New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-29
Doors Are Opened Early
to Accommodate Eager,
Waiting ThrOngs
BELGIAN VICTIMS
MARCH IN TATTERS
Pageant, Participated In
by Stage Stars, Is the
Evenings Feature

Nothing ever grew old so giddily as
Madison Square Garden. Despite the
fact that IL is fast tottering TO the auc-
ton block, last night it draped its de-
crcpit timbers in Indian tapestries and
gave itself over TO one OF the most gor-
geous even ngs Of its career.
Dancing in the Rajah's palace was
the way the programme explained the
festival, which began with parade OF
the beauties Of the ten Allied nations.
They were led by Ben Ali Haggin, the
rajah. ali in glittering silver and jew
els. on black horse, and Mrs. Ben Ali
Haggin. the rance, IN silver and net
embroidered with mother.of pearl. she
had to be carried in d paianquin. Be-
hind her trooped Rosranara and her
dancers.
A ripple Of applause swept over the
house. The audience was merely
amused and pleased by the Oriental
glitter. When Lady Colebrook ap-
peared. robed as Britannia, however
the applause deepened. Then Elsie
Janis, as ireland, stirred up the crowd
still more. and when John Drew ied
sixty members Of the Lambs Club into
the arena. attired and ACQUIRED as
British Tommies, brown legs swinging
in unison and the red flag Of England
futtering above them, men and women
stood and cheered.
And then a strange and impressive
thing occurred. The band slipped from
the Tilt Of "Tipperary" into a dirge' ana
far down at the end of the arena APP
peared a gentle dignided figure IN the
black of a Sister Of Mercy
Women and Children Follow
Behind her trooped a score or more
Of women and children. Their cloth
ing was tattered, their faces were pale.
some limped as they followed the gen
tie fgure of the nun around the arena.
The nun was Ethel Barrymore, the
women and children represented those
who had fallen beneath the iron snod
heel Of a merciless nation. Inc nag
which was borne before them was the
banner of Belgium.
There was little applause and no
cheering now, but from arena boxes 10
roof the garden was filed with great,
thrilling rumblc-the sound OF thou
sands Of persons rising TO their feet;
Twice the sad little procession passed
around the oval, and all this time the
audience stood, silent, respecttui, sor-
rowful, paying its reverence TO sunes-
Brisker music heralded the entry OF
the Canadian Red Cross nurses, led by
Mrs. Charles Greenough. Among the
trinity clad young women who followed
in her train were Miss Marion TIFFANY,
Miss Helen Mildred Riyes, Mrs. Gou-
verneur Morris, the Misses Dorothy and
Violet King, Miss Gwendolen King MRS.
Sibvl Frisbee and Miss Dorothy Browne.
Then Comes America
At the end came america Mrs:
Charles Dana Gibson. The sight Of
her. carrying a flaming torch ana
draped in the Stars ana stripes,
brought the crowd TO its feet, WINE
Miss Anna Fitziu. Of the Metropolitan
Opera Company, led IN singing ne
Siar-Spangled Banner .4
The ball WAS arranged by JOINT
committee of representatives OF twenty
relief agencies for the Allied nations
and the proceeds will be DIVIDED
among them. y was impossible 70
estimate the amount that would pc
realized. but the receipts are believed
10 have been unprecedented. Boxes
sold for $500 and single tickets OF
admission which meant seats IN the
gloomy galleries were eagerly snappeu
up at IS. % the
pageant was: ~.
,.a;.- Pen Ali Haggin. leader; Mrs
l. i"'''"