The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-01

NH PURE and soft and wonderful
The halo for the dying Year,
w But at the last stroke of the mid
night bell
II swept, n k'ugly robe from off ms bier
To grace another, coming brave and bold
With promise i'm his eyes of joys untold
To us, who welcoming the glad New Year
Straightway forsook-forgot the Old.
y 4 \
n IKE o richly broidered mantle for
the Old Year fell the first real
snow of winter yesterday, and
with its soft benediction, passed
out those last moments, while the New
Year found the white glory of new
world awaiting him. In the mysterious
exhilaration always produced by the
first heavy snow fall and amid a scene
of splcndor thus fittingly framed the
representative members of Scranton
society spent the ending of last year
and the bright early hours of 1S9S
When last season, it was rumored
that the great annual event, which
had made the social organization
known as "The Bachelors" famous be-
yond the confines of this state, might
never be repeated, expressions of re-
grct were general. On such mag
nihccnt scale mad the Bachelors Ball
been given at each holiday tide that
the prospect of discrimination of the
entertainments which mad been a pride
to the city and the anticipated pleas
ure Of tho year caused not q little
CONSERVATION. Hence when it became
definitely understood that company
of young men under the unassuming
title Of the New Years BaIl Commit
tee" proposed to keep up the time
honorcd custom of O splendid dance to
mark the beginning of another twelve
month the liveliest interest was man.
ifcsted and nothing but kind words
have been heard with regard to their
. success.
The committee, Messrs. James Blair,
Paul b. Belin, Lawrence Is. Fuller, Jo-
seph NJ. Boies and Theodore S. Fuller.
early began the preparations for the
ball and having not only had expert
ence as Bachelors" but also in the
direction of important social affairs at
college, they achieved results surpass-
ing even the expectations of their
friends. Particularly is this true of
Mr.. James Blair, upon whom, as chair
man of the committee, have fallen
much of the responsibility and burden
of the arrangements His able eXecu-
tive abilities and pronounced popular
ity have given him exceptional ad-
vanta ges and IS the other members
are also great favorites in this city
and are well equipped with talents
necessary to the task, they have reach
ed a flatterlng degree of success.
1t would seem that nothing remained
in the way of Improvement on the
balls of the past, so near perfection
have been the details, but as a mist
hides the distant view so in memory
perhaps less brightly glow the magic
scenes Of other years as compared
With the warm, living ever-changing
panorama of the present so the New
Year bail of December 81, 1897, a!
fresh in the mind today presents q
picture which now it seems must for
ever be transcendent in the records.
The Lyceum with it's artistic colorine
and graceful design of interior archi.
lecture made an ideal setting for the
gorgeous moving pageant so enchant.
ing to the eye. Every possible ac
cessory had been added from the lux
urious green of the superb floral dec.
orations to the rich oriental effects il
the lobby and vestibules. The taste.
fully decorated boxes with their merry
ing music that continually called fortl
bursts of enthusiastic applause, tn,
exquisite illumination, and beyond all
the array of living beauty that mad
a rare kaleidoscope of color and grac,
can scarcely be described.
1t is probable that never before wer,
so many magnificent costumes seen II
never have so many beautiful womel
been present at q large assemblage o
the sort in Scranton. a multitude o
visitors celebrated for their loVelines
in their home cities added to the bril-
lance of the occasion.
In the carrying out of all details tn
committee is to be congratulated sine
even the most eXacting observer coult
find no cause for criticism in the dane
music, the supper arrangements or tn
Uall as a whole. That it was enioye,
u the full was proved by the supreme
ly happy faces of the dancers and tn
interest and admiration evident from
the expressions of all spectators.