The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-02-12
THE BALL OF the FRENCH MINISTER.

Bm1Ou BetWeeu America anu FRANCO
Csmented ON the Light Fantastic Foe
Dancing 10 the Music of Perpetual
Amtty, Etc. Etc.
WASHINGTON, February 1O-The ball given
tonight by the Marquis and Marchioness de
Montholon was beyond all question the most
magnificent entertainment ever given in this
metropolis and is a bright link in the chain of
pleasant associations that binds together the
two nations.
The Marquis bears name historical in La
Belle France, and Is the son Of the General of
that name who was the companion of Napoleon
the First at st. Helena, and OF Napoleon the
Third when he was also prisoner OF state,
while the Marchioness is the daughter of a gal
liant general in the old United States Army. The
house now occupied 10y the French Legation was
built and fitted up by W. w. Corcoran, the
banker, and the last public entertainment given
there was when his daughter was married to Mr..
Eustis, then member of the Federal Congress,
but afterwards Confederate Secretary OF Lega-
tion at Paris. 1t is spacious, elaborately orna'
mented building, fronting Lafayette square.
Tonight, as II to impress upon the guests that
this was a French festival, the carriages rolled
in at o porte c0cheTe, in true Parlsan style. In
front OF the house there was no sign of the gay
throng within. The guests, on alighting, were
received by servants in full livery, and were
escorted through the hall and up the grand
staircase, with its banister5 of massive carved
oak. The front room on the second-story, used
by the Marquis as his cabinet de trGUdu was ses
apart as the gentlemens drsssing-room, where
gloves we're put on, and the hair-brush was ap-
piled to give tue last touch. The adjacent apart.
ment in the rear was,the ladies' dressing room
into which the fair ones entered in their cocoon
ike wrappings, from which they emerged in the
tull glory OF evening attire Descending the
staircase again, the guests we're shown into the
front draWing-rOom, on the left OF the main hail.
where stood the host and hostess.
The Marquis was attired in tull evening dress,
wearing around his neck the bright scarlet rib
bon and decoration of q Commander of the
Legion Of Honor, while several other orders
graced his breast. lie is O TALL well-made,
graceful gentleman and his Partisan politeness
was conspicuous as he received his guests. The
Marcbioness, as has already been stated, is an
American by birth and education. She wore
dress OF white tarlatan, elaboratcly trimmed,
with superb necklace Of diamonds, and the
cross of some regal order on her shoulder.
The drawing-rOoms OF the Legation are elabo-
rately deco ated. Prominent in that which
guests were received are three-quarter length
portraits OF the present Emperor and of the
lovely Empress Eugenie, which were the objects
OF marked attention. Leading from the front
drawiGg-room is the library, which is fitted up
with carved oak, ana not only contains q large
COLLECTION Of standard works, but many rare
works of art, prominent among which is o
yelled bust so wonderfully executed that il
would seem that the bust is covered with white
VEIL
Connecting with the library and with the back
drawing-rUom is the dining-ha,I. Tonight this
is the suDperToom, and the carved oaken bullets
dIe lOduPu WIN WONDERS. PASTRIES,
ices, and the many palatable delcacies which
have made French cooking renowned the world
over are lavishlv supplied, with an abundance
OF rich Burgundy, sparkling champagne, and
other wines OF the rarGst Vintages All the eata-
bles, we learned are home productions, from
the kitchen of the Legation, and were highly
appreciated and enjoyed by the guests, many Of
whom are accustomed to the scanty fare OF our
Washington hotels.
The drawingrooms, the library, and the dining
hall are on one side OF the main hall of the
house. On the other side is a spacious apart
ment dedicated to art. 1t is lighted from above,
and the walls are covered with choice pictures
by the first American and European artists of
our generation. At the end opposite the door,
in spacious recess surrounded by flowers,
stands the ORIGINAL Greek Slave, by Powers, as
fit presiding goddess for temple graced by the
loyellness of the land. Above her, gracefully
entwined were the Stars and Stripes and the
tricolor-those glorious ensens that have tloated
over victories on the two continents.
In addition to these spacious apartments there
were others OF less size. In one those toLd OF
the card table were enjoying their tayorite
game. In another a host of politicians were
discussing whether or not the President would
make further disclosures OF his policy to-mor-
row to the Virginia delegation. In another,
which was evidently the boudoir OF the Marchi-
oness, several couples OF young people were
always engaged in earnest conversation; neither
should we forget recess in which table was
graced by two huge pUnch-bowls, from which
two attendants were ever replenishtng glasses OF
compound which appeared acceptable to all
who imbibed 1t.
Such another display of beauty, glare of Jewels,
simmer OF silk and satin, and withal grand
crowd and crush Of crinolne, hBs not been
known in Washington Tor many day. The
generality with which the invitations had been
distributed in official circles served to render it
more than ordinarily marked and pleasant and
brought together company made up of the
members OF the House of Representatives, United
States Senators, judges OF the Supreme Court,
the diplomatic corps, and all the generals and
admirals now in Washington together with
large number OF distinguished officers oil lower
grade from both branches OF the service. Added
to these were the scions of many of the oldest
families Of New York, Philadelphia, Boston, and
Baltimore.
A marked feature was the presence of the Off
GERS of the French man-of-war, EAnlirdL
PEstdng, now at Annapolis. They wore the
handsome naval uniform OF the Empire, with
the graceful epaulets and the brilliant decora-
tions of the Legion of Honor In the hall stood
a veteran boatswain, with his broad turned-over
collar, who appeared to take pride in the gay
scene, and who was well pleased when any of
the passing throng addressed few words to him
in the language OF La Belle France.
The guests began to assemble about 10 O'Clock,
though up to ii comparatively few of the large
number invited had arrived. So admirably had
all the minuti@ ofarran gements been perfected,
that although the current of gentlefolk flowed
in more swiftly and voluminously as the hour
grew later, no one, however much a novice IN
regard TO the evenings programme, was at O
moments loss how to dispose of himself. For
the first two hours there was nothing especially
marked IN the entertainment save confused
tide of beautiful women and their cavaliers as
they wended their way in and up the grand
staircase TO the retiring-rooms, and later reap
peaced for presentation TO the Marquis anC
Marchioness MontholOn, who received, as ha
already been noticed, in the front drawing room
immediately opposite the base OF the stairway