The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-01-11

You amt welcome. young feller"' was
the greetiaS that 8 guest OF the Seattle
Turnvereia met Saturday night when
he attended the annual hail "a the rur-
Eers' haI. The salutation was not de-
iyered by the door tender. who admitted
any one who had a ticket but was by
q smallish man in q hideous mask who
sat under one OF the galleries. lie was
disa greeable because the young Teller
had made eyes at a neat figured little
girl who accompanied him. The ill-tem-
pered man with the big paper face had
reason 10 say what he did. because the
good looking chap whom he addressed
sat right down and commenced to talk
10 the girl with the trim figure. Come
on. Lizzie" said the man with the mask.
standing UP and making motion TO so.
Not on your life" said Lizzie. this is
an old friend. snd he has asked me TO
take a turn with him; didn't you.
Billy" Billy was the young man adj
dressed as young feller.'' That's what"
said Billy. The man with the face walked
away. muttering behind his mask. The
prompter called out. "AH them as hasn't
masks get off the fioori" and then. Take
partners for waltz
Have a spiei?'' asked Billy.
you Amt got no mask" said his COM
panion. Get one"
What natter" replied Billy tying his
handkerchief around his face below his
eyes 1t did not disguise him in the least.
only divided his features into two Sec
tons. The music started and the pair
sailed gracefully away across the floor.
The escort of the young woman looked
out through the holes in his mask bat
his false face showed no sign OF jealousy.
He made dash for the stairs leading 10
the bar. and that was the last of him.
The annual ball of the Turnverein was
great AFFAIR. 1t commenced tamely
enough, but gradually warmed up and
by successive stages. commencing at II
O'Clock and running through until in
the morning, grew hotter and hotter. The
restraint that characterized the earlier
hours Of the night wore away. and a
pandemonium of gaiety and disregard of
conventionalities marked the closing
hours. The hint at mystery that is con-
tanned in the seclusion afforded by masks
and the unlimited latitude allowed in the
way of dressing makes the bal masque
a favorite form Of entertainment in this
city as public affairs go. and the inspira-
ton Of unlimited ''steams'' combined with
color. music motion and tobacco smoke,
effect most pleasing results TO the mem
bers of the half world and those of the
upper social circles who go to look on.
A big crowd of men about town, well
known in club and sporting circles, stood
near the doors in the earlier hours of the
evening. Some OF them secured masks
and went on the floor CHANGING acquaint-
ances with the possessors OF neatly turned
calves and ankles ana pretty feet They
We're rewarded by bright glances from
eyes that peeped out from behind wire
or papier mache creations that hid what
might later prove to be agreeable feat
ures
The ball might be divided into two
parts In the earlier part of the evening
well known members appear with their
families. and have a gooc time in a SCI
date yet pleasant way. but they retire
at an early hour and do not wait for the
jovial fun that follows.
Rather tame affair" said a big man
with a gray suit during one OF the pauses
between dances. They ought 10 be
dancing all the time. Come and have a
drink" and hopping his perspiring fore
head and bald pate he started toward
the stairs. Just then the music began a
two-step The kaleidoscope procession on
the floor shaped itsef and swung away
IN rhythmic cadence with the strains Of
the dance. Some danced the two-step,
others tried something else with dis
astrous results. There was a hObbing
around on the part Of some and many
collisions between the crowd and those
who insisted upon dancing in the wrong
direction. Princes in plumes and satin
monks In their somber robes; cavaliers
with dangling swords. cowboys. China
men. negroes. everything almost except
the Yellow KID and Ii Hung Chang. two
of the popular Eastern masquerade char
acters Of this year.
As the crowd swung and iolted around
the young Teller" and Lizzie were there.
They had not separated since the young
Teller" had been told that he was not
welcome.
Then the crowd on the floor discovered
a pair IN the gallery who had evidently
made up after A quarrel. Both were
asleep. Her head OF false hair and her
damp mask rested on his sailor breast;
their arms were around each other. Then
the crowd laughed and ieered and made
remarks about the sailor lad and his
lass The laughter and noise woke them
IN: they looked as sheeplsh they could
through their DISCUSSES. but without other
show Of embarrassment walked down 20
the floor. where they Joined the rest OF
the dancers.
The hours grew on and the thick OF the
crowd went out into the street and scat
tered nobody knew where and cared less.
Come on. Liz: let's GO" said a young
man or Seattle's best social circles. "Ail
right" replied Lizzie. and that was the
wind-up OF the most interesting part OF
the annual Turnverei1 bah Of 1857.
Other pretty girls with short dresses.
whose eyes were beginning 70 show signs
Of WEAKNESS. walked ont OF the hall into
the cool refreshing morning air and Ian
guidly voted the ball a success, as they
lit their cigarettes.