The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-05-01
THE pEwEY BALL.
Two Thousand Chicago Citizens and
Guests Present.


Chicago, May Never in the history
of the great auditorium has there been
within it's walls sight more beautiful
than that revealed last night when the
great ball given in honor of Admiral
Dewey was at it's height.
It was a decided success from first to
last in all details from the decorations
on the walls to the reception proper.
There were present, perhaps, somewhat
too many people to allow of all dancing
in comfort, but when the dance program
proper was fairly under way, the older
people sought the boxes and the spac-
iouS foyer, leaving the floor to the
younger people who used it until day
break. Fully two thousand persons
We're present.
It being a naval ball, the predominant
ing decorations were of white and green.
A canopy was drawn over the hall
making it resemble a huge Whitecapped
wave, the deep green at the bottom
shading softly into the purest white at
the topmOst edge. At intervals around
the tiers of boxes were placed white
galleOnS, which seemingly started from
the mist of bunting and delicate hued
electric lights, which concealed them a
few feet from the prov where dOlphinS
rose from the imaginary sea below.
Above each galleOn rose towering
mast bearing in relief a lions head, and
huttering with the signal s1ags of the
navy. Behind the figurehead of each
EalieOn stood a Sa1lUT-a veteran OF the
Spanish-American War-WhO saw active
service in the Caribbean sea. Until af-
ter the admiral left the hall these men
stood steadily peering out over the PROV
of the fanciful and beautiful ships.
Festoons of electric lights marked alter
nately by yellow lanterns and japanese
lanterns of many shades, hung from top
to top of the great white maStS extend
ing around the hall On the right and
the left of what is usually the stage
of the great theater We're erected plat
forms of honor upon the first of which
the admiral and Mrs Dewey were seat
ed, within hand-shaking distance of
those upon the dancing floor Upon the
second platform were seated Mayor and
Mrs. Harrison.
At o'clock the patronesses and man.
| ayers of the ball, who formed the recep-
tiOn committee, entered the ball room.
At the right of the line as it formed to
| receive the guests, stood Mayor Harri-
! son, then followed a long line of man
ayers and patroneSSes. When Admiral
! and Mrs. Dewey entered they were fol-
| lowed by a throng Of less distinguished
/ guests Immediately behind the admiral
/ came with their wives, the naval off,
/ GERS on duty in Chicago, and the officers
/ of the United States ship Michigan. Be
/ hind the navy came the army, headed
( by Major General James F. Wade and
| Mrs. Wade, officers of General Wade 8
staff, with their wives and officers of
! the garrison at Fort Sheridan and their
/ wives. Officers of the revenue service
/ followed and behind them came officers
| of the Illinois national guard, closing
! the procession of the city's guests.
The admiral and Mrs. Dewey after
they had exchanged greetings with the
! members of the reception committee,
took their stand at Mayor Harrison s
| right and to them were presented the
guests of the city VINO had followed
them into the hall. Then came in long
! lines the guests of the ball, all who de-
| sired being afforded an opportunity of
| greeting the admiral and his wife. There
was no grand march, the admiraIs party
| retiring to his box when the line of
guests had passed and the orchestra
striking up Beethoven's two step THE
Dragons, the floor was surrendered to
the dancers.
At midnight, the admiral and Mrs.
Dewey left the hall for a luncheon in
their honor given in an adjoining room
by Hobart c. Chatfield-Taylor and then
after returning to the ball room for a
brief interval he and his party retired.