The Portland daily press., 1883-03-26
MILLIONS FOR SHOW.
Preparation for the Vanderbilt Fancy
Dress Ball.

PREPARATION for the Vanderbilt Fancy
Dress Ball.
New York, March 25-The mansion Of
William X. Vanderbilt was oil light and con-
fusion tonight The final preparations for the
fancy dress ball OF next Monday night were
about as fiurrying as the event itself Is likely
10 prove. A tremendous hubbub was being
made BY cooks and decorators. The kitchen
was tiled with experts and helpers from the
families OF w lillian II. Vanderbilt and Corne-
Ties, as we'll as William *. 3 own corps Mr.
Fanderbilt'S head cook receives the large sala-
ry OF $1,000 year. Under him are over half
z dozen other cooks whose salaries run from
Sa0Uo TO S20G0a year. William IL q head cook
zsceiyes a salary OF $1,000, and Cornelius pays
ais a similar sum. Thus there will be no call
upon Delmonico, Pinard or other restaurateurs
- N usually the case, and, II Is estimated that
ne supper will cost upward OF $25, 900. Twelve
barrels OF -four have been ordered for cake and
pastry, and 100 dozen eggs. The lettuce for
salads has been ordered Of various large mark
CTS, and 900 heads will be used The ices will
pe M ~ forms appropriate 10 Easter,s such as eggs,
nttie chickens and ducks, ascension lilies tu-
lips and crocuses, and will be served on hnest
sevres ware, with gold spoons The 1900 nap.
kins TO 20 used are OF the finest damask, each
costing 20. There will be what Is known as a
continuous supper served in the parlor.
frames were being put Ia place for the flowers
Whlch are TO be brought In fresh from the hot
nonsea, On Monday vast quantities of bou-
Eainviiea, that new deep pink flower, will be
USED IN decorations, as well ms the early spring
n1owefs, such as the crocus and tulip. The
dressing rooms will be decked by few vases
" fragrant roses and lighted with innumera-
PIE waxen candles, shaded in pink aud yellow.
FouhtainH OF cologne will be placed IN each
fgutn, Tho house, by the way, Is not one OF
she'bfown stone blocks built by William III.
Vanderbilt, bat is structure by itself at 60
Fifth avenns The second floor contains six
large drawing rooms, as well as a ballroom as
large as many public hall, and will cor tain
the great portion OF the floral decorations fur
nished. They will cost over $4,000 The
grand staircase and the walls Of the mansion
are entirely OF rare marbles In someIrooms plain,
II others carved In various fantastic designs.
lhnS II Will be impossible TO deck the walls,
but the baluslrade and newell rail will be hid
den Ia rarest roses, and about the drawing
rooms aud ballroom will be placed huge jar
dinieres Of Japanese and Persian workman
ship, tiled with flowers, principally roses.
Most Of the roses 10 be used Ia the decora-
tions are imported. Beautiful blush and Span
ish roses, almost az large as a small cabbage,
fragrant Bon Silene and Mermet, the pure
white Morrison ard Niphetos buds, as well
as the brilliant Jacqueminot and Douglas rose,
viii be used in great proiuson, their bright
beauty show ng in relief against the marble Of
the walls. The-musicians will be entirely hid
den from view by bower OF roses and palms
Supper will deserved in the banquet rooms on
the first floor. Here the floral decorations viii
be ON smaller scale than up stairs. All the
nurseries Of Long island and New Jersey are
taxed 10 their utmost 10 supply sufficient roses
aud lilies, violets ana pansies for the occasion,
the drain being double a. present, with Easter
az hand. Large vases Of tropical plants, Aus
traltan palms, India rubber plants and tall
ferns will be placed Ia the vast square hall-
ways, and also ON the landings OF the staircas-
es hanging baskets, filed with roses and smi-
lax, will depend from the ceiling aud doorway.
One Of the special features in the floral decora-
tion IS to be huge bank OF imported roses,
several feet high, which will probably be
placed at one end Of the ballroom, where its
beauty will reflect in the shining and slippery
floor.