The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-30
RICHMOND GRAYS' ARMORY
SCENE OF BRILLIANT BALL
Dress Parade oIarlss Formal Opening
of Handsome New Build
ing.
BATTALION IN NEW UNIFORMS
Medals Are Presented to Rest Drilled
Mcn-Visitors Congratulate Major
Lawrence II. Price.

With one OF tho most brilliant mill
tary balls In tho history of the city,
the Richmond Grays' Battalion, FRS,
Virginia Infantry. last night celebrated
the formal opening OF its new armory.
The spacious building. at the corner
OF Seventh and Marshall Streets, was
thronsed with the thousands Of guests
many from distant cities, who ga tn
ercd to help the organization httingiy
dedicate its handsome homo.
Fully 5000 persons were present
when the steady tramp OF the APP
proaching companies was heard on the
stairways leading to the huge drrI!
hall. AS the battalion, company by
company filed into the room and took
position, the audience stood ann
chcered tho brave shaw by the boys
who again wear the gray.
The big drlll hall WAS appropriate-
~ decorated for the occasion, the huge
iron girders supporting the roof, ana
the walls being hidden beneath II mass
of bunting, in which the national col
ors predominatcd. The balconies were
lost beneath brilliant red and orange
draperN. while from every point, fcs-
toons and garlands. formed OF na=s
and bunting. helped to enliven the
scene.
Almost every man present was IN
full dress uniform or In conventional
evening clothes. The bright clothing
OF the military men, blended with the
handsome. gay gowns OF tho women,
were set OF by the sombro black or
the civilians. and when tho hundrccs
or couples swayc0 around IN the many
modern dances. the scene can only no
described rs n Kaleidoscope mass OF
color.
LOVING cur EOR
REST DftIIIJsD
The festivities opened with the fun
dress battalion drill, followed by the
presentation of silver loving cup 10
the most efficient company In the OUT
lit. The premium was offered by Mato,
Lawrence Il. Price, and the trophy. as
well as the honor OF being thus cho-
sen, feli to Company r. commanded by
Captain William \. Stack. The pre-
Sen,ation WAS made by Adjutant Gen
eral William Wilson Sale. after II few
appropriate remarks. The ceremony
cioEod with the awarding of six medals
to tie six best drilled men In the en-
tire organization.
The first prize was awarded to Ser
seant Gordon. OF Company B. while tho
next five best drilled men in order
were Sergeant Evans, Company T.: Pri
vatc iicwett, Company +: Private Roy
nolds. Company +; Sergeant Newell,
Company B. and Private j. Roscnthal.
OF Company T.
The reception followed the full
dress drill, Major and AIrs. Price he
ing assisted In welcoming the guests
by tho following: Adjutant- General
William Wilson Sale and Mrs. Sale,
Mayor George AinslIc and Mrs Ainslie,
Colonel w. j. Perry, of the First Vtr-
ginia Regiment, and Mrs. Perry; Col
oncl Robert +. Leedy, of tho Second
Virginia Regiment, and Mrs. I.ccdy;
Colonel l.. i. Goodwyn. of tho Fourth
Virginia Regiment. and Mrs Good
wyn: Lieutenant Colonel Junius T.
Lynch, surgeon-gcneral. Virginia Vol
untccrs, and Mrs. Lynch: Captain G. \.
Crawford. president OF tho First Vir-
ginia Regiment Association. and Mrs.
Crawford: james " Boyd and Mrs.
Boyd; Lieutenant Colonel 10 Lane
stern, assistant Inspector general; Mr..
ana Mra. Victor Williams. and Major
and Mrs. Lawrence r. Price.
y new era has been started by tho
Richmond Grays upon the entrance of
the battalion into it's new quarters.
For several years ii has been home
less, but at last the local contingent
of the "Old First" has come into its
own, and can boast of an armory un-
surpassed by any III the South. The
building was erected by the city at Il
cost of SI36000. and the site. equip
ment and structure represent an out
lay OF nearly $250.000
NEW UNIFORMS OF
CONFEDERATE; GRAY
Coincidcnt with tho occupancy OF tho
new building. the battalion has bios
somed forth in It's handsome new out
flts of Confederate gray, trimmed with
black and white. While quieter I'm tono
~----------- --,--.i- go,