The St. Louis Republic., 1902-02-02
Napoleon Leads Grand March at
LicdcrkranZ, With COlum-
bia for Partner.
WITNESSED BY FAIR OFFICIALS.
Maskers in Quaint Costumes Make
a Picturesque Sight-Tableaux
Represent Signing of Louisi-
ana Purchase Papers.

The stalwart and stately figures of the
American soldiers and statesmen who won
American independence. danes cavaliers
and officers of the Court of France during
the Empire, 100 years ago. mingled to-
Gether last night upon the ballroom floor
at Liederkr;inz Hall. the occasion being the
annual mask ball of the Lederkranz as
sociation.
For five hours the present was forgotten
and the ballroom almost presented a rein
carnation OF the time of the Great Ma
poleon, when the Louisiana Purchase deeds
were signed. The decorations. the cos
tuning throughout and tab!eaux which
were presented were calculated to help the
Illusion so that the unlooker would feel that
somehow the calendar had slipped back a
Hundred years. and that before him were
the actors in those historical events which
made possible the Louisiana Purchase.
Invitations had been extended to all Of
the Worlds Fair Directorate. and many
were present. The ball had been arranged
in their honor and in honor OF the ami
yersary which the directorate IS work.
ing to fttingIy celebrate by an interna-
tonal exposition.
Napoleon and Columbia There.
Not q famous character Oh the stage OF
American or French life a century ago had
been forgotten. All were represented. Ma
poleon with his triangular hat. his white
silk vestments. coat of blue. and trailing
sword. was there. Thomas jefferson. tho
second President of the United States, VINO
negotiated the Purchase, was there. CO.
lumbia also. the gem of the ocean. Goddess
of American Liberty. impersonated by Mrs.
George Diederich. marched with Napoleon
in the grand march, and was Inc central
figure OF the ball.
The tableaux were carefully arranged TO
embody much OF history was possible,
and to portray at once the gala court OF
France. and the sober. steady American
life. There were three. The first repre-
sented the signing of the Purchase though
it was found impossible to adhere strictly
TO history III forming this picture, as neither
Napoleon nor Jefferson was present when
the final signatures were affixed to the deed.
In the mIddie of the sage was table.
upon which were strewn documents. On
side were jefferson and his American
soldiers and advisers. On the other yide
stood Napoleon. beside him Talleyrand, and
back OF them marshals. Generals and cuur-
tiers OF France.
Tabieaux of Historic Events. +,
The second tabieau pictured Napoleon
ana Jefferson shaking hands amicably after
the settlement ha0 been arranged, and the
last Of the pictures was intended to por-
tray and contrast the types OF American
and French ladies and gentlemen In this
past age; The stage was divided On the
one hand were the French characters, re-
spiendeht In silks and satins. the women in
gorgeous brocaded gowns. and the men In
siken vestments. decorated with gilt and
geld. silver slipper buckles, and wearing in
golden scabbard the curved rapier of the
day. On the other hand were the Ameri-
cans. In the center, upraised over all. stood
the figure OF Columbia. waving the Ameri-
nag As the banner was unfolded tine
orchestra struck up THE Star Spangled
Banner" and wave of patriotism tnrIned
all on the floor and in the galleries. and
cheer after cheer WAS sounded.
As the curtain closed upon the last Of the
tabeaux the strains OF The Stars and
St~ipeS Forever" were attuned from palm
bowers, behind which were hid the musi-
clans Then the curtain was again raised.
and all who had been the actors In the pic
ture-play marched down into the center OF
the ballroom.
When this procession had filed out into
the ballroom. 200 other maskers-and few
who We're unmasked, including Worlds I,
Fair Directors Mayor RolIa Wells and Po-
lice Commissioner Harry Il. Hawes-joined |
IN behind. Round and round the ballroom !
trail characters of the tableaux. many score
more were added.
For this regal occasion the ballroom Of the |
Liederkranz had been practically recon- |
structed. and every arch. every recess. the |
stage. and chandeliers had been bedecked /
with greenery and bunting. Along the edge J
of the large chamber had been built an airy |
me me- OF pillars, and at either side Of the |
quarter-circle. high platforms for the |
musicians. The pillars were gilded at their |
tops, while their bodies. and the entire sur |
race of all else In the ballroom had been |
swathed in white cloth SO that the whoie
seemed like white marble.
over each door and window opening on /
three sides OF the hall, were blazoned in red |
letters the names of the respective States |
OF the Louisiana Purchase. Over the en-,
trance !, in golden letters were the words |
Worlds Fair. 1903," and directly opnosite
swinging down from the highest noipt in
the stage opening, was a mammoth letter
IN" in silver gliding, signifyins Napoleon.
Those Who Were in Costume.
Ihose who partook in the tableaux and
were as follows: Napoleon, Carl Schroeier:
Monsieur de Talleyrand. f. Noble: Mon,
sieur s de Bari Marbois. O.. Mathi: Monsieur
Merter nenfrlenne Tbaodors Ed bueehe! Monsieur e
Brun. Doctor Zimmerman; Marshal Murat
:; r. N: sedel: Marshal Ney: Ed Wagner. Sr.:
Jeuront ars1ai DdEyoHst E,:,. b Fisinger: Marshal
IAN u s: Wittler: Marshal Lefebvre, Ernst
Rei1ma ReiI1tansteller; M Marshal Massena williIm
enstelier MaTsna, Marsb.1 bernadotte George Hsf
Madame, de Stael, Mrs. julius ReInholdt:
MI Madame de Nourrienne. Mrs. Ella Fuchs:
Hnpmas Rl,pr ar! Jefferson G.a Emil Tolkatz: Aaron
fer: James Monroe. E. Wagner, Jr.; John
Marshall. Doctor Furth; Alexander Ham ]
1''VT W,nnnIs miiiam 1osn stamm; James Madison, F
Schroeder; General Harrison. Phil Medart;
General winchester. Caspar Koehler; Gen.
eral , Hampton, F. Diederich; General Scott.
ert Skinsld: General Dearborn, E. Heisen-
stettler. sr.: General Chandler. Paul Thei-
sarten; gar, H., General Boyd, Charles schweick-
Stamm; Mrs. John Quincy Adams Mrs. u.