The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-03-29
THE VANDERBILT BALL.
A Magnificent Scene at the Money Kings ysv
York Palace.


William <. Vanderbilt, Of New York. son Of
the famous railway magnate, William III
Vanderbilt, gave, on Monday night Last A
fancy dress ball, which, for its splendid effects.
lavish eostliness and brilliant company. haa
never been equaled in this, if IN any country.
! and whose combined attractiveness MIGHT bavs
excited ~ @avy Of the age Of Louis Qcinzs. or
OF the e0urtiers in the I.s-siez5 days Of the AZ
hanora. The house, palacial Itses-, With rs
deliberately carved light stone exterior, its PIN
nacies and towers, and CT interior cSatainfHg
an immense hall. royal dining roo.s;, winding
stairway, large ballroom, and the cosfI5s-s
marbles, paintings, and tapestries, is probabsY
the best suited for a ball Of this kind 0f any ~
the eity's costly dwellings. On Monday even
lhg,. When the rooms were as bright as day.
When the strains Of Lander's orchestra and ne
perfume OF banks and bouquets Of roses Sled
the AIR. when millions Of dollars IN iegve1gy
giittered, and New Xork's preu,lest and hand
soonest families, IN powder and wigs, mingled
IN the mimi g and the guadrille, the scene vas
more than the writer OF the Arabian Nirhts"
ever dreamed Of The cost Of the entertain-
ment has been widely Underguessad and exag-
geT2ted. The ces uTzes probably cost or -,
average, for the 500 guests present alout SID
apiece, though some Of taem rau into the thou
sands; the wine and The relreshmeuts, the
latter being prepared by the combined array of
Vanderbilt chefs, perhaps Si5G03. The flowers
would probably esst s., COS and the music.
tavors, extra service. walters, &c, probably
$4,000 more. Many Of the guests went earlier
than usual to avoid the crowd aud to see taa
company arrive. By 11:30 the rooms were fau
almost to discomfort. The halls and passaeez
had been turned into garden scene BY dense
masses Of palms and ferns, while the beds Of
roses set round the rooms in every available
space were the costliest ever seen in the city.
Mrs Vanderbiit's irrepr0achabls taste was
seen to perfection in her costume as q Venetian
Princess, taken from picture by CabOnel The
undeFSkirt was of white and yellow bFscade.
shading from the deepest orange to the Eghsess
canary, only the high lights being white The
figures of flowers and leaves were outlined In
gold, white, and irridescent beads. The Iight
blue satin train was embroidered magnifcensly
In gold, and lined with Roman red The waist
was of blue satin, covered with gold embr0id-
cry, the dress was cut square IN the neck, and
the flowing sleeves were of transparent gold
tissue She wore Venetian cap covered with
magnificent Jewels the most nOtcea5le Of these
being superb peacock in many-eol0red gems.
Lady Vaudeville, who received the guests with
Mrs Vanderbilt, wore costume copied from
picture by Vandyke, of a Princess de CroY.
The pettieoat was of black satin embroidered
in jet. The body and train were of black vel
vet, oFnamented with heavy Jet embroidery.
The whole was crowned with black Vandvks
hat and dropping plumes, turned up at one sids
and blazing with jewels.
Dir. w. K. Vanderbilt appeared as the Duke
de Guise, wearing yellow silk tights. yellow
and black trunks, a yellow dOublet, and black
velvet cloak, embroidered in gold, with the or
der of st. Michael suspended on black ribbon,
and with white wig, black velvet shoes and
buckles Hundreds of other costumes were al
most equally striking and costly.
At little after IL p. IA, to the strains Of Gil
mores Band the six quadriIIes, comprising In
all nearly 100 ladies and gentlemen, were
formed in order in the gymnasium and began
to move In a glittering professional pageant
down the grand stairway. In the HObby-Horsa
quadrille, with which the ball began, the horses
were the most wonderful things of the kind
ever constructed in this country. They wsEs
of hfe-size covered with genuine hides, had
large bright eyes and flowing names and tails,
but were light enough to be easily and com
fortably attached TO the waists Of the wcarers.
whose feet We're concealed by richly embF0i-
dered hangings. False legs were represented
on the outside of the blankets, so the deception
was quite perfect. The costumes were red
hunting coats, white satin vests, yellow satin
knee breeehes and white satin stockings The
ladies wore red hunting coats and white satin
skirts, elegantly embroidered All the dresses
were IN the style of Louis XIV Among the
other quadrilles were the Star QuadriIle thu
Opera Bouffe, the Mother Goose, the Dresden
China, danced by ladies and gentlemen In Won
derfuI and appropriate costumes.
Supper was served at small round tables in
the dining-room, whose massive oak carving
was much admired. The bill Of fare was eEa5-
crate, and combined ali the delicacies proeuza-
bic, In or out of season. The menus as well -
the souvenirs were of elegant make, the design
being embiematieal of Eastertide.