Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-26

through the annual ball Of the Priests
of Pallas. which in 1897 had far out
grown It's quarters. This ball was the
annual event" in Kansas City and al
ways occurred during the fall festivi-
ties. II was attended by the best peo-
pie OF the city and many from neigh
boring towns. 1t came TO the point OF
giving up this enjoyable event or find
ing a place large enough 70 hold It,
and with this idea I'm mind the Com
mcrcial club took the matter up.
The first discussion brought out the
fact that the hall was needed for many
more purposes than mere dances, and
the prospect Of shows circuses and
other entertainments that would bring
together large companies OF people
soor stirred these conservative busi-
ness men TO enthusiasm. subscriptions
to the fund began right there, and in
no time a committee was appointed TO
get money 10 build the largest hall OF
its kind in the west. A subscription
headquarters was established. and bust
ness men left their own interests TO
take up the newborn idea. II was de-
clded that 100000 shares should be
sold or subscribed.
Then. when there seemed to be O
lull I'm the subscriptions, new ideas were
sought TO keep the interest going.
Twenty thousand buttons We're printed
and numbered 70 be sold as certificates
Of stock I'm the great hall. The COM
mittee went about IN tallyhos, sere-
nading the fiockyards. the board OF
trade and all places where men were
gathered, hawking OF their buttons
with great rapidity.
Ii was not long until the supply OF
buttons were doubled, and II seemed
that every man, woman and child IN
the city was wearing a convention hall
token. The people were thoroughly
aroused TO the undertaking, and II be-
came a necessity to the peaceful pur-
suit OF llfe 10 wear a button.
Restaurants induced their SALE by
setting aside a day when the wearers
Of buttons would be dined free. BARRIERS
took turns one week shaving free any
man wearing the emblem OF his stock
Az convention hall. Business men had
placards printed and fastened them
above their desks-"Y0u can't talk TO
me unless you wear a button" Travel
ing statesmen found IL necessary to
wear a button In order to do business.
The saleswoInen in large establish
inents ere proyilei with buttons aud
every customer who ala not wear
button was reminded that one was nee
cssary to make purchases
The streets soon glistenel with the
white celluloids, and the bearer OF the
dinner pail ana the occupant OF the
brougham were equal IN this-they
owned stock in convention nan ana
wore buttons 10 prove It.
BY this and many other schemes the
money was raised and the hall built.
on the night Of Feb. y, 1889, u was
opened. Fully 10000 stockholders In
the han heard the first crash Of Sousa's
band from the giant sounding board IN
the north end OF the hall. When the
coocert was ended, the chairs ana can
vas covering were removed from the
arena floor IN "A minutes. and 1000
couples danced far into the early morn
ing 10 sousa's inspiriting music. Ihus
In eight months after the inception OF
Tho idpa the hall was built by the peo-
NE Of Kansas city and In use by them
Their struggle 20 build something that
would be an ornament and an advan-
taee TO the city, a monument mat
would give the town a good name ana
"A vide fame. was indeed crowned with
success. ... r,
me first hall cost &25o,00O, The
building fronted 200 feet on Thirteenth
street and si4 feet on Central street.
n WAS constructed OF natural stone,
cream brick and terra Gotta. The first
story was Of stone IN the styie or we
renaissance. The second Story was IA
perlstyle forTa, Of brick and terra co'la'