The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-09
INFANTRY KALI WAS CROWDED.
Dancing, Preceded by an Enjoyable Concert
hj Reeves American band.
CITY AID STATE OFFICERS PRESENT.
Hall Vas elaboatsly and ktlsllclII Decorated.
Atial aSs.d CiI v0U SmOothy and EaIOy-
ably to Large Company IN A.endaGCs.

The boys of the Providence Fire De-
partment last evening proved TO the
entlIt satisfaction of their tremendous
most o. lI.enus, state officials, city OH
ciais ans civAians thai they have ac-
qulred in all its perfection, the fine art
OF sociai entertainment.
1t was the occasion of the tenth an
nuai concert ana ball Of the Providence
| Permanent Fremens ReAef Associa-
ton, anu In the minds of the vast as
scAuD.aSe, tor one coull hear Al eX-
pIesse. every minute on ali hands,
here was never firelnans BAH like
tLis one. The flfst beam OF good for
tune tnat shOne in the pathway of the
| managers of the party was the beauti-
fui stdrhBht night that broaden. over
ali from out the discouraging conditions
that prevailed ala uay. 1ne boys"
were on hand at the hall early for
there Was lots to be done right up TO
the last moment, but when promptly at
go O'Clock the grana entrance To the
hail was thrown open there came a per-
, feet crush, as carriage after carriage
! drew up before the awning and depOs-
| tied its quota of guests. Before eight
o'clock more than 1900 persons had ar
| rived, and when at . o'clock, the trum-
liant old hall fairly groaned with it's
weight of nearly 1000 of people. How
the eyes of the boys" did glisten with
pleasurable emotions. Their shoulders
always squarely set by the constant
drilling they receive We're involuntarily
thrown back a good two inches as with
neatly buttoned uniform and white
gloves they aid the honors for the
evening.
The decorations were the most elab-
crate that have ever been seen at the
Firemen's Ball. The stage was a per-
feet bower Of tropical beauty, stately
palms nodded their broad leaves, ferns
and evergreen were properly arranged
and intermlngled with an were the gay
tinting of thousand fragrant bios
SONS. In the MIDST OF that equatorial
garden Reeves full orchestra played
all the up-to-date airs that so please
devotees of the dance. The balconies
were draped with the national colors.
over the stage was a large centre
piece in colors representing a rescue"
scene at a burning building. TO the |
left was the banner Of the association |
and To the right phrase OF welcome. |
ON the south wall was tremendous |
figure of Columbia. whilst midway of |
the balcony rail on the west was the |
seal OF the state and opposite the coat |
tors were displayed portraits of Presi-
dent Mckinley, and Commanders Dew
ey, Schley, Sampson. Niles. Lee. Hob
son and Roosevelt. The hall was lighted
by lights shaded with the national coll
ors.
Promptly at o'clock Mayor Baker
arrived and was Immediately escorted !
TO seat of honor in the east gallery
by Charles Cloudman and other mem
bers Of the reception committee, the |
floor director, Chief Steere. and assist
ants and the ads. neeVes' fun band
then gave the following musical pro-
gram: Overture. Stradella, Flotow: a,
Padercwski, b. Patrol, The Blue
and Gray. Hacker; Invitation a In
Valse, Weber; scena II Trovatore.
Verdi, Messrs. Church and Spary: de-
scriptive, The Fall OF Santiago" Dal-
bey. During the concert number OF
very appropriate microscopic scenes
were thrown on great canvas over
the stage
AZ o'clock the march was started.
and Chief Steere with all his old-time
skill led the long line through series
)f intricate and very appropriate de-
signs that won the hearty applause of
very one of that vast company of on
ookers. The principal figures outlined
N the march were the fire badges, and
IN enormous maltese cross
Following the march general dancing
vas i'm order. and hundreds OF graceful
igures soon responded TO the entiCing
traines of Reeves orchestra.
At shortly after | o'clock Gov. Dyer d
irrived. accompanied by the following
members of his stan Adjt Gen {
'ackett, Quartermaster Gen. Walker.
surgeon Gen Kenyon. Col. Robert Taft
'ol Shepley, Col. Wetherell and Col
Nicholson. They were Immediately
scorted TO the east balcony. where {
eats had been reserved, just by Chief |
'teere and aids. i
Dancing was then at its height and Il {
vas bright an animated scene that d
he officials gazed down upon. At 10 :
o'clock supper was announced and was
erved by Gelb In the upper hall until q
O'Clock. Everybody was happy. and {
was altogether one OF the most not {
bly, successful social functions of the a
eason. Among other important guests a
we're Judge stephen Cooke. Mr.. Allen. 4
1ember OF the City Council. chief Rand / =
Y the fire department OF FitChburg.
lass. George Taft and H. N. Beau s
mont of the Worcester department AMI h
osborn Phillips, formerly OF Truck 1. c
ut now In Company. n. l. NJ. who n
OF leave OF absence especially for /,
his occasion. Il
The honorary committee included lie n
ixccllcpcy Gov. Elisha Dyer. Ills /,
ionor Mayor William e. Baker. VIII II
am Gregory, George T.. Shcpley. John i
:. Blodgett, Lorin NJ. Cook. Hunter q. r
White, George N. Heathcote. Herman ! o
!. Possner. John NJ. Burlington. VIII ! i
am IA. Sweetland. Walter V. Vincent. | n
,ouis +. Davis. Gilbert A. Phillips. "a
The resource committee Included ! >
Ohm w Booth, David q. Knott. Arthur q
}. Sayward. Thomas j. Morriscy. I'd ! !,
ard :. Doherty, James T.. Hail. James =
bowling >
The reception committee was made
p of Dexter Gorton. Stliman White. I RI
William ~ Luther. John w Morrow. / T.
'eputy Chief Holden -. HiU. District | D
hief George r. Battev. District chief 4,
lorace i. Griswold Supt Charles G. n
loudman. Capt Adelbeft A. HOPKINS | ,l
apt. William ~. johnson. Capt. James | n
J. curtis, Ira Ninsor. Hon. Frank =. | II
tContinucd on Page scvenJ >