There was a particularly large crowd at the very successful given at the Town Hell on Monday by the crews of the U.S. nova! vessels in port, the South Dakots, the New Orleans, the Villalobos and the Wilmington, to their officers and especially to the ladies of Shanghai, whose hospitality they have enjoyed on two occasions this season. Altogether there was an attendance of about 1,000 guests, the numbers being equally divided between the! ladies and the sailors. who, wise men that they are, pi the'part of hosts and guests at the sume time, thus securing an adequate supply of dancing partners.
The hall was decorated with the flags of the Allies, the flags of the United States and Great Britain playing a prominent part in the scheme, while the floor was in excellent condition. The band of the South Dakota supplied the music for no fewer than 30 dances, the titles to the music for which' practically told their own story. As a bright-looking sailor clasped his partner for the first dance, the band struck up, "You're the one," they fox-trotted to " Smiles,". one-stepped to the exhortation to Do Something " and opened the second half of the programme with a request to Give me a smile and a kiss." There was something political in the refrain " The Alcoholic Blues," they waltzed reproachfully to "You broke my heart." For the penultimate number the band asked those present to " Kiss me goodbye" and then waltzed for the last time to "Home sweet home."
The grand march was led by Commander McWhorter and Mrs. J. B. Sawyer, followed by Chief Electri ian C. E. Smith and Mrs, Seamen. Refreshments were served in @ room adjoining the hall and generally speaking the whole function was a success on which the large number of men who had the arrangements in hand are to be heartily congratulated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.