The ceremonial visit of the Seattle Shriners was on Tuesday made the occasion of a bazaar and carnival at the Astor House Hotel.
The function was organized py the Nomad Oasis, primarily to give their distinguished brother Shriners ail opportunity to invest in sou-vanirs of the East and to make other purchases at a period when Shanghai's shops were closed. But it was much more than this, it was one of the biggest social events of the season among the American community. And more, there were the attractions of the ballroom and a fair.
As soon as one entered the hotel, which is the headquarters of the Shriners during their stay, there was an unmistakeable note of festivity about the interior, the walls and roofs being obliterated with a profusion of bamboo greenery and banners with curious devices. All America was there, and among the scintillating decorations of the ball room each visitor had something to wonder at. In the midst of beautifully decorated booths, the illuminations from hundreds of Chinese lanterns, the silks and the satins and the mass of curios for sale, not the least conspicuous were the Shriners themselves. If they were not en grand tenne they were still among the most interesting. Moons and sculls in gold and red fez, scarlet jackets covered with mysterious gilt insignia and other curious creations, startled the visitor after the drabness of winter outside.
Other attractions were a tea dance, an exhibition by M. Novitzky, the Balkan dancer, the Louisiana Trio, Mme. Sadowska. Pettard, a singer of note, and artists, in addition to Aunt Sallies, Chinese juggling and the dazzling, alluring treasures of Chinese art and industry.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.