The Jersey City news., 1898-06-15
AID FOR THE WOUNDED.
Jersey City Society at the
Promenade Concert in
the Armory Last
Night.
BRILLIANT AND SUCCESSFUL EVENT.
Handsome sum will Go To-
wards Stocking the Hos
pital Ship Solace.

plies for the U. S. Hospital Ship ''Solace," !"
now with Commodore SIMPSONS fleet off
Santiago. The concert had been the chief
topic among Jersey City's ''hupper
suckles'' for weeks past, and 1t was
therefore not surprising that this social
event. the principal one of the year, went
off pat; as one of the ladies on the com
mittee aptly said.
The hour fixed for the beginning of the
concert was eight O'clock but society
will not be hurried and confined to rigid
punctuality. so it was past nine o'clock
before the carriages began to roll up to
the big door Of the Armory where Cap
tain Farrier and a squad of policemen
were very busy in keeping the crowd
back from the entrance.
Before the doors were thrown open
there was a hurried inspection by the
ladies of the committee of arrangement,
the work which had kept them busy all
day long. Mrs. E. F. c. Young, Mrs.
James Noe, Mrs. Burdette Craig. Mrs.
George T. Smith. Mrs. E. l.. Young, Mrs.
J. ]. Toffey and Mrs William Bumsted.
personally supervised the decoration of
the boxes and the result was that when
at last the fortunate possessors of the
tickets arrived and caught sight of that
immense hall, respIendent with the Stars
and Stripes, all sorts of complimentary
things were said about the excellent taste
which the ladies' had displayed in drap-
ing the flags. They had employed the
National emblem more profusely than
usual In decorations because yesterday
was Flag Day In front of each box on
the ground floor was flag. and the gall
1eries overhead had literally a sheathing
Of the starry bunting. and exceedingly
pretty it looked. deserving as 1t did the
encomium of many fair critics.
"Oh. that's just too sweet for any
thing!'
Away at the east end of the vast build
ing in the gallery. enshrined in palms,
ferns and potted plants sat Victor Her
bert's orchestra. which certainly did dis
course most beautiful music all night long.
A smaller orchestra was at the other end
of r1le gallery, near the head of the
stairs, and that furnished the music for
the dance. The ladies' cloak and retir-.
ing rooms were to the left of the stair
way, and the gentlemen were, as usual.
bundled upstairs, where they could
smoke and frame suitable excuses to
their wives, sweethearts, sisters, cousins
and aunts, for frequent sorties to the
Carteret Club opposite.
To the right of the entrance on the
floor below screens were placed shutting
off the mysteries of the pastry cook and
an army of obseauious servitors who
supplied the ice cream. lemonade, cakes
and other solids and liquids, all of which
were very much in demand. for the night
was warm, and as result the high col
lars of, the nice looking youths, with hair
carefully parted in the middle and plas-
tered down on each side. were willing al
an alarming and most distressing rate.
Whilst the hustle, chatter and buzz of
conversation was at its height and just
when the ladies were kissing each other
and asking, MY dear, is my hat on
straight?" the trumpets in the orchestra
blared out the first notes of that grand
march from Tannhauser. Like startled
deer-dear, too, in the proper sense-the
ladies rushed to their boxes, followed by
the men, and the concert began. When
the march was over the orchestra at the
other end Of the gallery struck UP with
a two-step and the next minute, on the
floor, were seen most attractive young
women, in particularly fetching costumes,
whirling around in the arms of their very
fortunate partners. 1t was true it was
hot. insufferably hot; but what girl could
sit still and hear such lovely dance music
and not want to be swung around the
room!
Then came more compositions from the
orchestra. all of which were most artis-
tically played, but unfortunately were not
heard at their best because the Armory
Is not built for concerts. When at last
the musicians began with the Star
Spangled Banner wasn't there a scene?
Every lady and every man sprang to her
and his feet and not only clapped hands
but cheered the inspiriting strains. Again
and again Herbert's orchestra played the
air and the roof and rafters rang with
the shouts OF the audience Dancing was
again resumed and then more orchestral
compositions, followed by frequent visits
OF the dancers to the ice cream depart
ment, and so on until midnight, when, one
by one and two by two, people began to
slip away home. Some of the ladies were
escorted across to the Carteret Club, the
members Of which, with their character
sistic hospitality. made everything exceed
ingly pleasant for their fair guests.
Among those present last night were:-.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. f. C. Young. Mr.. and
Mrs. George T. Smith, Mr. and Mrs VIM.
q. Bulnsted. Mrs. James H. Noe, Dr. and
Mrs. B. p. Craig, Colonel and Mrs. John
]. Toffey Mrs. J. D. Bedle, Mr.. and Mrs.
E. l.. Young, Mrs. Jonathan Dixon, Mrs.
John Griffith, Mrs william Lutlsins, Mrs.
William Utz, Mrs. ". r. Schank Mrs.