The St. Paul Daily Globe, January 4, 1889, p. 2

BOUNDED BY BOUQUETS.

Miss Wilder's Debut the Social Event of the Season.

The social event of the season was the reception and ball given at the Ryan last evening upon the occassion of the debut of Miss Mary Wilder, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Wilder, of Summit avenue. A hearty response to the 750 invitations made the profusely-decorated apartments which were open to the festivities of the evening radiant with the members of the upper ten of St. Paul and Minneapolis. The entire second floor was devoted to the occasion. One section of Seibert's orchestra occupied a rostrum in the north end of the west corridor, rendering a medley of promenade music, while another section was placed in the east end of the dining room, which was transformed into the dancing room.

The chandeliers were festooned with smilax and carnations, and in the corridors were beautifully draped pedestals supporting large baskets of cut flowers. The floor was covered with canvas to the dancing hall. At the entrance to parlor "one" a curtain of smilax. interspersed with red and white carnations, and parted folds, ushered the participants into the parlor, which was converted into a perfect bower of tropical plants and sweet-scented flowers. On the mantel stood a large palm plant with an elaborate basket of Bennett roses, lilies of the valley, hyacinths and camellisa on each side. The mirror frame was covered with smilax and ferns, and a large Japanese fan was conspicuous in the fireplace.

It was in this fragrant apartment that Mr. and Mrs. Wilder received their guests, and Miss Wilder bowed recognition to the many admiring friends who passed beneath the arch leading from the halls. A tropical corner was a beautiful feature in parlor 2. This was built of different species of palms, ferns and dracæ:nas in the center of which towered up to within an inch of the ceiling a magnificent ficus elastica, which dropped over a large settee, around which the whole made a demi-circle. Here the charming debutante, shielded under the canopy of green, sat during the intervals of the entertainment. Every conceivable nook and corner was filled with blooming plants and flowers.

Hanging from the transom balcony upon entering the dancing hall was a curtain of laced smilax with perle roses, in the center of which hung a large square banner of pink roses and smilax, with the letter W surrounded by lillies of the valley.

At the east end of the room the large sideboards were covered with tropical plants, pot geraniums, Roman hyacinths, and lilacs in full bloom. One the window sills stood large palms, and the cylindrical columns were entwined and wound with evergreens, ferns and smilax. From each of the chandeliers hung large balls of roses and carnations, and the niches were banked with calla lillies, pere roses, violets and forget-me-nots.

In the ladies' ordinary an elaborate and sumptuous supper was served at midnight. The tables were beautifully decorated with fruits and flowers in pyramidal form. Footmen were stationed at each entrance in full dress, and guarded against the intrusion of uninvited guests. A delightful programme of the latest fashionable society dances was enjoyed by those of the company who danced. Others listened to the select renditions of the orchestra in the corridor. The toilettes of the ladies were elegant and consumated the grandeur and brilliance of every appointment which marked the occasion.

Miss Wilder, with her attractiveness, refined culture abroad and her personal charms and accomplishments was thus launched upon the mirthsome sea of St. Paul society.