The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-01-06
BRILLIANT CHINESE FETE
GIVEN BY THE STRIKERS


will be the account of the Strikers
ball which took place in Mobile last
Friday evening, as the personnel Of the
society and its reception committee
on this occasion are well-known here,
not only in social but also in business
associations.
1t was the 18th anniversary of the
Strikers, and these mystics took a
journey to the Orient where they en-
joyed a beautiful Chinese fete.
The wonderful possibilities Of
Chinese ball was told in the elaborate
and beautiful decorations of the Battle
House auditorium and in the rich
oriental costumes of the maskers. The
guests entering the ball room found
the curtain drawn on the stage and
mystic air prevailing as If some i'm
portant happening would soon engage
their attention. Two Cinnamon wan
dering in their own country and lost,
finally came upon the fete being Civ
en- by foreigners. They then and there
proposed to these foreign hosts that
they would give a festival of their
own, showing how such a celebration
should be carried through to a sue
cessful finish. They made their prayer
to Buddha for his assistance, that
help would be given them and the
Mandarins furnished to give their
fete and dress their guests for such
an event. These two Cinnamon came
from the back of the auditorium which
was all in darkness and proceeding
through the ball room to the stage
steps they stopped and knelt there.
the curtains slowly parting and the
golden Buddha to whom they prayed,
answered their prayers and imme-
diately the place was flooded with
light. From each side came the Man
darins, four abreast and down the
stage steps lining up on each side of
the ball room; then there appeared in
their midst the Viceroy of China, who
coming down from the stage sought in
the vast throng of guests the most
beauteous young maid on whom to
bestow the honor of opening the Won
derful fete. His quest soon ended in
his choice of Miss Belle Gilbert, who
caught his eye and held it, as she. was
very lovely in her dress of white tulle
made over silver cloth with it's flesh
satin foundation. The tulle was en-
broidered in sequins and rose tulle
sash with a long stemmed rose caught
in 1t, hung gracefully in the back. In
of long stemmed red roses tied with
green silver cloth ribbon, which
matched the rich tones of the vice.
roy's costume. who had chosen her to
lead the grand march with him and
open the ball.
The fete garden was typical of
China, a trellis with climbing vines
having been built up on both sides of
the auditorium and the bright Chinese
lanterns and banners hanging in
among the green vines. completing the
effect. Overhead were swung five
huge Chinese umbrellas and lanterns
were suspended from each one. The
background of the stage was a most
gorgeous antique hanging, loaned by
a native Chinaman of New York, and
of rich crimson silk, heavily embroid-
cred in gold, it formed a rich and
Oriental background for the altar on
which the golden image of Buddha
reposed. The stage with it's climbing
vines and the Chinese blossoms of red
and yellow peeping out from the leafy
foliage 1.-THE banners of beautiful
Oriental design forming the panels,
intersperSed in the midst of the other
stage decorations OF the rich crimsons
and gold, called forth many admiring
comments from the guests, upon the
success of the Strikers beautiful Chin
csc fete.
The reception committee with Mr..
George b. Rogers as chairman and
Mr.. Tom Boone, Jr., Mr.. J. G. Bush,
Jr, Mr.. III. III. Clarke, Mr.. o. E. Caw-
thon, Mr.. III. B. Gayfer, Mr.. James
x. Glennon, Mr.. Charles A. Hall. Mr..
L. f. Irwin, Mr.. A. S. Lyons, Mr.. F.
E. Overall, Mr.. H. Pillans, Mr. H, H.
Patterson, Mr.. Joseph C. Rich, Mr.. T.
M. Stevens and Mr.. R. ". Taylor. as
sisted the rest of the society, who
were in mask, in entertaining their
guests. The presentation of their SOU
venir pins which were enameled in
the d1frerent colors and represented
mandarin with the societys emblem
and date of their 18th anniversary.
was quite feature of the evening to
those who received them and carried
them away as treasures of the man
darin's favor.
Drago's full band furnished the
dance music and between internis-
sions the guests were refreshed with
delicious punch. At midnight when
the whistles began to announce the
departure of the old year, 1920. which
had blazed out brightly during the
earlier hours of the evening, began tn
grow dim, and when the clock struck
IL, all united in singing Aud Lang
Syne," according to the Strikers Gus
tom, and then 1921, the New Year.
shone out in undimmed brilliancy, and
the guests danced the New Year in i, +
the Strikers beautiful Chinese fete