The Grandest Success of Any Similar One Ever Given
24 JAN 1883. Austin Daily Statesman.
THE INAUGURAL BALL. A GREAT THRONG AND A GRAND SUCCESS.
The Temporary Capitol Tested and Found Equal to the Emergency.
The inaugural ball given by the citizens of Austin last night in the hall of representatives in the temporary capitol was pronounced by everyone present to be the grandest success of any similar one ever given in the city of Austin. Experts at estimating the capacity of the building, give it as their opinion that over 2500 people thronged the hall and passages, at any rate there, were at least 2500 people there.
The new governor of Texas, surrounded by the beautiful faces of lovely women, who's sweetest smiles poured their brightness around him continually during the evening, enjoyed as great a social triumph as he did when he carried the state by nearly 50,000 against the greatest opposition ever brought against a candidate before.
The music struck up the strain that was the general signal for command: “on with the dance; let Joy be unconfined,” and the many twinkling feet moving in rhythmical harmony to the strains of sweetest music told that all gave worship to the moving muse, and that Terpischore rained queen of the festivities. There the old and the young seemed like to have drank from the fountain of youth; and the civilian and the soldier, the private citizens and the officers and lawmakers, all seems to realize that they were “far from the maddening crowd ignoble strife” in the cares and bustle of the grave duties of life. All appeared to give themselves up to the full impulses that properly ruled the hour -- pleasure and forgetfulness of life's heartaches and sorrows.
The ladies of Austin, famed for their beauty and refinement, looked even more beautiful, it seemed, than upon any similar location. Strangers noted this.
The costumes were attractive, tasteful and elegant, showing that more than usual taste and care had been bestowed by the ladies in preparing for the inaugural.
Most of the gentlemen were in full dress, and strangers received that marked attention that characterizes Austin on these social occasions and gives her that far-famed name for hospitality of which she is justly proud.
THE SUPPER.
At 11 o'clock it was announced that the first table was spread, and supper was prepared for 150 at that, and that the tables would be spread in as rapid succession as possible until all had eaten. A Statesman reporter was taken to the Supreme Court Library hall, in which tables were set, before supper was announced, and shown the supper and arrangements; and, although the committee had concluded that a good, substantial lunch with oysters fried and raw would suffice, and had paid for such only, Messrs. Simon & Billeisen had prepared a sumptuous supper -- a banqueting board fit for the Caesars home. Too much praise cannot be bestowed on those well-known and enterprising caterers for thus getting up a magnificent supper instead of a mere lunch, which they did of their own choice, thinking that perhaps there might be a large number of strangers here who would measure the success of the entire affair by the standard of the supper. In this Messrs. Simon & Belleisen showed a good discrimination, and they should be accorded a full meed of praise. The supper was really very fine: turkey, roast pig, roast pork, roast beef, beef a la mode, cold oysters fried and raw -- in abundance; fruits, nuts, cakes, jellies -- three kinds, etc.
Taking it all in all, the citizens of Austin my well feel proud of the success of the inaugural ball of 1883. And many such occasions always prove as successful, both as to general arrangement and enjoyment.
It were only justice to add that all the committees did their duties, and seemed untiring in their efforts to do all that was needed.