Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-03-29
The Vanderbilt Fancy Ball.

The greatest social and fashionable event
ever seen in New York was the fancy ball
given by Mrs. W. II. Vanderbilt. Monday
night. One account says;
There were 200 invitations issued, and be
sure that of this number there were very few
indeed if any declensions. If such an occa-
sion rs this was neglected bv any one of
those invited, that individual would in the fu
ture lead a lift of regrets, and might as well
be out of the world of fashion forever The
work of decorating the house for the recep-
ton of the guests went on all day. The
Aoral display was something marvellous. All
the cOnservatories of New York were levied
upon, and even our Boston florists contribut-
ed of their stores wherewith to add t. the en-
chantment of the scene. Fifth and Madison
avenues and all the fashionable streets of the
metropolis were giddy with excitement and
the sound of rivelry by night that was
heard at the famous ball Of the Duchess of
Richmond at Brussels on the eve of Water
loo, was as nothing to the sound of revelry here,
while we dare say, the soft eyes that looked
love to eyes that spake again. were az bright
and brilliant rs any that were ever drawn TO-
gether on a similar occasion.
1t was after ten o'clock when the guests
began to arrive, and it was not until past
eleven that our oll-time friend L. S Gil
more, waved his baton as signal for the
opening of the ball On with the dance
A portion of the programme consisted in the
dancing of six quadrilies arranged especially
for the occasion. These were the ''Hobbv
Horse Quadrile.' the Mother Goose Quad
rllle." the Opera Boufe Qiadrile." the
"Star Quadrille, the Dresden Quadrlle,"
and the go rs you-please Qladrile." and
the costumes of those who took part in them
were in design especially adapted to harmon
ixe with the characteristics of the dance.
Thus the dancers in the "tIobby Horse" ap-
peared as horses. They were of life size
covered with genuine hides. had large. bright
eyes and flowing names and tails. but were
light enough to be easily and comfortably at
tached to the waists ot the wearers. whose
feet were concealed by richly embroidered
hangings. False legs were represented on
the outside of the blanket. The costumes
were red hunting coats. white satin vests
yellow satin knee -breeches, and white satin
stockings. The ladies wore red hunting
coats and white satin skirts, elegantly en-
broidered. and all the dresses were in the
style OF Louis XIV. There WAS nothing
new or startling in this. The basket-horse
business has often been done on the stage.
and anv one who has ever seen the opera of
"The Enchantress" knows all about il. The
other Quadrilles, as their names indicate,
were of course appropriately costumed.
When the ball was at its height there was
seen a motley collection of costumes of all
nationslities. There were monks and cavs-
liers, highlsnders and lowlsuders, kings and
queens, princes and priucesses, peers and
peasants, knights and mobiles. Never before
in New York were seen such rich and glitter
ing costumes, never before such a flashing of
costly gems.
For weeks upon weeks the guests had been
busy in fsshioning their dresses. Many were
made abroad bu, the majority were the handi
work of the local modistes, and many of the
designs for the dresses were drawn by promi
nent artists. In order that here should not
be too many costumes of one kind, de.crip-
tons of the costumes were submitted before
hand to Lady Vaudeville. Every costume
was q fancy one, and the wearing of the ordi-
nary evening dress was strictly prohibited
80 We may infer that among the guests there
was nowhere to be seen a representative OF a
lady or gentleman of the present day.
Mrs. William X. Vanderbilt, under whose
immediate auspices the great affair was i'm
bued with life, wore the costume of Vene-
tian princess. The underskrt was of white
and yellow brocade, shading from the deepest
orange to the lightest canary, only the high
lights being white. The figures of flowers
and leaves were outlined in gold, white and
iridescent beads. The train was of light blue
satin. embroidered in gold and lined with Ro-
man red. Almost the entire length of the
train was caught up at one side, forming
large puf. The waist vas Of blue satin. COW
Or. 4 with gold embroidery. The dress was
cut square in the neck, and the flowing sleeves
were of transparent gold tissue. Mrs. Van
derbilt also wore Venetian cap covered with
magnificent jewels, the most noticeable Of
these being superb peacock in many colosed