The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-12-28
MRS. AsTOR's BALL.
A Coming Event Which Agitates New York
Society People.


New York Special.
The favorite topic of conversation among
society people is the number of private balls
announced for the first month of the new year.
While several of these will, it is thought, be
handsome affairs. it is generally expected
that the ball to be given by Mrs. VIM. Astor,
on January 81, will Outshine them all. That
all the arrangements of this grand ball will
be perfect will be readily guessed by all
those who know Mrs. Astor's good taste.
Preparations for it have even now been
begun. That the house. corner Fifth avenue
and Thirty fourth street, is we'll fitted for
ball, all those who have enjoyed Mrs. Astors
hospitality we'll know, and can easily form
an idea of the beauty OF the scene as it will
appear when the lights of a myriad OF gas-jets
will fall through softlyshaded globes on the
fair faces and gay dresses of ladies' for which
the black coat will form an effective back
ground as they wander about amid the tall
palm trees in the richly-furnished apartments.
The hall at Mrs. Astor's home is thought by
many to be the finest in the country, and it
certainly is one of the brightest and most
pleasant being all in deep blue and white. The
floor is of.white marble and is wide and spa
cious. On the right side as one enters is the
celebrated fireplace in blue and white china
finished in brasses On either side of it are
tall candelabras to correspond, and which at
tracted so much admiration at the Philadel-
phia Centennial Exposition. Here too, are
oriental rugs and China stools of dark-Dlue.
The fine portrait of Mr. John Astor hangs
further back on the other side just beyond
the niche in which marble statue stands
and where the marble stairway begins.
The stairs will be ornamented with palms
and gutta percha trees, and the dark greeAssf
their foliage will form a striking corttrsst ~
sae w iass st3ae the ifst room 70 the left
is the reception room, which is charmingly
cd nd 6opnratp6 wi a q
dainty bric-a- brac, while on the wall are
number of fine paintings. The door
opposite is seldom used except in
case of an entertainment, but the drawing
room, on which it opens, is really beautiful
in decoration and coloring, all of which is in
the lighter shades, even the tapestries par
taking of the delicate coloring The second
room which opens off this, is furnished in
crimson and ebony. The mantel in this
room, instead of being on one side, after the
usual fashion, fills a corner. Beyond this is
the room generally used by the family as
sitting-room, and which is furnished in rich
dark colors while. opening from it is the
long dining-room, the walls of which
are hung with tapestries. and from which
wide folding doors lead to the picture
gallery This gallery is where the dancing
will take place. and was built some time after
the rest of the house. The beauty of the pic
lures that adorn the walls is we'll known, but
on this occasion the spaces between them are
to be filled with flowers and green's while
screen of exotics will hide the musicians.
Pinard is to serve the supper, but what the
menu will be he cannot be induced to tell.
The service to be used is made entirely
OF solid silver and gold and of beaten
work, with repousse design OF foweyS and
fruits. Even the platters are of these pre-
cious metals, the entire dinner set having
been made by Kirk, of Baltimore. The in
vitations have not yet been issued, but it is
thought that 700 of those society people of
whom Mrs. Aston is an acknowledged leader,
will be there, including most of those who
appeared at the Patriarchs' ball last week at
Delmonico's.