December 2, 19:1.]
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CHINA ÖVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
and more greenery. The front of the dress circle was ornamented with numerous shields bearing the Scottish Lion, the Thistle, and the St. Andrew's Cross, and surmounted by battle axes and spears.
It was unfortunate that the weather turned out to be unfavourable. It rained heavily and incessantly from about 7 o'clock till well on past midnight.
At nine o'clock the guests began to arrive in numbers, and soon the suite of halls presented an animated spectacle. Alto- gether about 500 couples were present. Under the glow of the electric light, the decorations and the moving mass of people, the beautiful dresses of the ladies and the bright naval and military uniforms as seen against the prevail- ing black evening dress of the gentlemen, made up a dazzling ensemble; and let us hasten to add, one which drew no little of its spectacular effect from the presence of the Highland dresses which were to be seen here and there. H.E. the Governor and party were early on the scene and were received by the President (the Hon. T. H. Whitehead).
Shortly after 9 o'clock the ball was opened to the strains of the R.W.F. band. The following ladies and gentlemen composed the President's set in the first dance," The Lancers":-
Hon. T. H. Whitehead and Lady Gascoigne; His Excellency the Governor, Sir H. A. Blake, G.C.M.G., and Mrs. Lockhart; His Excellency Sir Cyprian A. G. Bridge, K.C.B., and Mrs. Powell; His Excellency Major-General Sir W. J. Gascoigne, C.M.G., and Miss Anderson; Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G.. and Mrs. Richardson; Mr. H. W. Robertson and Mrs. Law; Sir T. Jackson and Mrs. Kidd; Mr. David Gillies and Mrs. Wood.
Appended is the dance programme:- 1. Lancers
Cuidchan Righ. 2. Waliz
Ruacam Racum. An Comunn Gaelach. Uilleam's Calum's Morug. Am Braman air reang
nan Teileur.
3. Caledonians 4. Waltz.....
5. Eightsome Reel...{
6. Waltz
7. Caledonians
8. Strathspey & Reel
Ben Cruachan. Glen Albyn.
while the Committee Room adjoining was utilised for receiving the guests. The scheme of decorations was elaborate and most beauti- ful As one entered the vestibule, the first things to attract the eye were the strings of greenery entwining the pillars which flank the approach to the staircase. At the foot of the pillars were clustered pot-plants and ferns, and similarly bedecked was the stairway. On the landing, directly opposite the head of the stairs, wasa huge mirror surmounted by the design of the Scottish thistle illuminated with numerous varionsly-coloured electric lamps, the whole being placed in relief upon the Royal Standard. The brilliancy of this design was enhanced by the reflection in the glass of a circular trophy of burnished bayonets fired to the front of the stair-well and dominated by a massive shield bearing the Scottish Lion. The two windows on each side of the mirror were draped with blue banners, bearing the St. Andrew's Cross in silver, and round the four staircase panels were suspended shields with similar de- vices. Beneath those windows there appeared on a red ground, worked in green, the dates 1847- 1901, denoting the age of the Society. All round the staircase hung festoons of greenery, and the balustrades were resplendent also with plants and out flowers. Two brass howitzers heightened the effect of what was truly a striking spectacle. The main landing was also profusely decorated. It bore its quota of the trophied arms of the 72 Scottish clans which were scattered throughout the rooms, also a number of flags of different nationalities, a great many of these last being likewise displayed.in the different chambers. A centre-piece was pro- vided in a fine deer's head with antlers of twelve points. Opposite the door of the Reception Room was hung the Irish Standard. This apartment was tastefully dressed. An ottoman bedecked with flowers stood in the centre, and round the room were scattered lounges and easy chairs. The walls were hung with shields and trophies. A portrait of Mr. Phineas Ryrie, first President of the Society, occupied a prominent position. The decorations in the two large halls were much admired and they certainly were deserving of all admiration. The whole scheme indeed was a very fine testimony to the taste and indefatigability of the Decora- tions Committee. A liberal use of tropical plants was made in the adornment of both halls, and with the happiest effects. In St. George's the portrait of Her late Majesty the Queen was draped with the English and American flags; on each side were shields with ban- nerettes, depicting St. George and the Dragon and Britannia, and bearing the legends, Long live the King," God save the Queen;" and below were suspended the Royal Standard and a corresponding bannerette with the Prince of Wales's Feathers for a device. At the opposite end of the hall, above the band- stand, were displayed the Royal Arms of Scotland. The bandstand itself, situated be- tween the two dancing rooms, Was sur- rounded by an array of glistening spears and battle-axes, set off with emblazoned shields of quaint and varied devices. In St Andrew's Hall the arrangement of the minor decorations was pretty much of a similar nature. The most prominent feature was the huge emblema tic representation of St. Andrew bearing his cross, which was placed at the head of the hall. Framed in green foliage, the picture was surmounted by a shield with the Scottish Lion rampant, and at the sides hang the Royal Standard and the Union Jack. Halberds and spears glittered among the enfolding banners. At the other end of the apartment, the portrait of, the Duke of Edinburgh was draped with flags of different nationalities, set off with ancient weapons of war and greenery. The walls were hung with festoons of foliage and with trophies and flags. In transforming the The COLONIAL SECRETARY (Hon. J. A. Theatre into
supper room the Com- Stewart Lockhart) formally accepted the gift mittee showed their decorative abilities to in name of Mr. Wood. In doing so he said perhaps the best advantage. The tables, that he had been asked to fill the position with their snow-white cloths and sparkling at the very last moment. It was an exc crystal, surrounded by a wealth of ferns and ingly difficult position in which he found palms and banting without end, presented himself, and that for two reasons. In the a spectacle to charm the veriest dyspeptic. On first place, Mr. Wood was in the happy the stage was placed the President's table. position of being a very recently married Behind it was as group of beautiful plants man, and he thought his hearers would agree amidst which was displayed the emblem of with him that that was a difficult position the Society, a huge design. On the front to asume unless you were actually in the position of the stage were two brass howitzers yourself. (Laughter.) Th other reason was
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Bodaich nam brigisean.
9. Waltz ...........Bhratach Bhan Chlann Ávidh. 10. Barn Dance 11. Polka 12. Waltz
13. Highland Schottische 14. Eightsome Reel... 15, Waltz ...
16. Strathspey & Reel 17. Waltz. 18. Lancers
19. Waltz ..
443
that it was impossible for him to speak with the feelings Mr. Wood would have spoken with. He was sure that if Mr. Wood had been present he would have said he did not in the least deserve the gift and that all the work he had done for the Society had been done purely for the love he bore to the country to which he belonged. On behalf of Mr. Wood, he begged to thank the St. Andrew's Society for the pieces of plate which they had been good enough to present him with, and he hoped they would long stand on his sideboard for the admiration of his friends. He trusted that members would often have the pleasure of seeing it there. (Applause.)
The inscriptions on the gifts were as follows:- "From the Committee of the St. Andrew's Society :-The Hon. T. H. Whitehead, Presi dent; H. W. Robertson, Vice-President; D. R. Law, T. F. Hough, Wm. Kidd, and Peter Dow, and Past Presidents, the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., the Hon. J. J. Bell Irving, David Gillies, and G. C. Anderson, on the occa sion of his marriage to Miss Sophia Milne Boulton, with the best of good wishes for their health and happiness.
46
Hongkong, 16th October, 1901."
'DAVID WOOD, EBQ.
"From the Members of the St. Andrew's Society on the occasion of his marriage to Miss Sophis Milne Boulton, with their warmest and best wishes, and in recognition of his invaluable services as Honorary Secretary of the Society.
Hongkong, 16th October, 1901,” Supper was commeuced at 11.30 o'clock. At the President's table on the stage of the Theatre there were, in addition to those who had taken part in the opening set, His Jonour A. G. Wiss and Hon. Mrs. Bertie, Hon. W. Chatham and Mrs. Playfair, Mr. G. C. Anderson and Mrs. W. C. Dickson, Commodore Francis Powell, C.B., and Mrs. Poate.
The following was the Menu:-
"Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it! But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.'
We'll tak' a cap o' kindness yet, for auld
Faille Sheamus More. | lang syne."
Turtle Soup.
Saddle of Mutton.
Roast Turkey.
Roast Kobe Beef.
Pork Ham.
Corned Beef.
Game Pie.
Sheep's Head Pie.
Cead mille failche.
Tha mi Tinn.
gu
Tulách Ard. | Corned Tongue. Roast Capon.
Port more McEwen, Fear a Chinn Mhoir, Cabar Feidh. Buahill nan Caorach. Cuidchan Righ. Uilleam's Calum's Morog. ..Ardmore Froach Eilean. Auld Lang Syne. Just before supper an interesting ceremony, in the shape of a presentation to Mr. David Wood, the secretary, took place. Owing to indisposition, Mr. Wood was unfortunately unable to be present, but the presentation was made in his absence.
20. Caledonians....... 21. Waltz...... 22. Waltz & Galop.
The PRESIDENT said:-Your, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen--I have the honour and the pleasure on behalf of the St. Andrew's Society to ask Mr. Wood, our indefatigable Secretary, who I am sorry to say is absent, to accept from the members of the Committee and past Presidents a silver salver, and from the Committee and members of the Society a silver tea service on the occasion of his recent marriage to Miss Boulton. We earnestly wish them both a long life of many happy_days, usefulness, health and prosperity. Mr. Wood is the life and soul of our Society, and the success hitherto attending our annual celebra- tion of St. Andrew is due to his untiring efforts.
Pâté de Foie Gras in Jelly.
Lobster Salad. Roast Pheasant.
Chicken Salad.
Roast Wild Duck.
THE HAGGIS.
Hot Potatoes.
"Fair fa' your honest songie face,
Great chieftain o' the puddin' race, Aboon them a' ye tak your place." "Freedom and whisky gang thegither, Tak' aff your dram.'
SWEETS.
Gooseberry Tart. Jam Tartlets.
Puffs.
Jellies.
Blanc Mange. Vanila and Chocolate Ice Creams. SCOTCH SHORTBREAD.
The following telegram was sent to kindred societies in the East:-
"Chief Whitehead and brither Scots greet brither Scots.-Wood, Secretary."
In reply, the following were received :--- From Tientsin.-" From brither Scots, Tien- tain. Happy are we a' thegither; happy may, ye be.-Mackay."
From Shanghai." Chief Addis and Shang- hai Scots greet brither Scots. Guid luck tae ye.--Lindsay, Secretary."
From Yokohama.-" Chief Mitchell and brither Boots: greetings.-McClure.”
From Amoy." Amoy Scots send hearty greetings to their Hongkong brithers."
From Singapore-“The kindly greetings of Chief Whitehead and Hongkong brither Scots received with pleasure. Here all the Scots are Chiefs, and all send best wishes for a jovial St. Andrew's nicht."
From Penang.-"Kind wishes reciprocated. Wha's like us?-A. Brown, Secretary,"
From Madras. "Madras Scots reciprocate greeting."
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