The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18
ANNUAL FANCY DRESS.
State Hospital Amusement Hall a
Scene of Gaiety.
OmciaIs. Nurses and Patients Unite in the
Celebration Tuesday Evening Dazzling
Grand March and Review of Characters
on Parade-List of Guests Present.

Grand March and Review of Characters
on Parade-List of Guests Present.
The annual fancy dress ball at the
New Jersey State Hospital at Morris
Plains, usually held on Washington's
birthday in / commemoration OF that
event, was, as has been announced in
these columns, very wisely postponed on
account Of the development of case OF
scarlet fever, though to the intense dis
appointment of the many patients who
had long been anticipating the pleasure
of impersonating some illustrious historl-
cal personages. While being out OF date
as a commemoration of Washingtons
birthday it might be expected that it
would lose somewhat of the usual inter
est taken in it. But such was not the
case. For brilliancy and beauty of COS
tune it is safe to say that the ball of
Tuesday evening eclipsed all former
efforts in this direction. A like meeting
on equal terms, of royalty, nobility.
statesmen, heroes and beauties has seldom
been seen. All animosities, all feelings
of bitterness, all enmities and causes of
quarrel seemed to have been forgotten,
and the most magnanimous feeling of
the brotherhood of man seemed to pre-
vail. Imagine, if you can, the Prince
Of Orange and st. Patrick marching arm
in arm together to the sweet strains of
the wearing of the Green" st. Patrick
carrying frozen snake and the Prince of
Orange decorated with shamrocks,
Napoleon Boneparte and the Duke of
Wellington smiling and exchanging
compliments, Alexander Hamilton chat
ting pleasantly with Aaron Burr, Lord
Bacon gravely discussing the Cuban
question with Kaiser William Ill, Don
Juan smitten with Dulcinea del Tobosa,
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter
inextricably amalgamated and Paul
Revere gallantly escorting Barbara
Freitchie.
The amusement hall was tastefully
decorated for the occasion with flags
and bunting, presenting beautiful ap-
pearance Invited guests began to ar
rive early, and long before the time ap-
pointed for commencement of the grand
march all the available space on the
stage which had been set apart for the
accommodation of visitors was taken.
Att O'Clock sharp the hospital orches
ira, under the leadership of H. G. Free
man, played as an overture "The Bo-
hemian Girl" after which preparations
for the.grand march commenced. Each
couple entered the hall gaily attired in
costume representative of the character
hey had chosen; and were duly present
ed to George and Lady Washington,
after which they formed in line for the
march. The March was led by DR.. B.
D. Evans, the Medical Director, and
Miss Katharine Baker of Lewisburg Pa,
as Napoleon and Empress Josephine.
The resemblance of DIR. Evans to that
great parsonage was very striking, and
was remarked by many present. The
figures of the march, though in reality
simple, appeared very complicated and
intricate to the onlookers. 1t was per-
formed without an error.
Immediately at the close of the march,
which occupied nearly half an hour,
DR.. Evans in short speech ex-
tended to the visitors present a hearty
welcome, and expressed regret that it
was impossible to make them all as COM
Portable as he would like, owing to the
limited capacity of the amusement hall.
He expressed the hope, however, that in
the near future the institution will be
provided with larger and more COM
modious hall.
Many of the couples were warmly ap-
plauded, but none more warmly than
Uncle Sam and the Goddess of Liberty.
showing that the spirit of patriotism was
keenly alive in the audience.
After waltz by the participants IN
the grand march, fancy minuet dance
by Shakesperian characters in costume
was given. This dance was admirably
performed and was special feature Of
the evening. After this a varied pro-
gram of dances was enjoyed.
The ball practically ended at 10
o'clock, when special train left the
hospital, carrying large number of
visitors away, but dancing was con-
tinued to II o'clock.
To the patients In the institution this
is the social event of the year, conse-
quently it is looked forward to by them
with much pleasure and anticipation. 1t
was great success and the officers Of
the institution deserve credit for making
it so.
The following is list of the partici-
pants in the grand march and the char
acfers thev represented
DIR. B. D. Evans, Medical Director and
Miss K. Baker as Napoleon and Empress
Josephine, DR.. Eliot and Mrs. Gorton as
Lord Bacon and Lady Bonheur; DR..
Thomas P. Prout and Miss M. Baker as
Alexander Hamilton and Elizabeth
Scuyler; DR.. Peter S. Mallon and Miss
Ennis as Duke of Wellington and Lady
Wellington; DR.. M. L. Perry and Miss
Ebbets as William, Prince of Orange