Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-02
SOUTHERN SOCIETY BALL.
The annual ball given by the Soutf

ern Relief Society OF Washington was
held at National Rifles Armory last
night. A wonderful throng was sway
ed by the music of the dance From
early in the evening till early this morn
ing crowds came, and danced and went.
During the ball thousaod persons
glided over the polished floor, obedient
20 music that by turn was soothing and
stirring.
The President of the United States
mad promised to attend, and this, add
ed to the worthy object OF the ball, at
tracted vast crowd. Late in the even
ing it was announced that President
Mckinley, having been detained by
reason of the dinner to the Supreme
Court, would not be present. This was
disappointment, but the merrymak-
ing went merrily on.
The great hall glowed with red. The
rich, warm glare WAS varied with green
and white. The background of the
stage was draped in crimson and the
ceiling above the stage was yelled in
the same color. Small groves of
palms end giant ferns grew on
each side of the stage and here and
there woven into the red were
artistic tapgles of vines. At either sid4
II tbs broad stairway leading to ths
platform was towering palm thai
stood like sentinel there. Above these
plants swung an American flag. rhe
central chandeliers were hooded with
thin red cloth and entwined with ivy
q 10 oil nd hoI
hiding it, were fresh and clingipg vines.
The angle of the ceiling and sidewalks
was filled with evergreens. Scarlet
curtains, tied with mammoth bows OF
white tulle, closed the windows, the
sils of which were banked with potted
plants. The clusters of side lights
sparkled under flmy shrouds OF red
and green. The balcony ct the north
end of the hall was decorated in the
prevailing colors, and there, Shroeder's
Band, concealed behind a hedge Of
green, furnished the rhythm to which
hundreds of dainty slippered feet kept
time.
In expectation of the arrival of Presi
dent Mckinley, the receiving party
took station on the stage and remained
among the palms till q late hour.
The ladies of the society were assist
ed by tie members of the Confederate
Veterans Association.
The decorations in he supper room
were lavish and gay, A score of tables,
white as urtrodden snow, were ranged
about the room. Silver aud china gilt
tered in the electric light Vines, fresh
gathered from their woodland home,
climbed 10 picturesque confusion across
the spotless cloths. Each table bore
floral centerpiece Roses, lilies, and
carnations did decorative duty.
Between the tables moved pretty
girls, radiant in festival smiles and
robed in gowns that seemed to have
been woven in fairies looms. These
dainty creatures carried trays freighted
with sweets and other things
that are good to eat. They
worked for The cause of charity,
and they worked we'll and hard
Grave matrons, looking young
again because of their happiness in do
ing deeds of love, jostled to and fro.
They wore white Ca S and white aprons
and some of them wore white hair.
But the eyes of all were bright and the
cheeks of all were rosy. Around the
tables sat host of parti-clsd people,
who ate because of the good it did them
and the good that it did others. They
ate that others might eat. The pro-
ceeds of that charity feast will carry
hearty cheer and new hope into many
cheerless homes, and will kindle fires
on dark hesrths. The supper room
was favorite place with those who
rested from the dance. The empalm-
ed corners of the room were filed with
groups of animated, chatting people.
There was a merry chorus Of heppy
converse, clanking cutlery, and rafting
crockery. Everybody looked happy,
everybody was happy.