Curb, &e.—Has been relaid in places in the The dancing took place in the spacious Nanzing Road. reception hall of the Municipal buildings, Roa Improvements.—The Tiendong Road which had been prettily decorated with flags has been widened, on the north side, between for the occasion, under the energetic super-enn and Chapoo Roads, in front of Lot intendence of M. Blondin, the Municipal Engineer. The promotion of the scheme is Name Platen,—Cast-iron name plates have due to Mr. Reding, the Russian Consul, been fixed at junctions of roads in the English but all arrangements for the reception settlement.
Roads, he following roads have been of the children had been taken in hand some time ago by a committee of ladies repaired:—Astor Road, between Seward and Miller Roads; Minghong Road, between of-all nationalities, Mesdames J. C. Bois, Galles, Wade Gard'ner, Hannen, L. Seward and Miller Roads; Broadway, Seward, Yuen-fong, and North Soochow Roads-Little, E. G. Low, N. Macleod, Reding, Raising with earth the Sing-kei-pang Road, Seaman, Siebs and Vouillemont, who had south of the Sing-kei-pang Creel worked together to such good purpose that Outside Roads.—Repaiting the Yangtsze-there were upwards of 175 children in poo Road, between Yangtsze-poo Creek and fancy dresses and in ordinary costume, the Point. who made their appearance at the open: ing of the Ball at 3 p.m., and the large hall was closely packed with their numerous parents and friends who had come to see the little ones enjoy themselves. A programme of fourteen dances had been prepared for the occasion, which included a polonaise and minuet, that entailed previous instruction to the little ones, and this arduous task had been very successfully undertaken by Mesdames J. C. Bois, Hannen, Little, and Wade Gard'ner.
Visitors on first entering the Ball room were quite bewildered by the gorgeous colouring of the dresses, the very great variety of costumes, and the undoubted brilliancy of the scene, but it was only by degrees that the beauty of individual dresses could be realised; and many in the room were traly exquisite, set off by the charms of happy childish faces—a charm that is altogether absent from the ordinary fancy dress ball of adults, Several of the young people of rather advanced years' were conspicuous by their stature' among the many tiny tots of but few summers, amongst them being a charming Dorothy with her pistol ready for the duel, but much too happy to think of harming any one, A Queen of Hearts was prettily imposing, so was a Russian peasant and Uncle Sam with his companion Columbia, while several exquisite Pompadour costumes at once arrested delighted attention. A tall Highlander and a Courtier of the period of Henry LI of France overtopped all the rest, and several of the elder boys wore their dresses of the powder period with more dignity and grace than could have Deen expected. Nature was very eflectively and prettily represented by Ivy, Forget-me-not, Sunflower, Wild Rose, Bluebell and Daisy, and there was a gay Butterfly close by to sip the floral sweets. The age of English chivalry was represented by the York and Lancaster roses. Amongst the many little ones, perhaps the most attractive and original was the little fellow who represented Pickwick Junior, in a green tailed coat und pantaloons of a bye-gone period, a jolly little antitype of Dickens' famous hero. A shy little maiden in an Empire dress had just made up her mind to join the throng of merrymakers, when two grotesque clowns burst upon her vision and sent her back in tears, Gallant Cavaliers had not far to look for modest Puritan Maidens, and a Toreador in splendid costume was ready to win plaudits from the fair sex, A plucky little Master of Foxhounds, correctly got up in pink, top boots and irre-preachable silk hat, was well supported by a well attired Huntsman who evidently meant business, both being of such light weights as to ensure a foremost place in the field. Red Riding Hood showed her cheery face with Grandmother in attendance, and though there was no ugly wolf to frighten them, there was a Black Bogey—the terror of nurseries. A diminutive Master of the Ceremonies, in correct evening dress, was ready to marshal all in their proper places; two Cooks in white were present to dish up the sweets of life which delight youthful palates, and a demure Red Cross Nurse was standing by to render assistance in case of accident. George Washington bore himself bravely, yet modestly, with conscious dignity; but Mephistopheles wandered about in an aimless way, evidently put out because there was neither a Faust nor a Marguerite to afford him occupation. The Clans sere numerously represented; and Ireland had two little champions, but whether they were Parnellite or anti-Parnellite it is impossible to say, as they belied the national characteristic and avoided faction fights. Niggers were to be seen, but had none of the boisterous forwardness which burnt cork usually confers, The "Land we live in" was represented by a gorgeously clad little damsel whose feet had escaped torture, and the neighbouring country of the Rising Sun kept up its reputation by a good show of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.