The San Francisco call., 1897-03-03
SOCIETY IN MASK
r AND FANCY DRESS
The Annual Ball Of the Art
A Association of the
Institute.
..
TIE Weather 0ntdnnrs nnas
The Weather Outdoors Does
Not Affect the Brilliant
d. Gathering Within.
Prince Carnival Leafs a Merry Pro.
cession-Great Variety of
:. Artistic Costumes.
How it clustered outside.

HOW 1t clustered outside.
The. wind chose the first high pinnacle
.. Of California street, where perches the
Mark Hopkins Institute, to give the most
ferecious expression OF its Joy in It's own
freedom: 1t "snughed," as they used to
say in the old-fashioned novel. The rain
swashed round the building and up and
down the streets and water rolled in roll
: licking bEooklets down the steep.
There was heard the suIlen roar of the
gumshoe everywhere, the rhythm of which
was stepped of in punctuating profanity
OF the coachman variety.
-. 1t was soggy, sodden night. with pud-
dies of. water lying all over the smooth,
unsuspected bltuminous pavement
1t was black, wet, clustering, engulfng
night, and into this nlackness, from a cor.
ner OF the Hopkins Institute, stretched
long, sinuous whIte-canvas affair that
might, in keeping with the spirit of its
. purpose, have heen a monster, feeding
upon the strange people that were dumped
into it from a swift succession of carriages
which drove up 10 its cur bstone extremity,
! released the victims and drove away.
But the storm spent Itself on the out
iside. Prince Carnival was within, dressed
in shining waite satin and surrounded by
= merry com pany that danced TO soft
music, the brilliant costumes and spangles
ref-cting a thousand lights.
.-. 1t was the annual bal masque of the In
stitRte Of Art.
Perhaps the sweep of water outside
MADE L little tardy in beginning, tut it
was a gay and brilliant affair when IT got
O. going. o the right trooped the lady
'InaskeTs and to the left the men at the en-
trance from s. O'Clock until nearly 10,
slowly at first and coming IN a rush later,
as the rain showed no signs of letting up
and it was discovered that the weather
had be met or the ball foregone; and
that could not have been thought of.
The reception hall was very beautiful in
=. its red lanterns and dressing OF oriental
rugs and drapery, its prodis ality of white
roses and green palms. Perched in the
balcony was Euber's band, and to the
= tight OF the entrance was the Jaulus
band.
.. A'platform was raised at the right OF
the;receplion: hall, covered with rugs, and
here tall Gordon. Ross, in a very fetching
costume OF yellow and black and gold,
with al immense .ruching, took h S place
shortly before 10 O'Clock, and as the kings
herald directed allthe princes and knights
and ladies, maskeFs all, TO gather in the
gallery and form themselves into merry
procession, for the reign of Prince Car
pival must begin, the herald put his
trumpet to his lips and g trumpeter in
blowing.
When the procession had been formed
it made its way dow2 the grand staircase
to the slow, M jestic swing of the music,
led by. the Prince "a. c. Helman), in
white satin, IA Beau Brum NEIL, carrying
long staff.
When the Prince reached the floor with
his immediate re:inue, consisting of his
Jester (ScIly Walter) a Venetian Senator
(Uncle George Bromley and the Pied
Piper wearing for the time being a large
Spanish sombrero (Ned Greenway), the
Ilrocession stopped.
kIhe m 1sic quickened its pace and the
1Eunce look the floor alone in a dance in
which he won the plaud is OF his people.
Up and down, back and forth, with a
graceful abandon worthy of Princ ce Car
nival, the iast steps of the dance landed
him on the platform, and the herald
after the applause had ceased. announced
that the Prince was on his throne and
called upon all to give heed to his procla-
nation and 'the Lord have mercy on
your souls"
The .Jester had taken his place at the
lett with the proclamation in hand, and
now the Prince, having secured the atten-
ton of the people, read it aloud:
l an the Prince Carnival, Lord of Misrule
and Abbot OF. Unreason. and these bright halls
nv realm shall be and for this night / claim
We all for faithful subjects and bound to do my
bidding. Prick up youE ears, therefor while
] do era m iii M tull OF precious words of nom
sense thy misguidance. For ttake th m uch
learning to p.ay the Iool discreetly. For you
must know.that there be fools andfools. And
q foolish fool is no better than a wise m an who
goeth about killing. pleasure with reasoning.
And so il any one asks~you this night why
you are merry give him the retort courteous
which IS TO tefl him that It's for woman's
reason aud therefore unexpIainable. Heaven
hep us al.
= Woman was happy thought 'Twould be
but stupid world without woman. And so.
obeiug king my first command is that all men
within my court tonight sha-1 use their best
eudeavor to pleaee women. And he that is a
recreant TO this trust let him tremble and re-
member
How that, by fair TItania, in loves sweet wages
led
Poor Button changed his honest poll into an ass's
hesd;
AFd how: there stiu are mortal maids who thus
1 can play the elf
a cause iul lnany to make donkey OF
i himself.
,And pext my royal will proclaims that all
who entr here tonight leave care behnd.
For any man caught moaning, except Tor oe-
ing fat and oyerdancing; or groaning. except
for ea ting beyond discretion; or signing, ex-
ocepts because his sweetheart doth view him
with indifference; or having tears in MS eyes,
except for excess OF laughter. he shall have
candle lit within his lantern jaws and be stood
up for lighthouse to keep all merry men
from the black rocks of melancholy.
So laugh smile, litter, gigge, grin ana