Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-10-26
HARPER IS REOPENED.
Brilliant Social Function at
Rock Islands Remodeled
Hostelry.
RECEPTION BY THE MANAGEMENT.

Messrs. Montrose and McHugh Handsome
Iy Entertain In Honor of the Completion
of the Improvements on Their House
One Thousand Guests In Attendance
Concert. Dancing and Refreshments.
TRI-CITY friends enjoyed the hos
l. pitality of Messrs. Charles Nc
Hugh and j. f. Montrose last night on
the occasion of the formal reopening of
their handsomely appointed Rock ISL
and hotel, the Harper, which with the
National at Peoria, also conducted by
them, gives them control of two of
the leading and most modernlv
equipped hostelries of the west.
The Harper has been remodeled and
improved throughout, as hereto
fore extensively described in The
ARGUS. and it was in honor of the
completion of this transformation,
begun nearly year ago, that last
nights event was given. And most
happy one it proved gathering about
one thousand of the representative
gentlemen and ladies of the three
cities besides number of guests
from abroad-and making what is
conceded to have been one of the
largest and most successful social
functions ever held in Rock Island.
Arrival of the Guests.
The guests began. to arrive at 81
o'clock, and were received at the east
end of the main parlor on the second
floor.
The receiving party was composed
of Mr.. and Mrs. Charles McIIugh. Mr.
and Mrs. j. +. Montrose, of Peoria.
Mr.. and Mrs. John Crubaugh, Mr..
and Mrs. G.. +. Rim. of Chicago,
assisted by Mrs. G.. W. Cash, Mary
Kough-Jordan, Misses Josephine Phil
lips, Jessie Bogue and Emma Lamont
The receiving hours were from to
IL, during which time there was a
continual inpouring of people, the rich
and beautiful gowns Of the ladies,
with their gentlemen attendants in
evening dress. moving and lounging
about the lavishly furnished and
brilliantly illuminated parlors, fur
nishing II charming and gorgeous pic |
ture.
In an alcove in the west end of the |
main parlOr was stationed Pctersen'S |
orchestra, rendering program OF |
concert music. while from the spa
cious dining hall. which served as IA
ball room for the occasion, issued the |
strains of the dreamy waltz and the |
viyaciOus twO-step, rendered by Bleu-
cr's orchestra, which was stationed in |
a bower of palms and ferns, the merry |
dancers keeping the floor occupied |
until the conclusion of the festivities |
nj Il. III.
Dainty Refreshments.
a dainty luncheon was served in |
the ladies' ordinary and the adjoining |
private dining room. The receiving |
party saw to the wants of every guest, |
and right royalty were all entertained,
and so pleased were they with the re-
ccption that the night of Oct. %, 1892, |
will live as long as memory lasts with
every body who was fortunate enough |
TO be numb bcred among the guests.
While all had a general idea of the
alterations of the Harper, few there |
were who realized that the improve
ments were on such an elaborate |
scale. and expressions of surprise and |
admiration were heard on every hand. |
the Louis Nv and oriental parlor
being especially admired hy the Ia
dies. whose ewes fea 'ted on the unique |
arrangement of the furnishings and
decorations.
In the remodeled Harper Messrs. |
Montrose and McHugh have not only |
a first-class house, but cheerful, |
home-like hotel, one that they should
feel proud of. and one that the people |
uf Rock Island and of the three cities |
should rejoice in. II Is an institution
which stands for the enterprise and
good taste of the proprietors. and is
essentially representative of the met
TopOlitan character and cosmopolitan
requirements of the community.