The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-15
BALL N HONOR OF GEORGE PEABODY.

aud Amusing Scenes.
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, August ii, 1859.
These Springs, where In the olden times the
Southern political leaders discussed and matured
plans ~ perpetuate their power, were never the
scene before OF so brilliant and gorgeous pageant
as they were last evening on the occasion OF the ete
IN honor OF Mr.. Peabody. The beauty grace and IN
tel!ect OF the South and North, In brilliant, stylish
and costly costume, paid homage to the great Pit.
lanthroptst aud In doing so illustrated how easy 1t
is to obterae the trace OF birthplace and the petty
rivalry OF Sections when people left free by
the politicians to follow their better lnclina-
TONS In the same vast ballroom sh0ne
resplendently the fair daughters OF vir.
ginla. New York. the Carolinas. Pennsylvania
the District OF Columbia, Mississippi. Louisiana and
Kentucky, and it would have been dhlcult for the
keeneseyed observer to have told the birth place Of
any OF them, so lndiscrimlnate were the beaux In
their attentions to them all The palm OF beauty
among this host OF beauties seemed however, mar
rowed down by general consent to two fair contest
ants-b0th blondes-Miss Vance, OF Louisville, and
Miss S0uter, or New York. II your correspondent
had been elected umpire he would, without doing
violence 70 his taste conscience. have decided IN
favor OF the claims OF the latter OF the rival bellies
The presence Of the beauties named and their gallant
escorts and admirers did not constitute the only at
ractve feature OF the ball by any means. for there
were In attendance from half dozen States distin.
guished married ladies' OF the class who give to
American society, and distinguished military men
and civilians OF more or less national reputation.
General Robert H. Lee. owing the recent death or
his brother, Commodore ). D.. Lee. did not particl-
Wise, Commodore Maury, Colonel ]. S. Mosby,
Generals Gary and 0Conner, OF South Carolina;
the ese a
may remark that no young gentleman now at
the White sulphur pays the ladies' more I'M
and rumOr has revived the report OF last seasonthat
he Is addressing, with fair prospects OF success, a
belle from Lynchburg. His attentions TO her are
certainly very MARKED and see no reason why she
should not appear here next summer as the brilliant
Mrs. General Beauregard. did not observe Biacque
beauties among the Vlrginian bellies looked bewitch-
ing in bright cOlOred satin and sparkling jewels as
"the Light OF the Harem."
minable German was being done IN the small hours
of the morning The supper was a splendid affair."
and fully in keeping with the rest OF the entertain
ment. Sparkling wine flowed In profuson and sea-
soned the suppertable talk OF one OF the most bril-.
liant companies that ever sat down to table IN the
spacious dining nall OF the White sulphur. BY the
way you VIII be able to judge OF the scale upon
which everything here Is gotten up when inform
you that this nall has capacity FOR dining LOCO per.
sons comfortably.
You need not conclude from the list above that the
conspicuous gentlemen whose names are given are
the only persons OF note here for there are hun
dredS who IN their states and Localities occupy In
nuentlai positions. For instance, there are hall
dozen Virginia judges whose legal attainments give
character and weight to the decisions of the
OF that State, members and ex members Of State
Legislatures, ex-memDers Of Congress and represen-
tativeS Of the press from six States. These, of
course, Oil help to make the general society here re-
markedly attractive and entertaining to visitors who
enjoy something else at place like this besides
pretty faces, music and sulphur water.
The bali was perfect gaiaXy OF Southern youth
and beauty, with sufficient representation from the
great North to make contrast. 1t was easy TO dis
tinguish the Northern from the Southern Dee, not
IN the style OF beauty 80 much Is IN the
manner OF each, their dress and general deportment
Your Northern beauties, familiar with the
glare and glitter of fashion, the pomp and
display SO often presented at Long Branch,
they were whirled IN the gddy Of the dance.'
They we're all charming, II not fascinating, b there
was peculiar arstocratlc motion connected with
them when singled out among the host OF Southern
beauties by whom they were surrounded. An easy,
graceful ana dgnlfled bearing distinguished the
Southern ladies' that was fOrcDle and striking, and
their attire though becOmingy fashionable. was d.
vested or that extreme gaudness and display 80 re.
maEkable In their fair cousins. All were. however,
bewtcnIngly lovely in their gay costumes, ana. II
report speaks the truth, many gallant cavalier was
made captive by the fair ones on this delightful
SO charming were all the ladies in appearance
that 1t would be invdiOus to make distinctions; but
HERALD give q few OF the Characters and costumes
among the thr0ng One that attracted great atten-
ton was Miss F. Turner OF New York, who appeared
as Marie AntOlnette, In the fun costume OF the
French Court with powdered hair and white
plume looking really queeniy and digniied, and as
she danced WIN Coione Kasa Of louisiana louisiana as raul
observers. Miss Mary Maben. OF Richmond, as the
Cleaner, with white underskirt striped with Differ
ent cOior5 scarlet tunic black velvet BODICE wreath
Of wheat and wild lowers, and beautiful white
lace scarf round her shoulders, made very charm
ing appearance ,I Miss Fannie Rutherford, Of Rich.
Bell Campbell OF Richmond, who Is q blonde-and
blondes are now the tavorites-lcoked charming IN
dress OF blue silk under body Of smoked tissue, tur-
ban OF rainbow silk and tulle veil spanged with rain
drops Miss Flora Allen, OF the same city, wore Q
tulle overskrt, Topped with aowers aud leaves, and
was much admired as Summer. Miss Mary Thomas,
OF Baltimore, personated the Daughter Of the Regi.
ment, wearing dress of white satin striped down.
cateen; and the graceful little hat Of the character
set with military air which was admirable. Miss
Sallle Montague, of Richmond, was very pretty as
MOonshtne, in dress OF white tarlatan blue over
skirt OF silk, white veil and blue mask. Miss Mary
Kent, OF Richmond another blonde with
OF White unaarkt Of ~ Write st and
white illusion veil, and was greatly admired. Miss
Mary Wynne, OF Baltimore, wore q dress OF white
iOred leaves, wings trimmed with gold lace lowers,
and her hair was powdered. Miss Sallie Ruther.
ford OF RichmS1d wore , fqIl BAL dress Of white
the same city, beauty appeared as Peg WOfi1ng
tom in dress OF blue silk trimmed with point lace
powdered. She was greatly admired because Of her
graceful and majestic FORM and was recognized as
one Of the beauties OF the occasion. Miss Skpwirh,
presented the Persian Girl, In magnificent dress of
silver FOIL turban OF same, with three pendant plaits
wrapped with pearls. Mrs. James Syms, dig
mined matr0n of Richmond and leader OF the ton,
appeared exceedingly graceful In full dress Of
pearcoored silk, white and plush wreath OF now
ers and collar OF costly lace Mrs. Connor of Loui-
siana rs the Marquise, personated that character
to perfection, In q pink silk skirt over dress OF
green satin made In the Watteu style and wearing
satin pearl necklace. Miss Thayer, OF New YORK,
as the Shepherdess, was charming. She
wore an Overskirt OF pink silk and I'M
derskirt OF muslin. Mrs. General Conner,
OF South Carolina, formerly Richmond belle, who
married the General at the cessation Of hostitles,
wore full bail dress. She ID another beautiful
blonde and in a lilac MORE antique Dress bertha Of
point lace, and handsome necklace OF pearls, looked
exceedingly charming. Miss Taylor, Of georgia,
still another blonde and beauty, wore dress Of
white tariatan trimmed with artificial leaves. Her
hair thick and iuxurant, was loose flowing below
the waist and she attracted considerable attention
Miss Shifi Of New Orleans as Queen Elizabeth, wore
dress of green velvet, ermine all round, open in
front; MORE antique petticoat, embroidered IN god
with magnificent jewels to suit. She ID also q
vifrh lSvnr