The San Francisco call., 1909-10-22
CLASSES MINGLE
IN MAD RFVFLRY
MirthfuI Dancers CARRIED ia
Every Conceivable Fashion
ThrOng Auditorium
King Gaspar and Queen VergIlla
Lead Maskers Through
Fantastic Maze

life and Dedtl III q iteiu Ne1SS f
with each other at the great Portola
masquerade at the Auditorium last
night and Life won. He was clothed
in the somber black of his profession;
she in flaming red with a crown of
stars. In and among the gay throng
they whirled, over the floor, round ana
round. and back again. Lightly she
tripped. seeming to gather gayety from
The air with every step. slower and
more 81 -wer his feet faltered over the
glossy surface until. exhausted he
sank in chair.
II was a night dedicated to the JOY
Of life. Comedy was king, and his
subjects were only too willing TO do his
bidding. with light hearts they pledged
his health and vowed that no rule
should be as merry as his
NEW WONDERLAND THIS
subjects they were, strange and gro
4esoue. but All with single aim How
deliehted Alice would have been couia
size have found her way into TINS ne"
wonderland She would have seen
sights as odd as those in the enchahtea
garden. She might have seen Prlsclila'
thar model Of womanly virtue pranclng
t1~onef fte most lively of dances with
1be very devil himself as her partner
She would. have seen d fully rlSSed
ba++Iesbfn skid about the north poie
as though there never were lump .,
ice in the polar sea But stranger ST.
she could have seen north poles ehoas"
TO satisfy the ambition OF hait "a sbe
drAd Cooks or Pearys. Also Wotlu ~,
have beheld a most amiabie beAt "ieh
decided inclination toward pIoi,lis- JIM.
c,lous hugging Nor did tp5 h,aluens
scream or take fright at hs emu 80
Alice might have thousht II SOME
what odd when Happy 1ooiis an ~
vfted Queen Elizabeth = oahce' - out ellS
good queen remembe'ed tlat It Mas
por+ola night and si'e Whlsked away
.4-s,.sf with Hooa gan as though he
had been Lord LEICESTER himself A
dignified college professor. with cap
and gown and whitened hair. had the
time Of his life with as chic a ballet
girl as ever tossed her toes
CARE SET AT NAUGHT
So the evening went. All was gay
and carefree and the set rules of sci
ence. history and geography counted
for naught 4 lighthouse decked with
the gayest colors and flashing her eyes
in the most bewildering hues tired of
her aquatic vigil and capered about
with toreador. A farmer waltzed
with a sheaf ow wheat, and q sailor
paid court to the goddess of fruits.
1t was a happy night for san Fran
cisco, happy night for her people.
They gathered by thousands at the vast
auditorium at Page and Fillmore
streets. there to greet Don Gaspar him
self and Queen Vergilia-
For the royal couple a sresplendent
throne had been provided. It occupied
Of he. -f6 10 ~
the big hall. Its white steps reflected
the brilliant glow that came from the
myriad Of lights with which it was
studded 1t was a royal occasion, A
time for the people who have suffered
disaster TO rejoice in their rejuvena-
tion. It was the expression of San
Franciscos spirit calling out anew to
the world that its heart pulsated as of
old, with the same joy with the same
riotous eXultatiOn.
The large hall was draped most ar
tisucally with streamers of red and
yellow. Large clusters of American
f1ogs adorned the balconies while the
sides Of the Auditorium reflected pic
torfally the historic events and natural
scenery Of the state The balconies had
been reserved by private parties who
did not join the dance. Many society
gatherings graced the occasion In the
lower floor chairs Aad been ranged
about for the dancerssand their friends.
All was in readiness at $50 o'clock and
al that hour thousands crowded about
the entrance TO the hall. A Gordon of
police sifted the revelers. allowing
those with the masks to enter first
Then the unmasked ticket holders were
allowed to enter.
FLOOR MAZE OF COLOR
Surrounded by 20 assistants. Edgar
Miner, the floor manager. received the
throng as it poured through the doors
Soon the floor was a maze of color of
Kaleidoscope effect. Miner and his
floor committee were garbed in long
robes f red and yellow They distrib-
uted themselves about the hall. welcom-
ing all who entered. In a few moments
every conceivable character of history,
mythology or fancy had come. It was
as though they had been waited by
magic from the ancient vistas of his
tory. from the realm of the fieecy
clouds or the golden oelds of the set
ting sun to honor San Francisco, TO
marvel at her glory to join with her
in reyelry unrestrained, then to seek
again their distant abodes.
The king and queen entered the hall
at 1913 They were greeted at the
door by Edgar Miner, the floor man
sger, and Charles de Young, the master
of ceremonies. Escorted by the-speciaI
across the Auditorium to the throne
Then the masqueraders passed in gay
procession and paid court. Stepping
from the dais. Don Gaspar and Queen
Vergilia led the grand march. Across
the hall they went, cheered as they
proceeded. and then twice around AS
they reached the further end the line Of
promenaders divided and the ropal
couple passed through the center, again
mounting the. throne. IT was an i'm
posing spectacle, the motley assemblage
gathering round again to pay court
SPIRIT OF FESTIVAL RIPE
The dancing. which began at 3
o'clock, began leisureIy at first, and
then as the spirits of the revelers rose
1t grew into a brilliant carnival fete
There was no period of history nor
country on earth that did not contrib
ute to the throng.
From Spain came a legion. Cavaliers
there were without end, toreadors
enough to stampede herd of bulls,
sweet guitar girls and f1irtatious
senoritas with saucy skirts that ceased
with the knee. They gave flash of
carnival color TO the scene; the cava-
lfers with the capes OF black and gold,
the hats of red and the sashes OF yell
low; then toreadors with the costumes
Of the opera Carmen. A picturesque
feature was group of Portola girls.
some 10 in ALL wearing the high peaked
Mexican hats. the bodice of scarlet, the