The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-10-01
QUEENS ROYAL BALL.
Nothing EqualIing Last Nights
Event at the Opera House
Has Ever Been Seen Outside of
the Larger Cities.
Whole Interior Made a Bower and
sprinkIed With the Che. cest
Perfum es-Society Pres
ent in Force.

did honor to the Festival Queen at her
ball last night. To crown her royal
reign society prepared a social func-
ton the equal Of which was never seen
within the borders of her domain. Be
fore her throne fair women and brave
men" danced last night.
1t was an event worthy of the capt.
tai of Kansas. 1t was the accomplish
ment of surprising social endeavor
as a feature particularly elaborate in
the week of festivities.
Never have seen anything as pref
ty as the ball ton ght,'' said Mr.. Ed
ward Wilder, and in saying it he voic-
ed the sentiments of all identified with
the ball as either participants or spec
tators.
For four days and nights workmen
busted themselves Transforming the
Gra nd opera House into a beautiful
ballroom and gaIy decorated amphi-
theater, and their success was attested
by the effect produced. All that decor
ative art could DO was done for the
success of the ball. The whole inter-
ior was festooned with cOlored mean
descent lights.
From the center aisle of the theater
to the curbing at the street a closed
and canOpied passage way, with can
Vassed floor, was in position, and here
the carriages of those occupying seats
on the first floor commenced to arrive
as ca ly as o'clock. simultaneously
a stream Of spectators commenced to
pour into the foyer OF the theater and
up the stairs to the balcony floor.
At o'clock two floors of the theater
were solid tanks of human ty. At that
hour telephone message cOmmunica-
ted with the residence of the Festival
Queen, and Immediately the members
OF the court, prime minister and Queen
TOOK places Syac
and the procession to the theater start
ed.
The ladies and gentlemen of the
court we're the first to arrive at the
canopied Lassageway, and formi g in
two lines they awaited the arrival of
tie prime minister and Queen. The
prime minister's carriage drove up first
and ne and his attendant alighted in
readiness to assist the Queen. Then
the Queens carriage moved to position
directly in front of the passageway.
AS the Queen aIghted one of the ush-
erS caught sight OF her royal parsonage
and quickly remarked Here comes the
Queen" In moment his remark was
taken up by those in the seats nearest
to him, and spread rapidly over the first
| floor of the house. At once all eyes
were turned on the center aisle
EetWeen the two lines of courtiers
ana IacleS, holding the hand of the
prime minister, and with the train of
| her ball gown caught at the corners by
| the two pages, the Festival Queen ad-
FduG0l, anu through the roger TO the
entrance of the opera house. Then she
stepped into the center aisle and ad-
| vanCed toward her throne at the rear
and center of the stage.
The moment she entered between the
line of seats applause broke forth grow
ing in volume with her advance and
| continuing until she took her seat upon
| the throne.
Immediately following the Festival
| queen the court ladies and gentlemen
| advanced IN couples and took their po-
| sltlons in the minuet sets on the stage
/ IN direct line between the throne and
/ audience. As the Queen stepped upon
| the stage, and during the entrance of
/ the court the Festival Queens march
| was played by Marshall's band At it's
conclusion the minuet commenced
simultaneously with the first strains
/ OF the orchestra music and the com
/ mencemenJ of the court minuet the
! operation of calcium lights on the stage
| was begun Through the entire min
! uet all the cOlOTs of the rainbow were
| thrown continuously on the space occu-
/ pied by the dancers in fourteenth CEN
| fury costume, producing a most beau
/ tiful spectacular effect
| AS the last couple of the minuet bow
| ed before the Queen and moved to q
! position at the side of the stage the
music from the orchestra turned into a
| waltz, and in the midst of prolonged
/ applause the court members opened the
| ball.
On the throne, covered with a roval
| purple cloth and canOpied and enclosed
| at the rear and sides with delicate
| white bunting, the Festival Queen pre-
scented truly royal appearance. From
| her crown, about her throat on her
| arms and hands costly jewels reflected
| back the light as it fell upon them
| The ball gown of the Festival Queen
| was the most beautiful and costly Of
| her entire wardrobe. It was of silver
| brOcaded satin, cut square at the neck
| with short puffed sleeves and fIarine
| jeweled collar Her crown was of solid
sat n lion
| eralds, and double diamond necklace
| was worn about her throat. Bands OF
| varied jewels encircled her arms above
| the elbow, and at the wrist were
| bracelets of diamonds. The front of the
gown was ornamented with a corsage
of varied jewels.
| From her position on the throne the
| Festival Queen had excellent ODDOrt1I.
| nifty of noting the decorations arranged
| in her honor. Directly in front of the
! throne, in the center OF the stage, wa.
suspended an umbrella effect of red
| white and yellow bunting. on which was
| arranged a cluster of 40 incandescen
lights. From the central-ight effect OF
| streams of red, white and yellow eX
tending to three points on each side o
| the stage were suspended rows of in
candescent. Arc lights in each corne
of the stage furnished the additiona
light for the stage.
The entire stage space was covered
by a canopy of white bunting. arrang
ed in a dome effect At the sides an
at the rear of the stage was arrange,
scenery picturing garden effects
The columns supporting the tire
floors of the house were entwined wit
bunting of the Festival cOlors- ArOun
the sides of the auditorium on the frs
floor and in front of the seats on tn
second floor scores of palms an
plants We're in position. Hundreds O
square feet of Alabama smilax orna
mented the balustrade of the secOn
floor and the sides of the boxes
From the center of the house to tn
| two upper floors and under the balus
| trade of the balcony and at the rear c
| the first floors StreamerS of Festive
colors and garlands of evergreen weT
| strung.