The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-06-20
srLkNDuRs OF ROYALTY.
The Great Metternieh Ball at Paris.

The Great Metternieh Ball at Paris,
The correspondent of the London
Court journal writes from Paris:
1t was thought the utmost effort OF
elegance and good taste had been
made by Lady Cowley on the occasion
of the ball given to. the Prince OF
Wales; but the fete given at the Aus
TRAN Embassy on Tuesday, throws
even that memorable triumph far
into the shade. Never since, the days
of the Great Napoleon, when the ia
NOUS =" crystal BALI given by Prince
Scwartzenburg, where every orna-
ment was of stras and cut glass-the
ball which terminated SO fatally by the
burning of the hotel in which it took
place-was such magnifcence dis.
played as that which greeted the eyes
of the Princess Metternich's visitors
on the above mentioned evening. The
rooms of the Embassy are known to
be small and poor, furnished with
faded yellow lamps, but i'll suited for
the reception of royal and imperial
guests. But the Princess Metternich
has not been denominated in her own
country the golden fairy" for moth
ing. In the twinkling of an eye, as
if by magic, arose from out the dreary
mass OF faded walls and mirrors, all
blackened and bedimmed, very
Palace ofsCoral Caves" vieing in
richness and romance with the most
splendid inventions of Oriental poets,
the more practical productions Of our
finest artists.
The idea of throwing the garden of
the hotel into the very middle of the
grand salon originated entirely with
the Princess herself. An octagon
gallery, of which the salon formed one
side, was contrived so as to inclose
the rare shrubs and flowers of the
parterree Oh which the apartments
occupied by the Princess open. The
effect Of this arrangement was mag
nifccnt; the hangings of the walls,
even Of the artificial ones destined to
be thrown down the next day. were of
green and pink futed satin; innumer-
able chandeliers, interviewer with
flowers, made the light most brilliant,
while concealing the means OF light
ing, and over all now and then waved
Su erl sn5 ra nuss prsse orange
OluC duu pulplO, RIOuuCtu ny
the electric light. AT the end of the
G eat gallery thick curtains of tapestry
had been drawn until the arrival of.
the Imperial guests, when suddenly
they arose as the band struck up
6 Portant pour la Syrie, and the view
became dazzling in the extremes. A
splendid throne had been erected 10 a
kind of lighted boudoir, and here it
was that the Imperial guests were led,
and whence they could enjoy the most
wonderful coup d'e1 ever before dis
played.
A fountain arose in the midst.
lighted with electric light, and the
fairy rocks whence it was supposed 10
spring were all covered with aquatic
plants-reai .ofresh, and but lately
torn from the coal caves whence they
took their BIRTH The air was cooled
in an instant, and the very sight Of
the green freshness was sufficient to
dissipate all idea of the sitting heat
which is anticipated at these gorgeous
fetes. The Emperor, who, in spite of
the distraction afforded by the scene.
looked i'll and harassed, was attired
in evening costume, blue coat and
black silk smalls. The upper portion
OF his figure has grown rather bulky
for the legs, and the fashion of shoes
much cut away on the instep. which
has been lately set by the Due de
Mouchy, detracts greatly from the
.tinesse of the ankle His Majesty APP
pears much less to his advantage in
this costume than in the Generals
uniform he adopts on most occasions.
The Empress, always charming in
whatever attire she may choose to ap-
pear in, wore a strip of straw-colored
satin embroidered in pearls; over this
a tunic of white tulle ornamented
with hedge roses, intermingled with
pearls and diamonds. A little toauet
of straw -colored satin and lace, made
In the fashion of that worn last of all
by Marie Antoinette, formed the Golf
fure, and in the softened light of the
ball room the effect of the whole
toilet was soft and vapory in the ex-
treme
The Parisians were grateful to Prin-
cess Metternich for the vast trouble
she had taken in assembling so many
specimens of native beauty together,
thus destroying the impression which
every foreigner carries away with him,
that French beauty consists of poma-
tum, rouge, and poudre de rag. : How
have you managed, Princess, to dis
play so much youth and beauty %
said the Empress, as the groups of
lovely women passed in one ceaseless
stream before the throne, bowling as
they passed, and glittering for mo-
ment like figures "a magic mirror.
"Ah-lthat-is my secret, returned
the Princess, laughing. They are
specimens tEem all parts of France