The St. George's Society determined fittingly to celebrate His Majesty King Edward the Seventh's birthday by giving a ball at the Town Hall, and from the important social event would be carried through on
ing the Town Hall last might one could an appropriately elaborate goala, Enter. searcely believe that such a transformation would have been possible for on either side of the main entrance the guest saw staircases richly "bedecked with the graceful bamboo, the rich chrysanthemum, and the beautiful fern; while Sikh mounted police with their lances, but on foot, were posted at intervals, as erect and rigid as statues. The turn in the staircases gave another charm to the general effect, and at. the arrival at the top everything denoted the threshold of a manorial ballroom. In the vestibule were a number of improvised reception, rooms, while the walls, pillars, and balustrades were literally concealed beneath a wealth of foliage and hanging flags. This was the work of the bluejackets from, H.M.S. Bonaventure as were also the decorations of the entrance halls to the various rooms. Having crossed the thros-hold of the ballroom the first object to catch the eyo was a painting of Lord Nelson, relieved by @ circle of the flags composing his famous signal, and illuminated by: electric lights in. the frame. Boldly stood out that motto of mottoes, "England expects every, man this day to do his duty." Over the centre of the gallery, under a crown of brilliant light, were photographs of their Majesties: the King and Queen, with the letters "E." "R" on either side. It was not until the eye began to tire of the brilliancy of this light that the Prines of Waies's feathers, also in electri light, were seen over the entrance, and in the centre of the wall on the right a painting of St. George engaged in slaying the dragon. The paintings of our Patron Saint and hero of heroes were placed in juxtaposition and quite set off the white
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.