Las Vegas optic. (East Las Vegas, N.M.) 1908-1921, 1914-02-24
COSTUMES ARE EXCELLENT
MANY ARE DECIDEDLY REAuTl-
FUL AND MOST ORIGINAL
IN DESIGN
TANGO And RAG CONTEST
THIS FEATURE FURNISHED
GREAT AMUSEMENT FOR THE
oNLooKERs

In attendance Of both maskers and
spectators and in enjoyability, the
thirty-second annual Washington's
Birthday masquerade ball Of the p
Romero Hose and Fire company,
which was given last night in the
Duncan opera house, eclipsed the 81
preceding events. One hundred and
seventy-five persons were on the floor
en- masque. The costumes, while many
Of them were repetitions of those seen
in former years, we're more diversi-
fed and original than usual. Some OF
them we're works of art and ingen-
uity, and the judges mad some diff
Guilty in making their selections Of
the winners.
The opera house was beautifully
decorated for the occasion. The prin-
cipa1 feature was the presence OF the
fire company's handsome team in dec
GRATED stalls on the stage. The horses
were surrounded by red lights, and,
with their alert air and evident IN
terest in the proceedings, presented 3
handsome appearance. The decora-
sisss consisted Of greenery and paper
bells, placed about the edges Of the
gallery and at other advantageous
points
The doors Of the house were opened
at 7:15 o'clock and by 1880 every seat
downstairs was occupied by specta-
tors. The galleries soon filled, and
people stood in the aisles and at ev-
cry point where standing room could
be obtained.
The Arrival Of the maskers began
early, and each was greeted by ap-
plause. Some Of the characters were
well acted, notably the washerwoman,
the hobo, the blind man, the policeman,
the tailors' models and the summer
girl. X. B. Riley, who took this latter
part had nearly everybody in the au-
dience trying to decide whether he
was man or woman He wore no
mask, but showed an ability to put on
just sufficient makeup that made ev-
cry woman in the house jealous.
The music furnished by the Simi-
son and Cook orchestras, was excel
lent.
When the maskers had ceased com
ing the king and queen were crown
ed. They presided with great dignity,
and occasionally joined their subjects
in a royal rag.
An interesting feature Of the dance
was the ragging and tanguing contest
T,his Was entered into with zest by
the dancers who were keen to win
the prizes and also to show their abil-
ity. Some Of the experts present in
the audience said the tango had lit,
tie too much of the nature OF a rag,
but the steps executed we're SO well
done that the dancers made a decided
hit. The winners, it is understood,
won the prize by their clever execu-
ton Of the "double-dip."
Much credit is due to the firemen
for the excellent way in which they
conducted the dance. The crowd was
shown a good time, and the immense
nunaber present was handled nicely.
The firemen showed their solicitation
for the safety Of the crowd by care
fully guarding against fire or panic
one masker who appeared on the
floor with lighted candles upon her
costume was required to have them
extinguished. without detracting from
the beauty Of this young lady's cos
tune, which was a prize winner, The
Optic would like to remind her that
she took d desperate chance when she
appeared with lighted candles, both
for herself and the people IN the au-
aience and On the dance floor The
dremen did exactly right in having
the candles extinguished
The firemen are greatly pleased