The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-02-21

in honor of Washington, the American.
In an interview tonight Captain Dyke
said:
some day march on the soil of this repub-
lie, but / never dreamed the occasion
would be as felicitous as the present one."
All during the storm to-day one event
has been looked forward to with the great
est enthusiasm by those who were for
tunate enough to secure invitations, and
the number was nearly 800. 1t was the
military and naval ball at the Coronado
Hotel in honor OF Rear Admiral Beardslee
and the officers of the vessels of the Mort h
Pacific Squadron now in port.
The list of guests OF honor was not con-
fined to United States naval officers, for
Captain Dyke and the officers of her
Majesty's ship Comus are included as
guests OF the carnival.
And SO II was tonight that while the
rain fell tierceiy upon the great vauted
dome of the spacious ballroom and the
huge breakers of the Pacific dashed their
spray against the windows outside several
hundred men and women danced the
hours away, while the splendid band OF
the flagship Philadelphia sent forth its be-
witching strains of melody.
TO Thomas Hill. the famous artist OF
Yosemite Valley, belongs the credit of the
decorations within the ballroom. 1t was
his scheme entirely for he had made an
elaborate water-color sketch of the entire
plan and the decorators reIigiously fol-
lowed every detail. They transformed
the lofty dome of the auditorium into a
ieafy canopy, with eucalyptus boughs
ana branches radiating from the galleries.
Garlands and festcons OF srnllsx banks of
white blossoms and bamboo, covered the
walls and columns and gracefully out
lined the loges set apart for the patron
esses and the naval officers The private
boxes on the stage were also decorated
with palms and potted plants, smilax and
BAN boo.
TINS woodland bower, Illuminated by
the rosv glow OF shaded electric lights and
graced by the presence of dainty bellies
and popular beaux, Respondent in
gorgeous gowns or uniforms, was one
which 1t delighted the eye TO gaze upon.
At 8 80 o'clock the ball opened with an
overture by the band, during which
the admiral received his guests standing
in the parlors at the right OF the entrance.
For over an hour the guests passed
through the entrance into the ballroom
beyond.
At $3.50 o'clock the band struck up the
grand march, which was led by Admiral
Beardslee and Mrs. Works, Goddess of
the carnival. Two hundred couples ioined
in the promenade. Following the Admit
raj and Mrs. Works came the officers of
the navy according to rank. Around
and across the ballroom they went
through many intricate and beautiful
figures, led by Patterson Sprigg, who is
past master in the art of military dancing.
At the completion of the march the long
column halted opposite the admirars
loge, where, with his staff and a party of
ladies', he reviewed the dancers in military
style.
The programme opened with the lancers
ana continued until 10 80 o'clock, when
supper was announced i'll the banquet
room. Here an elaborate banquet had
been spread. The revelry continued un-
til the last ferry left for San Diego.
Tomorrow no particular programme
will be followed, but the city's guests will
be given an opportunity to go whittier
they will. Excursions will be run to all
points of interest in the bay region and
receptions will be held all day on the war
ships in the harbor. Sousa's Band will
give two concerts in Fishers Opera-house.
On Monday morning at 10 clock the
military and naval parade will form at
Fifth and D streets, in the center of the