Brilliant Opening on Saturday Night: The Architectural and Colour Beauty The Astor House ballroom was opened formally on Saturday, if one may say formally, for there was a good-natured jolly crowd numbering 375, who came in to dinner. But although they were dressed in' the most' conventional style, they hardly seemed formal, for such an air of good fellowship and friendliness prevailed that it would seem an anomaly to characterize it as such. Those who attended the first night declared that words could. not describe the marvellous combination of colours and lights that have been the product of the mind of the mind of Mr, A. Lafuente, the designing architect. The light blue walls decorated with maidens and sylphs dancing in the open spaces, are surmounted by the plaster reliefs for the indirect lighting system suspended from the ceiling, while high on the marble pillars beautifully cast female figures appear to. support the roof.
Probably the most novel feature of the decorative scheme,. excepting the incandescent mirrors, was the peacock shell utilized by the' orchestra, and in particular the effects of light produced by the electrical staff. Five primary colours have been used for. still effects throughout the variegated bedecked panels of feathers, but the revolving cylinder'hidden added hundreds of shades of light that blended. and dissolved over the whole giving the appearance of running waves of rainbow hues. The electric installation is by Messrs, Larsen Truck.
The dinner was most excellent and the guests enjoyed- dance numbers throughout, most of them not finishing with their meal until well after devon, when dancing began" in earnest.' The new Astor House orchestra under the direction of Mr. "Whitey" Smith, numbers eight,, of whom three formerly played in one. of Shanghai's ball-rooms while the Other five arrived here _just_10 days ago. The strains of "Zamboanga" and No, No, North" delighted the light steppers and encore upon-encore was called for, to which the musicians responded most liberally.
Messrs. J. H. Taggart and Burrows, who have been so keenly interested in providing Shanghai people with this splendid dining and ball-room, are to be congratulated on the complete success of their efforts. of us, and especially shipping men on the- China coast, have cause to remember: his name: with gratitude and share with" Siccawei. the "regret. with ° which they have received news of the' dear! of a master and a great pioneer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.