The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1900-02-23

FANCY BALL
Dienified Titles and Appropriate
Costumes.
State Institution's Growing Social
Event-Dancers and Guests Pres
ent to the Number of Several
Hundred-Pretty and Unique Co.'S
tunes in Great Variety.


again made memorable at the New
Jersey State Hospital at Morris Plains
by fancy dress ball. The severity
of the weather doubtless influenced
the attendance to large extent, as
did also the failure of the D., L. &
w. r. r. to run train from the sta
tion to the hospital as heretofore.
Nevertheless there were many guests
from Morristown and vicinity, and
the amusement hall, which is far too
small for the needs of the occasion,
was filled to its utmost
The hall was elaborately decorated
with the National colors and reminded
one of real revolutionary times.
Patriotism runs riot on this occasion.
The ball is given by the patients,
but is participated in by the medical
staff and officers of the institution.
There is long period of preparation
during which many unique and elabor-
ate costumes are produced. Patients
for several weeks previous to the 22nd
devote all their time to the maturing
of ideas and the transformation of
them into costumes. History is re-
peated in many details; but these de-
tails are often so thoroughly mixed
as to cause a start of alarm at the
familiarity of historical enemies. For
instance, France and England seemed
to have forgotten their differences of
100 years ago and joined arms in the
persons of Bonaparte and Fox One
is reminded of the land beyond the
Styx by the familiarity with which
Columbus and the Earl of Chatham
exchanged opinions on current topics.
Those who have pictured Dom Paul as
thick featured, sour -visaged, pipe
smoking old curmudgeon were sur
prised to see him appear handsome,
powerful looking modern German
statesman. Lord Kitchener may have
had some trouble in coming up with
General Joubert in South Africa, but
evidently their differences must have
been entirely political, for here they
met on tine most friendly terms. Even
old Mephistopheles himself lent his
presence to assure the occasion of a
good time.
Warden NJ. X. Everitt and Mrs.
Everitt impersonated George and
Lady Washington and received the
imaginary guests of the evening, and
a reception given by the real Father
of His Country could not have been
more formal and impressive.
The ball was opened at O'Clock
by grand march led by the Medical
Director, DR.. B. D. Evans and Mrs.
Evans in the characters of Napoleon
Bonaparte and Empress Josephine.
Then followed the members of the
medical staff and other officers with
their partners, generally assuming
characters of period century ago.
One was reminded of social life in
Philadelphia during the Revolution
after seeing Americans and English
men mingling in dances with no more
feeling than that of
thorough enjoyment of a good time.
the staff were the patients
and the attendants and employees in
costume, i'll all line of sixty couples
representing characters form the earli-
est Christian period to the present
time.
The march consisted of many in
tricate and very beautiful evolutions
in lines of twos, fours and eights and
was we'll performed. Great credit
is due the officers for the mas
terly drilling of so large a number
and so varied company. The figures
were successfully handled and pointed
to a long succession of tiresome drill
ing. Great credit is due to those who
have the responsibility for the success
Of the ball, and after it is over they
may take just pride in their own
efforts as dow in the possession of so
an institution. The mus ic
lnder the direction of Prof. George
Hiler was a pleasing feature of the
evening and aided materially in
making the event a success.
Following is list of the persons
md the characters impersonated in
he grand march:
DIR. B. D. Evans and Mrs. Evans as
Napoleon Bonaparte and Empress
DR.. Eliot Gorton and Mrs.
Forton as Lord North and Lady Hol-
and, DR.. Peter S. Mallon and Miss
)lds as Charles James Fox and Dolly |
Warden, DR. A. $. Corwin and Miss
Yates as Earl of Chatham and Lady
4renville, Mr. Corwin and Miss Kug-
er as Alexander Hamilton and |
Schuyler, Mr., j. M. Clark
md Miss Baker as D'Artagnan and
de Winters, MIR. Samuel |
Higgins and Miss Rittenhouse as Sir
Philip Sidney and Lady Montague.
Mr., A. S. Truck and Miss Fischer as
Lord Shelbourne and Janice Meredith, |
Mr.. Andrews and Mrs Post as
Espartero and Emil, Mr.,
Short and Miss Kelley as Captain John