The Ball That Shook Seattle: A Night of Masks, Money, and 'Transposed Sexes'

A GROTESQUE ASSEMBLAGE OF JOLLY MASKERS.

CHARACTERS SUSTAINED, PRIZES, ETC.

Despite the fact that the weather was damp and cold, last night, a large turn out welcomed the masquerade. No pains had been spared to make the hall comfortable, and a great variety of dresses was the consequence. Yet it was nearly half past nine o'clock when the music struck up for the grand entrance headed by a fireman with a Savoyard peasant girl on his arm. Next followed four frogs, blacked hats with mil eyes made out of egg-shells. A Harlequin walked arm-in-arm with the American flags, while his bulls from the Emerald Isle made at gun deal of fun.

A car HANDELING Cavorted about the hall and made no end of merriment by his antics with a young lady who personated 'Nan, the Good-for Nothing.' A roar of laughter went up from the [Tom] as the 'counterfeit presentment' of the venerable parson of the Brown Church appeared, with cane and market basket.

The scarcity of lady maskers was the great deficiency about this hall and vividly recalled the Olympia arrival, where the daughters and wives of the leading men of the Territory did not feel above lending their presence to an occasion of fun without vulgarity.

THE BEST DRESSED LADY. On the floor, beyond question, was Mrs. W. G. Jamieson, in a half-black and half-white attire. The best sustained character, however, in the opinion of the judges, was Miss Mollie Keith. Stanley George bore off the honors for the male prize as an intelligent contraband. The committee gave it as a unanimous vote that a special prize was due to Master George Spencer for his excellent personation of a Klootchman.

Miss McMillan, as the colored Calamity Jane, was excellent and kept up the interest. William Drewitt, as the female bootblack, was excellent.

THE GENTLEMEN. May be briefly classed by their dress as follows: H L Yeager .Rev D Bugle Frank Plummer .Jail Gnome L F Hastings .Emperor William S George .Intelligent Contraband J L Jenkins .Plantation Wench Ben Oshorn .Courtier L Diller .Jack o' Hearts G W Young .Centennial Cabin Boy Arthur Every .Sitting Bull J G Lipsky .Czar S F Owens .English Groom I S Thorndike .Brother Jonathan Lee Smith .Russian Bear W Piper .Tom Merry Mort McLaire .American Elio W G Jamieson .Mrs McGuin George Spencer .Klootchman F Naeher Harlequin Wall .Boss Your Floor Fred Young, W Young. D. C lehoru .The Tom Troos S Levy .J

LADY DRESSES. Mrs C P Terry .Don't Lean Mrs L McMillan .Bik Camilla Urso Mrs W G Jamieson .Fanny Mrs W Hening .Nehula Miss D Piper .Bavarian Peasant

In addition to these we may mention characters of transposed sexes, to-wit: Mrs Eaton .Alderman Mick W Drewitt .Female Boot-black

DRESS AND MANNERS. The prizes were a gentleman's set of studs, to Stanley George and a photograph album to Miss Mollie Keith. We believe that on occasions of this kind there should be two sets of prizes, for best dressed and best sustained characters. It often occurs that those who have exquisite ideas of costume have not the slightest conception of the characters they sustain. Hence there should be prizes of each kind for each sex. The ball was a very enjoyable occasion and everybody went home happy.