3-071-033 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Mayor's Juvenile Ball at the Townhall of Manchester, 1881. '1. The Mayor and Mayoress Receiving their Company. 2. Entrance up the Grand Staircase. 3. "Over Fifteen," and "Under Ten." 4. The "Punch and Judy." 5. Refreshments. 6. In the Ball-Room...a very gay and pretty company of six hundred girls and boys [were] invited by the Mayor and Mayoress...Mr. Alderman Baker and Mrs. Baker...[The girls were] mostly in pale blue or pink, in the Princess style, with trimmings of lace and satin and grenadine." The young gentlemen, for the most part, wore the ordinary evening dress, with coat-tails, but a few had sailor's uniform...Up the magnificent staircase they were ushered, and were at once conducted into the banqueting-hall, where refreshments were offered them; after which they passed into the great hall, and joined in dancing, to the music of Mr. J. L. Goodwin's band...The whole of the youthful company, before their first dance, passed in front of the Mayor and Mayoress to exchange greetings. The programme...comprised sixteen dances...A diverting exhibition of marionettes, and one of Punch and Judy, both supplied by Mr. Whaite, of Bridge-street, Manchester, varied the evening's amusement, in two separate chambers'. From "Illustrated London News", 1881.