BALLROOM OF TO-DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 298, 12 September 1919, Page 4

BALLROOM OF TO-DAY

A SOLDIERS' DANCE. (Contributed.) "The British tako their pleasures sadly." Do they? Had the shade of the celebrity who said 60 been present at the Wanganui Garrison ball on Monday night he himself would have shouted "No!" Tho dingy old Drill Hall can hardly be said to have been "decorated," it was transformed. It had become a kind of joy forever, a threne of gladness, emphasised with bold and voluminous 6wceps of Gossmar-like architecture, hectic with happy colours. Beneath this superstructure, and surmounting a central pavilion of black, red, and gold, stood many times mnjmified the glittering Imperial crown. The beautiful bush of New Zealand, and the friendly trees sent contributions; stately palm and beautiful s fern advertised Nature's inimitable artistry, whilst, aganst the Tricolour wnmscotting stood pot plants, the only wallflowers. Many beautiful effects were given by limelight worked with discernment bv Messrs. Gaskin and Tooniah and tho electrician from the Tramways Dennrtment. The ballroom was pierced with two rays and flooded with an everchanging succession of brilliant hues—at one time showing the scarlet, khaki, and blue of the soldiers flashed invivid contrast to the frocks of the ladies; at another the impression of an assembly of pallid phosphorescent ghosts dancing amid a haze of violet nothingness. India was represented by two massive red, white, and blue punkas and a gentlemnn of that land. The other punka was swayed by a Dresden shepherdess, and a Pierrot (really B. Lovegroye and J. Byres, Senior Cadets). Such is the nerverseness of perception that none would believe that the gentleman of India really came from there, which he did, or that the shepherdess was not a "real girl," which he certainly is not. Among the many surprises may bo mentioned the episode during that breathless dance the "Irish Lnnepi"." when the lights for a second were blacked out and succeeded by rays of limelight, a snowstorm of confetti descended from the roof about the dancers, and hundreds of paper, streamers fluttered down, and entwined the dancers participating in the dance. The limelight effects turned the confetti into showers of colours from «nld to purple, and strewed the floor with their many shades.

The success of the. ball was. due to several sentiments and causes, one of which was the delightfully' helpful way in which everyone concerned assisted.

The effortfl of the electricians, under Mr. Talboys. were beyond praise, and the kindness and alacrity with which public bodies, departments, and private Tjeonlo lent flags and valuables, sneaks highly indeed for tho feeling between citizens and citizen soldiers. •The sinner room decorations were on a par with the remainder of the Hieroe, and-dis-played excellent taste of the Ladies' Committc. .The nttr;i)(lo r, " c > 'vis large. >nd the dresses pretty. The ball was historic as it marked an epoch, and repiarknlile i" that it was the first of its kind to be held in New Zealand.