Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1867-07-06
GENERAL INTELLIGENCE,
The SpIendors Of ROyalty-The Great
WeitefnlCh Bali at Paris.

TPsris Correspondence London Court jour
nall
II was Thought that the utmost eff
fort of elegance and good taste had
been made by Lady Cowley on the oc-
casion of the ball given TO the Prince
of Wales; but the fote given at the
Austrian Embassy on Tuesday throws
even that memorable triumph far into
the shade. Never since the days of the
great Napoleon, when the famous crys-
tai ball given by Prince Schwartzen-
burg, where every ornament was of
siras and cut glass the bali which ter
minated so fatally by the burning of
the hotel In which 1t took place-was
such maguiGceBce displayed as that
which greeted the eyes of the Princess
Nettcrnich's visitors on the above
mentioned evening. The rooms OF the
Embassy are known to be small and
poor, furnished with faded yellow
Iamps. but III suited for the reception
Of royal aud imperial guests But the
Princess MetteTnich has not been de
nominated in her own country "the
golden fairy for nothing. In the
tWinkling Of an eye, as If by magic,
arose from out the dreaIy mass of faded
WI lls and mirrors, all blaekened and
bedimmed, very palace of the Coral
Caves" vieing Iu richness and
romance with the most splen-
did inventions of Oriental poets,
tine more practical productions of
Onr 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
enclose the rare shrubs and flowers of
the parterre on which the apartments
occupied by the Princess open The
effect of this arrangement was magniti-
cent; the hangings of the walls, even
Of the artificial ones, destined to be
thrown down the next day, were of
green and pink fluted satin; innumera-
bic chandeliers, interviewer with flow
ers, made the light most brilliant, while
coneealing the means of lighting; and
over all now and then waved a brilliant
rainbow, green, orange, blue end pur-
pie, produced 10y the electric hight. 1T
the end of the great gallery thick chr
tains of tapestry had been drawn until
the arrival of the Imperial guests, when
suddenly they rose as the band struck
up "PaTtant pour In Syrie,' and the
view became dazzling In the extreme.
A splendid throne had been erected in
a kind of lighted boudoiT, and here 1T
was that the Imperial guests were led,
and where they could enjoy the most
wonderful coup a. IpUn ever before dis
played. a fountain arose in the midst,
lighted with electric light, and the
fairy rocks whence it was supposed TO
spring were all covered with aquat-
&c plants real, fresh, and but
lately torn from the cool 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 afford
ed by the scene, looked i'll and harass-
sed, was attired I'm evening costume,
blue coat and black silk smalls. The
upDer portion of his figure has grown
rather bulky for the legs, and the fash
ion of shoes much cut away on the i'm
step, which has been lately set by the
Due de MOuchy, detracts greatly from
the fHeSSe of the ankle. His Majesty
appears much less to advantage In this
costume than IN the generals uniform
he adopts on most occasions. The EN-
press, always charming in whatever at
tire she may choose to appear IN, wore
a strip of straw cOlOred satin embrOid-
white tullo OTnamented with hedge
roses, intermingled with pearls and dia-
mOnds. A little tOquet of stTaw-cOlOr-
cd satin and lace, made in the fashion
of that worn last of all by Marie An
tOinette, formed t.e cOiffure, and in the
sOftened light of the ballroom the eff
feet of the whole toilet was soft and
vapOry In the extreme. The Paris
ians were grateful TO Princess Meter
nich 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 pOutlie de Tie. ''How
have you managed, Princess, to display
SO much youth and beauty?' said the
Empress, as the groups of lovely wo-
men passed IN one ceaseleSS stream be-
fore the throne, bowling as they passed,
and glltterlng tor moment ike fiouTes
III magic mirror. '.Ahl that is my
secret, returned the Princess, laugh
ing. ''Ihey- are specimens from all
parts of France for the Exhibition. -
Presently the young brother of the Ty-
coon walked by In state, followed by
his tutor and attendants. He paused
to salute her Majesty with no ill-grace.
''You must dance Tonight" said her
Majesty, sweetly. NAY, your Aaies-
ty, replied the youth, 81 have too
much TO learn while L am young to
waste upon frivOlity; it will be time
enough 10 learn when / am
old" The Empress smiled, but
not being exactly of the same
opinion, said no more. and the
young Tycoon Withdrew, leaving the
small space ia front the throne vacant
for the next cOurtier. Thus did the
whole evening pass away, and when it
was over the Empress gracefully owned
that she had been for some hours in