The San Francisco call., 1898-08-26


 gruous costumes and flushed unQuiet faces. This wad crushes into the ball. room and loses identity in another wad Of the same kind, color and pattern. The room wears that troubled, uncer- tain. inquiring air, peculiar to the crowd which never has found itself all together before
 A stunning woman comes through the door and sweeps the room with a turn or her head, and for a moment sees no one that she knows. and then drifts slowly toward a little group which holds itself aloof Presently the crowd is punctuated by several of these little groups. none of which seem to have lowing acquaintance with an other, for all they are so slightly se- lect. My beauty wears a frock that shows a handsome shoulder. She is very tall, very vain, very suberb in color, height, carriage, poise, with a free and charming glance and a frank and charming smile. I am told she is the wife of Marshal-to whom I offer the respectful felicitations of a stran- ger. She Is easily the belle of this shabby little gratifying Annexation Ball and might as easily be the belle of a much more splendid affair. And, be- sides, I see one beautiful girl with dark hair wrapped about little cameo head, which rises like a pure, pale
 
 suits its sweet, chaste outline we'll. And, besides, again, a score of younger girls, all sweet to look upon because all youth is sweet and fresh and fair to see, and light of foot and eager to enjoy.
 The band has been playing for an hour before the ball begins. think 1t is the soda water clerk who sets it rolling. If not, then another as gal lant and brave as he. It takes both courage and gallantry and some phys tcal strength to trip the light fantastic at the Annexation Ball. It is a matter Of elbows rather than of heels. But after the first heroic example everybody develops these handsome qualities and takes to wrangling for the floor The official party sinks wearily into the old throne chairs and smootheS it's tired neryeless hands and talks entirely to itself, and does not look one half so democratic as it did; but, rather, a lit- tie bored and distant and as if all this were more of duty than of pleasure And at about a quarter before Il. when the gratifying ball was at it's height, the President and his wife and the United States Minister and his wife and the army and the navy and the very few people who mattered went quiet ly out from the ballroom and got them selves into their wraps and down the steps and into their carriages and away to their homes to seek deserved repose
 I slipped out, too, but not so far Only to the grounds by the stairs at the back and through the trees to see the hun dreds of electric lights starring the double row of balconies and blazing in color from the Unions shield above the door; to hear the night wind signing in the palms, the sleepless mynah calling to his mate; to look upward to the calm, cold stars which keep so near watch above Hawaii nei.
 The ballroom was insufferable I went into the hall and sat upon the noble stair beside lady who wore a white sailor hat and feather boa with her black decollete gown.
 Did you get any punch?" she asked socially.
 You didn't miss anything" Then she relapsed into gloomy silence.
 What is the matter with it?" in- quired.
 Nothing" she said, laughing sud- denly. Nothing this time"
 T don't think I understand"
 Weren't you at the last one? Oh, Then you wouldn't. They had a long supper table with things spread on it and a big bowl of punch in the middle, and the Portuguese all came. and while the dancing was going on they made raid on the supper and carried every thing off You know they take their babies with them everywhere, and while one of them was reaching she dropped hers and 1t fell into the punch. Of course 1t screamed and she screamed and everybody rushed out. and there she was with turkey, a whole turkey. in one hand and the baby, all over punch in the other" She laughed wild ly again at the recollection.
 Dear mel" said I. hopefully. Do you think anything like that will hap pen to-night?"
 She shook her head. There's no Portuguese here tonight and there's no supper. l believe they're going to pass around Ice cream and cake after while. shan't wait for it.
 The punch was ladled from a corner of the broad balcony. My friend in the white sailor hat and the black ball gown had little more and then she went home. I noticed that she went alone. and, after she was gone, my laundress came and whispered to me mysteriously that she was no lady.
 had been sitting with her in peace and amity for fifteen minutes on the stairway in the sight of all the world. But then this was such a democratic and gratifying ball.
 l walked forth-under close escort this time-to the broad balcony and looked on the claret punch, where 1t was pale p1nk III the DoWi My friend who was no lady was right. There was nothing the matter-nothing- even claret
 The ice cream and cake went around. Also sandwiches and the rest of the punch. The ball devoured the refresh rnents standing. with the wondering eyes of the Kamehamehas looking down from the old Palace walls, rich in memories of royal feasts
 They looked on no sons or daughters of their dusky race. Hawaii nei sent regrets to the Annexation Ball. For the first time in the history of these isl- ands an entertainment has been given and attended exclusively by whites.
 But 1t was Hawaii nei who drew the color line.