The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-12-21
THEY ALL DANCED
Rock Island Engineers Ball at
Horton Was Enjoyable.
Elaborate Preparations Made
for the Annual Festivities.
NOT ON PROGRAMME.
Award of Prizes to HandsOmest
Wife Of Engineer.
Judges Have Difficulty in
Awarding the Trophy.
NOT ON PROGRAMME.

Horton, Kan, Dec. 21.=One Of the
finest and most enjoyable affairs in
the history of the organization and of
Horton as well, was the verdict of
everyone who had the privilege and
the pleasure Of being a guest last
night at the third annual ball given
by the members of division No s4e of
the Brotherhood Of Locomotive En-
gineers. There may have been a ball
or two in the annals of the town
which has had a larger attendance,
but there never was one at which a
better time was had
From the moment the grand march
started, and this was about O'Clock,
until the wee small hours of this
morning, the ball was just one con-
tinual round of gayety and pleasure.
Dance followed dance in rapid sue
.cession. Strenuous activity on the
part of the floor managers and other
committeeman resulted in everyone
becoming acquainted with everybody
else in a short time and when the
festivities were well under way, a
jollier crowd it would have been hard
to find.
Weather conditions could not have
been much worse.
Snow began falling along about z
o'clock in the evening, and it was not
long before a heavy storm had de-
veloped. There was easily a couple of
lnCn6S OF SHOW Oh WIlGu II
was time for the guest to gather. But
did this hinder anyone from coming?
It did not seem so. Engineers may
dread to see a heavy fall of snow
when they have to go out on the line,
but a storm evidently has no terrOr5
for them, their wives, daughters,
sweethearts and friends, when there is
a ball in prospect. By the time the
festivities started the opera house hall
where the ball was held, and 1t is no
small room, was filed with a. crowd
that was evidently bent on having
good time, and a right good time they
had The storm without seemed
rather to stimulate the merriment1
many of the prominent citizens of
Horton and there was a good sized
sprdnkling Of out of town folk.
And had not one OF them had an n
have been well repaid for their trudge
through the snow merely to see the
decorations in the hall. They were
UNIQUE in scheme and typical of the
craft of the men having the affair in
charge.
On entering the hall one was blind
ed for the moment with blaze of
glittering vari-colored lights. Hun
tlreds of railroad lanterns, with blue,
red. green and white shades swung IN
festoons from the center of the ceiling
to it's corners and the sides OF the
walls. interviewer with the lanterns
were streamers of red white and green
signal flags. Yards upon yards of red,
white and blue bunting and number
less flags were draped around the
walls. On one wall hung the large
red silk banner of the organization
and on the opposite wall, made OF
evergreens, were the letters 3. OF l..
E. Div. 346.
But probably the most interesting fea-
ture of the decorations was miniature
engine which had been built up ana
placed on the platform, where the or
chestra was stationed. This miniature
which was Of good size, was complete
in all of its details, even to lighted sig
nal lamps. On the head Of the cylinder
were the figures $40, the number Of the
order.
There were IS couples in the grand
march which was led by Miss Anna
Lacey and Mr.. John Hutchinson. At
the conclusion Of the march general
dancing followed and there was plenty
Eighteen dances and six extras were
on the programme, but this gives little
idea of the amount of dancing Which
was INDUCED in. When a dance was
concluded the dancers remained on the
floor and with insistent applause de-
rnanded an encore from the orchestra.
This orchestra, which was Nadeau s,
comprising eight pieces, and which FUR
nished exceptional music, was exceed
ingly generous and responded to every
encore asked, so in reality each dance
was a double one, OF 4S in all
But the most enjoyable features OF
the evening were not on the programmes;
They were impromptu. The ball had
not been under way very long when a
messenger arrived with a neat bundle
and a note from the Rock Island Drug
company. This note announced that
the bundle contained a Japanese baskeT
filed with bottles of perfumery, and
a hox of cigars which were to be
awarded to the best looking wife Of an
engineer and the best looking engineer:
Announcement of these unexpected
prizes were received with great ap-
plause and preparations were made at
once for their award. dancing was
stopped and a special grand march Tor
the engineers and their wives was ar
RANGED Only nine couples could be pre-
vailed upon to enter the contest. Mr..
o. G. Duff, DR.. ]. 0. Ward and Mr.. J.
I Dollfnson were designated as the
Judges. No one envied them their posi-
ton for handsome men and fair Wo-
men were the order of the evening
when the engineers and their wives
got the floor to themselves, and to pick
out the ones to whom the prizes shouid
go was no easy task. It took the judges
unite a while to reach a decision but
thev finally awarded the lady's prize to
Mrs Samuel jenkins. They seemed to
be unable to reach a decision as to who
was the best looking man but got out
Of their dilemma by ordering the box Of
cigars to be divided between Dan Hui
and J. w. McFee. The awards of the
Judges were received with favor
Dancing was stopped again later in
the evening while the ladies of the sister
society to the Brotherhood organized a
penny drill Partners were chosen for
this and it consisted OF sort OF fancy
march which was guided frequently to
a box and everyone participating was
called on to drop a cent or more in the
box. The money thus secured is to be
devoted to the charity fund Of the la
dies society. and there were several
substantial contributions from many
who did not take part in the drill.
An lntermission OF a half hour was
given at midnight for supper. No
Preparations had been made to serve
Refreshments at the hall, but a number
of supper parties were formed and visit