The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-02-04
IA BRILLIANT
| SUCCESS.
| Annual Ball Of Firemcn'S
Association.
INFANTRY HALL CROWDED
Gov. Dyer and Other State and City
Officers Present.
INFANTRY HALL CROWDED
CONCERT BY AMERICAN BAND.

The ninth annual concert and ball OF
tho Providence Permanent Firemsn's Re-
lief Association. which was held In In
fantry hall last evening, was without
any question, one OF the most brilliant
and most successful entertainments ever
given by the. association, and the commit
tee in charge OF the general arrangements
| is.of thsIopipion that $500 persons at ioast
were present during the hours devoted TO
| dancing, aid the large party was one
that the fireInsn have good reason TO be
proud OF.
There were not as many fremen pres
emit as there would have been had the
over mead IRE alarm system boen IN work-
ina order, the fire oomu issioners having
been compelled to keep the men In the
| stations in case OF emergency, but the
| wives, daughters sisters, sweethearts and
friends Of the fire fighters were there. and
the concert ana ball was in every feature
q most decided success One man from
each company was detailed TO attend the
ball. 2S in all. ana these acted as aids to
the general floor director, while II. IL.
Fields of Hose IL and Captain j. r. Nc.
Neal of Hose wereithe only mem bers OF
the department on the reception commit.
tee.
The decorations OF the hall were not
only very elaborate, but displayed great
deal OF good taste upon thu part OF MIR.
&. w. White Of this city, who had been
engaged TO do tho work. The stage was
made very attractive by iife-size paint
ing of two 6remen entering burning
| building, o very realistic piece Of work,
and this was surrounded by United
States pennants. and rosettes and half
rosettes made with national flags The
| front of the stage was made beautiful by
l a solid sanK of palms. TIL bbar plants, ferns
and OF her plants and behind this bank Of
| tropical verdure Mr.. Reeves and his play
ers lay perdu, but not unheard.
The front OF the balconies ana the
corners Of the galleries were draped all
around with red. white and blue punt
ing, and at intervals were shelves bear
| Ing q large quantity OF potted plants,
J something on the style OF miniature
hanging RArdens. Long festoons of dark
green holly were literally used 90 cover
| the bunting. while tbs walls above the
| b ,Ioonies :wsrei made rsspenueut with
more tri-ooiored bunting. and In the md
| dls OF each long wall was very pretty.
| large semi i-circ ular panel Of white and
light green In the shape OF an open fan.
| The large windows on the Benefit street
| side were draped with white lace cur
| tains.
AZ about o clock Chief Steere and
Mayor Baker, escorted by the reception
COMMITTEES and followed by several mem
bers of the city government marched
through the hall and took the seats re-
served for them In the balcony. while the
band played Hail to the Chief" In ad-
dition TO Mayor Baker, the party was
composed OF Alderman Ira Winsor. AL
derman Love- Alderman McGann, City
Clerk Clarke, John HeAthcote and Fire
Commissioners Luther and Gorton.
The concert by the American Band un.
dsr the direction OF ID. w. Reeves was
one OF tho bcst ever given by this standard
musical organization and ths several Sc
lsctions had been particularly chosen by
Mr.. Reeves to suit the popular taste. The
program was as follows: Overture,
'Massanielo," AIbrr; quartet. ION the
ors, George II. Cot and Walter n. Hi
| dreth; bAssos, John W. Booth and George
M. Hayward; solo for cornet. ''Stelia I"
Levy, Mr.. Church; quartet. March On
ward, " A Geibel, Firemsn's Quartet; COL
location Of popular songs. Reeves.
A delightful feature or the concert was
tie singing Of the Firsmsn . Quartet, aud
well merited applause was BESTOWED upon
the musical fire lnddies.
AT precisely Q O'Clock General Floor
Director Stecrs started the grand march
and he was followed BY George NJ Hay
ward, OF n ose Z, and wife, who in turn
were followed by about 20 couples, and a
series of most intricate evolutions and
pretty figures Was the result. Just as the
grand mhroh came to an end Gov Dyer
and his suite arrived, and they were es-
curted TO seats rsrved for them in the
gallery. The party included Gov. Dyer,
Col ii. Anthony Dyer, Adj. Gen. Sack
stt Col. j. howard Studley, Quarter
master Gen. Dennis, surg. Gen. Kenyon,
Col George j. Shspey and Lieut. Alb
bott, United States insnector.
Then the dancing went on and the or
der of 10 dances :wss ksps tup until
o'clock this morning. Banspsoh Brothers