Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-23
AT CITY HALL.
Reception to Governor,
Council and Legislature.
BY Citizens Of Augusta Grand
Social Affair of Season.
immense Gathering, Handsome Gowns
and a Grand Good Time.

Wednesday evening. Feb. % 1905
Was one that Will long be remembered
in Augusta ana by the hundreds Of peo-
pie from all over the State who " ere
in the city 1T that time. because of the
fact that il WAS The date Of the crown
ing social event Of the Legislative Win
ter ANA because, also, the event was
one Of the very best of good times that
have been enjoyed in the city for many
years.
The event was the reception rendered
by the citizens OF Augusta to His tx
tciltncE, Governor VIM. Il. cobb. the
stan. the Executive Council. and the
members OF The I'D Legislature. 1t has
been the '.nStom of the citizens Of the
'"lItal city for many years. To tender
| tEcSe receptions to the States Chief
executive ana the approach Of each
legislative winter is antivipated with
feelings Of slndness. because of the
great event ana its attendant pleasure
Many of the receptions which have.
been given before have been most sue
tcssfully carried out. but in none OF
item We've the details more carefully
! looked after, nor were any of them of
:" NOR" bfliIi''ht nature and AT the same
time, productive of more pleasure. 1t
was indeed. the opinion Of many ,.ho
We're present. that the reception. last
evening. WAS the most successful in
every respect Of any that had Vet been
3iven.
-And ii WAS not strange that it vas SO
~ the committees who have had
| Charge of the preparations for the re-
ccption from Year to year. have be
| come so IccuSt omed To tile work that
| hey lave got the carrying out of the
details reduced to Il nicely that could
b" productive Of nothing but success.
Espe' tally WAS this noticed last even
in%. upon entering the hall. City hail
is of itself very pretty and has in the
past been decorated for similar occa-
SionS in Way that was productive of
| beautiful results. but il was the con
| census OF opinion on the part of many
| NlO We've present. last evening, that
| the decorations We're Just Il little more
| beautiful than those of previous years
The decorating of the hall. this year,
WAS in charge of Col. i. ". Soule. the
work being done by Joseph Hubert and
Albert Pratt of Col. Soule's estublish-
ment. and certainly the young men are
| deserving of the many congratulations
which they have received. for their
display of good taste. and the results
| achieved by them. Had the decorations
been the work OF professionals they
| might have feen more elaborate but
they would hardly have served their
p;IrroSe any better. or given better
| satisfaction.
| the canopy which had been erected
| over the sidewalk at the entrance Of
| the building, showed the excellent
| taste which characterized the decora-
tons throughout. The wide staircase
| leading from the landing above the en-
| trance to the building was Hastily
| draped with the nation; colors. in
| Bunting, which produced an effect
which was most pleasing. but on enter
| ing the hall itself was when the be-
holder WAS afforded an opportunity of
viewing the work of decOra ton in its
splendid entirety.
The interior of the hall was one grand
| picture, a symposium of the colors
which every true American loves, the
| red. the white and the blue of our nag.
| interviewer with the evergreen of the
Maine hills and the whole rendered
| Gorgeous by myrads of electric lights
which twinkled among the evergreen
| like stars. The decorations of the stage
were, perhaps, the most striking fea-
| ture of the whole.
This Dart of the work was done in
evergreen, which was suspended in
graceful feStOOnS from the prOcenium
arch and conveyed to the behOlder the
effect Of 4 nortiere. The effect was en-
HANGED by the presence of many col
| ored electric lam,.s which We're inter-
| tn front of The stage WAS row OF
small evergreen trees, and behind all
and forming an appropriate back
ground WAS Il large American flag.
The decorations of the remainder of
the hall w"s done largely in bunting,
though enough evergreen WAS used to
give lust the proper effect. Around the
front of the stage and along the fact of
the balcony, upon backgl Ound or
white was Il single festoon of bunting
enlIyened with WreathS done in red.
and the windows of the hall were taste
fully draped with bunting. Overhead
the decorations were of bunting, grace
fully drlned and from the center of
the ceiling were corded feStOonS of red
and white, bearing colored electric
lamrs. Over 500 of these lamps We're
used in the decorations and these, with
the large clusters of lights composing
the chandeliers, presented a spectacle
of great brilliancy.
People always go early to the Cover
nors reception, not those who go to
dance but those who go to watch the |
dancers, and by 80 the balconies |
about the three sides of the hall We're |
filled 10 their limits with eager. eX-
rectant humanity. Later. when the |
guests had all arrived, the hall was |
filed to that extent that it was diff |
cult to move from place to place. Nari- |
Gus estimates were made as to the |
number of people in the hall. but the |
one Ioint on which all agreed was that
it Was the largest gathering of people |
Yet seen at Governors reception in |
CITY hail.
The festivities ofth" evening opened |
with a concert by Dennis orchestra, |
from O'Clock until Q. Professor Dennis |
has furnished music for the Legislative |
recept;op for :, n,Iniber OF wears and |