CHILI AND VALPARAISO. 53 



reflected, while the national flags, formed into festoons, 

 intermixed with wreaths of flowers and evergreens, encir- 

 cling emblematic designs of the nation's glory, produced 

 an effect that was truly beautiful. The president's recep- 

 tion-room and the card-rooms were also very handsomely 

 decorated. The company amounted to five hundred, of 

 whom about one-fourth were ladies ; many native and for- 

 eign officers were present, dressed in their uniforms. At 

 10 o'clock the ball* was opened by the president in person. 

 He w r as dressed in a richly-embroidered coat, gold epau- 

 lettes, and a field-marshal's sash. He is a fine-looking 

 man, about fifty years of age. He danced a minuet with 

 a lady of Valparaiso, after which the dancing became 

 general, consisting of waltzes, contra dances, quadrilles, 

 and the sama cueca. The music was very fine, and many 

 marches and national airs were played during the inter- 

 vals between the dances. The ball did not break up until 

 8 o'clock, at which hour the president was escorted home 

 by a procession of the dancers. His unblemished private 

 character, together with the success of his policy toward 

 the Peruvian government, have rendered him extremely 

 popular with all classes of society. 



