Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1913-07-24
ARMORY FILLED TO LIMIT
SOLDIERS and CIVILIANS DANG
ED TO MUSIC OF sIMl-
SONS ORCHESTRA
The OPTIC IS PLEASED
THIS PAPER HAS NEVER BEFORE
BEEN HOST AT so ENJOY
ABLE A FUNCTION

The Optic blushingly admits that
the third military ball, given last
night at the armory in honor of the
members Of the First regiment, New
Mexico National Guard, was the most
successful affair of its kind that ever
occurred in Las Vegas, This paper,
being the host, naturally feels elated
at the outcome of the junction, but
it does not take to itself the major
share of the credit. 1t was the hearty
, cooperation and good spirit shown by
! the people Of Greater Las Vegas that
made the dance the tremendous sue
cess it was and furnished the soldier
boys with good time tnat they VIII
remember for many years.
It is almost impossible to estimate
the size Of the crowd. There were
hundreds Of dancers and hundreds
Of spectators. The floor was packed
with two-steppers, walters and rag
gers of all descriptions, while the gal
leries were overflowing with persons
listening to the music and watching
the dancers. Under tne uring spell
Of the excellent music furnished by
the simison orchestra, many of the
onlookers decided they would be
Obliged to dance at least one number
or wear out their shoes Deating time.
once having gone on the floor many
Of them felt a strong inclination to
dance the remainder of the program
an inclination which they apparently
4 lid not resist.
Everybody united to help the sol
diers enjoy themselves. Under exist
ing conditions, because Of the size
Of the crowd, it was impossible to
arrange for systematic introductions'
Accordingly everybody made the best
Of the situation. The olive drab uni
form was a badge Of introduction
and the Las Vegas girls and women
obligingly danced with the soldiers
without the usual foTmalities. It was
this friendly spirit that made the
dance success. The Las VEGAS
Young men behaved excellently, TOO
and there were no visible cases Of
jealousy because q soldier happened
to have the waltz or two-step thai
HE wanted.
The soldiers proved to be the mos
yentlemanly crowd Of visitors tha'
has ever attended public function
here They showed that the Flrs
regiment is composed Of representa-
tives Of the best homes in the state
The optic spared no trouble :
make the dance enjoyable. The floo.
was IN excellent condition and tn
s;mison orchestra had provided un
usnallv good music, practically tn
antira program being made up Of tn
newest popular pieces. Deliclou
nuncb was served during the even
ing while attendants checked tn
,rrans Of the dancers. The hall wa
nrettfIy decorated in patriotic color
and presented a beautiful scene whe
filled with an animated, happy an
vel dressed throng. The soldier
! IN their service uniforms, we're a
! added touch to the color schem
Beautiful souvenir programs wei
given to the dancers.
Before the dance began the Create
las Vegas band, through the cour
esy Of Manager F. o. Blood and =
rector Robert Kasper, played co,
certs in several parts Of the cit
The band was carried from one pla'
A to another BY the street cars, Ma
y ager southard having kindly consen
2 ed to see that the musicians wei
'e transferred in body without dela
o After the dance was over, Whit
n was / o'clock this morning, the sire
ie car service was maintained until =
Al crowd had been carried home.
g. It was in 1903 that The Optic ga