THE CENTENNIAL BALL.

The final event of Founder's Day was the Centennial Ball, held in the Grays' Armory at the close of the historical pageant. From olden time music and dancing frequently attended the passage of the retiring year and the arrival of the new, but on this night the passage of a century was thus observed. Many of the city's guests and hundreds of prominent society people gave the ball their ready patronage. The hall was beautifully decorated, and the entire building was brilliant with light and color. In the ball-room yellow and green bunting, artistically draped, formed a background for golden-rod, black-eyed Susans and sun-flowers. At the doorways and windows and in the corners were tall palms and tropical plants, while twined about the posts and chandeliers were ropes of green. Many beautiful gowns were worn by the ladies, and were supplemented by the blue and gold of handsome uniforms in which the officers of the Regular Army were attired. In the extreme

end of the hall was located the orchestra stand, above which was exhibited the city seal, while below this was a brace of electric jets forming the word "Welcome. Near the orchestra was the reception room, where the ladies of the Executive Committee received. In the boxes were seated groups of men and women engaged in conversation, and in the balcony others occupied chairs reserved for those who did not care to dance. The arrangements for the ball were complete, nothing being left undone for the pleasure of the guests. Mrs. William Edwards, the Chairman of the Executive Committee, assisted by a worthy corps of entertainers, was in charge of the programme.

-HISTORICAL PAGEANT.

Among the noted guests of the evening were Governor and Mrs. Coffin, Governor and Mrs. Bushnell, Adjutant General and Mrs. Axline, General and Mrs. Charles P. Graham, Colonel L. Rogers, private secretary of Governor Bushnell; Colonel and Mrs. D. L. Cockley, and other staff officers and public officials of Connecticut and Ohio. The time for opening the ball was 10 o'clock, but it was an hour later when the orchestra, under the leadership of John Faust, played the overture and followed with a two-step. After three numbers had been concluded a march was played and the young men in costume who had been on the floats unexpectedly entered the hall, headed by George W. Kinney, and marched around the room. There were twenty-four numbers on the list of dances. The back of the cards contained a reproduction of

an article published in 1839 in reference to a ball given at the American House, the concluding paragraph being as follows:

"About two hundred couples of gentlemen and ladies, the talent and beauty of the city and county, were present. The best of music cheered them on; and the light foot in the dance, the sweet smiles and bright eyes of the ladies, the gallantry of the gentlemen, the soul-stirring music, all combined, rendered it a scene long to be remembered and never to be surpassed." It was the common verdict of the dancers who read the account that the writer of those lines, although he may have taxed his imagination, did not sufficiently tax it to foresee the Centennial Ball of 1896.

Dancing lasted until early morning, leaving Founder's Day a pleasant memory in the annals of the century.

CHAPTER VIII.

NEW ENGLAND DAY.

JULY 23, 1896.

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While Moses Cleaveland, of Connecticut, laid the foundation of the primitive village, all New England had a hand in building the superstructure and contributing to its embellishment. It was appropriate that the second day of the new century should be devoted to the consideration of this element in the city's advancement. The day was designated as New England Day, and was observed in a simple, but very happy manner. New England dinner was given on the campus of Adelbert College, under the auspices of the New England Society, an organization comprising many prominent citizens of Cleveland who felt a common pride in their Puritan descent. Tables were spread at noon under a large tent on the east side of the campus. The day was bright, and nothing was lacking to make the reunion a great success. Between six and seven hundred persons were present. A distinguished party occupied seats at the speakers' table, comprising Major McKinley, Governor Bushnell, Senator Sherman, Senator Hawley and other prominent men, together with a number of well-known ladies. A large delegation of Ohio editors, members of the Buckeye Editorial Association and the Associated Ohio Dailies, were entertained at the tent, being guests of the Centennial Commission for the day. Music was furnished by an orchestra during the progress of the dinner. The bill of fare was copied from the old-time New England dinner, and was as follows:

An hour of rare enjoyment was spent by the New Englanders in dining and exchanging reminiscences. President Sherwin then arose