Viewed from the gallery, the point for most effective observation, there is no prettier sight, the year through in Shanghai, than the Guledonian Ball. The whole of the vast floor space of the Town Hall is needed to accommodate the dancers, there can be no cutting off of ends or corners for the benefit of the languid or the " utai, the hall is full of a joyous energy, of a real and not a frigid splendour. Thus it is the patent enjoy me:
hospitality on beaming faces one notices rather than the gow:
forms, elaborate though murly of 'The sons and daughters of Caledonia—not the stern and wild, but the blithe and geuerotis—aro " at home" practically to all the world, and the visitors are' made so heartily welcome that it is no wonder some of them almost feel equal the gay delights of the annual for Nearly 1,200 people participated last night in the celebration of St. And name day, and for their entertainment the Committes of the St. Andrew' Society and its special Ball stewards had made, as they ever do, the most complete arrangements. One wishes yothaps that the statuesque Sikhs, who guarded the grand stairway and led the guests directly to the smiling President of the Society, Mr.
Mackay, could have boon Highlan. ers instead, but it did one good that the President himself and his supporters received the members and their friends in fall tartan: honoured clan names and plaids were visible from the moment of entering the portico, claymores and broadswords shone peacefully patterned on the walls, and symbols of the land cakes on every side, to say nothing of the shrill music of the pipes, made the national character of the assembly unmistakeable. The decorations were undertaken by Mr. W. B. Buyers, who had invaluable help from Mr. W. 8.-Burns, with his long previous experience of dealing artistically with the hall, and from Mr. Macgregor of the Municipal Gardens in the management of flowers and plants. At the viewpoint we have named, above the clock, the spectator had facing him at the far end of the hall, the Town Band bowered on the platform, and above them two huge and glittering St. Andrew's crosses. The Royal crown of Scotland occupied the position of honour between. The Royal arms, on a large banner, wore the central adjournment of the long south wall. Very effective use had been made of the seven enclosed windows onthis, side. They became for the occasion floral shrines with mirror centres before which lung lighted Chinese lanterns. The mystery was half veiled by lace curtains used as a ground work for ivy trails and tiny rings.of button-hended chrysanthemums. The spaces between the windows were filled with the tartan trophies of several of the clans. For the northern wall the portrait of Robert Burns a fitting contre, es and floral Prince of Wales's thers, The remaining half-wall under the gallery was in more subdued colours, draped entirely with stut curtains, and having " painting of St. Andrew for its The ceiling was not touched but s of groan, set with coloured lamps, completely girdled the wall-tops.
We have said that the grout hall was given entirely to the dancers, only the narrowest possible passagoways being left inside the on-closing seats, and two tiny retreats remaining, one on each side of the band-tand. There was, however, comfortable sitting-out room to be found in the Volunteer Room, in the gallery, at the head of the stairway, and in unsuspected little places. Supper was served from eleven o'clock in the gymnasium, a visto of white tables, delicacies, and' lights. Other refreshments, and card rooms for the men were to be found in the: Volunteer officers' apartments.
The dancing programme contained eighteen numbers, including all the national steps, and also specifically sot down three extras. On the back of it were to be found the names of those who, on behalf of the Society, undortook the duties of entertainers. Wo reproduce them Comsirree:—Mr. E. F. Mackay, (President), Mr. John Liddell, (Vice-President), Messrs. John Prentice, David Landale, W. Ure, R. Sutherland, W. 8. Burns, W.B. Buyers, Jas. Christie, J. Cochrane, W. D. Graham, Dr. H.C. Patrick, Donald Macdona'd, A.M. Maclean, ©. M. Bain, (Hon. Treasurer), and G. Lindsay (Hon, Secretary).
TT. Allan, Robt. Agnew, A. S. Bremner, Srewanns:—Mosers, F. Anderson, F. Cunningham, E.0. Cumming, F. A, Cumming, G.D. Courts, H. J. Clark, H. E. Campbell, E. W. Clements, John Cooper, T. A. Clark, H.J. Craig, J. I. M. Drummond, Sir Chas B. Edmondston, Jobs Grant, S. Groundwater, James Johnston, John Lennox, W. D. Little. Dr. Marshall. Jas. McKie, W. (. Murray, A. MoLeod, J. H.T. McMurtrie, J. Grant Mackenzie, Dr. Macleod, P. W. MacKintosh, Capt. McClure, Duncan MeNeill, W. G. Pirie, A. Ross, ©. H. Rutherford, Horatio Robertson, Dr. Reid,- James M. Robb, John Ramsay, Hugh Rodger, A. Shewan, J. D, Smart, Jas. Tulloch, and G. Wileon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.