Daily Kennebec journal., 1903-02-20
A HAPPY EVENT.
Reception rendered to Cover
nor J. F. Hill of Maine,
His Staff, Executive Council and
Members of the Legislature
BY Citizens of Augusta, Last Evening,
Y stgcity Hall. u
ssss sssssg .s-sf&

anC most J0yIl ANTICIPATION Dy nun
dreds of people all oyefsthe State, az
the crowning event of season of such
social activity as has seldom been
known in Augusta, is a thing of the
pasta pleasant memory. The last
note of the last waltz has died away
among the branches of the fragrant fiji
trees from behind which the music
fiOated out to the dancers, upon the
floor, andnaught remains of all that gay
assemblage, except perchance, a stray
rosebud or a program carelessiy
dropped by some departing guest.
But though taps have been sound
ed, these happy hours which have yet
hardly left the present-for the past
will not be forgotten-they never are.
Turn back the pages of the book OF
memory but two short years and think
a bit, and there we have the same
scene, many of the same faces, and the
same best time of our lives" Why
without even stopping to look at the
old, worn dance order, which now has
we can almost tell with whom we
danced the first extra. Is it not so?
But to come back to the present re-
citizens of Augusta for many years, at
each legislative session, to tender to the
Governor staff and Council, with the
Senate and House. q reception and ball.
This event has always been the chief
social function of the winter, and COM
ing so near to the beginning of Lent,
really marks the conclusion of the win
ter's festivities.
These receptions have always been
noted for their brilliancy, and for the
pleasure which accompanied them, and
to those who have had the good for
tune to follow them from year to year,
it seems as if each succeeding one out
shone its fellows. But be that as it
may, the reception of 1903, to Gov.
'Tohn F. Hill, his staff, Council and the
list Legislature, was the most brilliant
social event which has been given in
Augusta for years.
1t could not have been otherwise. In
the first place the weather conditions
We're perfect, and everyone who de-
sired to attend could do so without the
slightest inconvenience whatever. Then,
the hall is well adapted to gatherings
of such a nature, and is well fitted with
the guests.
Did some one ask who was there? 1t
would be much easier to say who was
not there. 1t seemed as if SO many
people had never assembled at the City
building before. Every nook and crew
ice held its quota of humanity, and
everybody was there for one particular
purpose-to have Il good time, and to
help others do the same. 1t was a
typical Maine party, and assembled up
on the floor, and in the balconies We're
many of the abest men and the most
beautiful women, of whom the Pine
Tree State is justly proud. 1t is not
known just how many people were in
the hall, but to stand at enc side and
look upon them presented to the view
of the onlooker scene never to be for
gotten. The brilliantly illuminated
hail. the decorations, and the varied
costumes of the dancers, made a pic
ture to which no brush could do credit,
and with which the celebrated paint
ing, "The Hunt Ball." could not COM
pare.
City hall never looked more beautiful
than it did, last night. In past years,
ways been tastily decorated, and al
ways formed an appropriate setting for
the brilliant and animated picture upon
the floor and in the balconies, but this
year, by the introduction of wealth of
electrical effects, the committee in
charge have produced results such as
have heretofore been unknown, in the
decorative line, in the city.
That the decorations met the approval
and excited the admiration of the hun
dreds of people who came to pay their
respects to the States Chief Executive,
and to enjoy the pleasures of the occa-
sion, was attested by the many express
sions of delight which We're heard on
all sides during the evening, and it
certainly was a beautiful sight.
The broad floor of the hall was COW
cred with snowy canvas for dancing.
and made a pleasing contrast to the
natural wood in which the hall is fin
ished. Overhead there was q profusion
of many colored electric lights, bunting
and evergreen, producing an effect
which was brilliant and at the same
time il harmony The use of ever
green was rot so lavish as it was two
years ago. and by doing away to a
great extent with this material the
somewhat heavy effect of the decora-
tions was avoided. In it's place were
many festoons of different colored in
candescent lights, swung from the tops
of the rods which support the balcony
to the large chandeliers, and to the
sides of the proscenium arch.
Around the hall at the edge of the
ceiling were festoons of bunting in the
national colors, while between the rods
which suppprt the balcony swung fes-
toons of evergreen. The front of the
balcony wasuraped with rbunting;sand
at intervals were wreaths of evergreen.
Along the lower edge of the front of
the baleany- were. a. row.of ground glass
lights, the wires being wound in red
and white like the festoons overheaAz
The windows, ere'eastily drapedin Asd
and white. The stage was very pretty
with festoons of lights and bunting.
The arch was draDed with red, white
and blue bunting in the shape of rays,
while the back part of the stage was
concealed by artistically draped flags.
In front was a row of evergreen be-
hind which was posted the orchestra.
Long before the opening hour people
began to assemble in the balcony, and
by 8 o'clock about every seat in THAI