poetical senses. There was satisfac
ton for the musician, for the artist,
for the lovers of grace, for the admir-
erS of beauty 1t quite as fully salts
fed those who wanted sentiment, for
above all the happiness, the intoxicat-
ing joy, there was sober appreciation
of the fact that it was all for charity's
sake.
All too soon the first waltz was over.
Beauty laid her hand on the strong
arm which guided her through that
dance and the promenade commenced.
The crush grew greater every moment,
and then the foresight Of the man
ayers displayed itself The second
dancing hall adjoining, was thrown
open and the capacity of the floor was
nearly doubled. Director Graves di-
vided his band into equal portions.
and even then each room boasted of a
big aggregation of players.
Between the dances there was plenty
of opportunity for Mrs. A. to study
and comment upon Mrs. BIS gown.
Repartee and badinage popped be-
tween the promenaders. Every one
was in the best humor. The men
battled with the women for honors in
small talk. The Nearers of the mill
tary uniforms as usual attracted the
greatest number Of admiring eyes. The
officers from the fort being all in full
dress Gen. John r. Brooke. cOnman-
der of the department of Dakota, u.
S. A. handsome enough in civilian
clothes, was stunning in the full trap
pings of his high office. The general
had things all his own way.
A again Director Graves waved his
baton and the fetching movement of a
deux temps filled the great hail. There
was a chorus OF aGstatic "ahs'' and
'.ohs' Society t1ers it bad form
to be too enthus-.-sAttc, but even con-
ventionality can not always cork up
| surcharged feelings. The swing Of the
two-step caught up nearly every one
on the floor and there was a tremen-
dous crush. It was only by bringing
them to ones sides that the elbows of
| the dancers were kept from polxing
others ribs. The two-step was set off
with Sousa's King Cotton" always a
| prime favorite with dancers. The next
was a lancers and there was where
| the dozen or more floor managers had
chance to shine. Capt Johnson was
assisted by c. w Gordon, w. C. Read
| w. s. G. Noyes, e. r. Dahlgren J
L. Forepaugh, c. A. Otis, A. w Lin
deke, F. p. Sheperd, John Dalrymple
| G. A. Clarke, T. B. Scott
| W. ]. Driscoll. Lieut. Jams
Bugge, H. r. WenzeH, N P. Langford
L. E. Newport. Sherman Finch, w w
Hancock, F. d. Monfort, W. P Trow-
bridge, A. H. Cathcart, Charles Weyer-
haeuser, and Blanchard Carpenter
IN THE BOXES.
| The floor was of course the center Of
] attraction, but considerable attention