Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1883-03-27
, The VANDERBILT BALL..
The Most Brilliant Affair Ever
Witnessed in New York.
The Nabobs Of Gotham Gorge
ously Arrayed in Fancy
Costumes.
While Their Jewelled Partners
Sparkle in the Blec-
trio Glare.
The Magnificent Toilets Of the
Ladies and Gentlemen
Described.
! Graphic Scotch Of ths Interior
Decorations Of the
Mansion.
The Curious 0uadrilles and the
Lsaders Therein.

leaders Therein.
Tho Grand Opening.
pecial Dispatch 10 TIN BHs
NEW YORK, March 27.-The fancy
ball given last night by Mr.. and Mira.
VIM. K. Vanderbilt In their new house
was uuquestionable the most brilliant
and picturesque enterteinment ever
given In New York. The house itself,
seen as it was seen last night, under a
blaze of light and kindled into splen.
dor everywhere by MOSES and flowers,
and a moving throng of the most
varied and magnificent costumes, was
the most fitting framework an artist
could have asked for succession of
pictures so heterogeneous, 80 incongru-
Gus In detail, and yet In
their general effsot so dazzling
and SO attractive. Lots were drawn
Saturday last by the ladies in charge
of the quadrllles to decide the order
In which they should be danced, 1t
being previously agreed that the ball
should be opened by the "Hobby
Horse" quadrille, Fantastic set, under
the leadership OF Mrs. S. s. How.
land and Mr.. Jas. V. Parker. The
first place among the mo re picturesque
quadrilles was drawn by "Mother
Goose" qusdrille, under the leader
ship of Mrs. Lawrence Perkius. AT
little after IL, to the strains Of Gill
mores band, six quadrilles comprising
in all nearly one hundred ladies and
y gentlemen were formed In order in
the gymnasium and began to move
IN GLITTERING PROCESSION
down stairways and through the halls,
winding through motley crowd OF
princes, monks, cavaliers, Highland
ers, queens, kings, dairymaids, bull.
fighters, knights, brigands and mobiles.
The procession passed down the grand
stairway, through the hall into the
room on the front of the house In the
style of Francois first. Vast carved
cablaess and An immense deep 6ve
place gave an air of antique grandeur
to this room. From this the procession
passed Into the bright charming sailor
Of the style Of Louis XIV. On the
walls hung three French goblin tapes
tries century old, but In the bril-
llancy and freshness of their colorinf
seemingly a work of yesterday. Ovel
the chimney piece hangs superb por
trait of Mrs. Vanderbilt by Madrago
II of spirit, character and grace
Thence the procession swept on Int
= THE GRAND DINING HALL.
converted into ball room. In tn,
"Hobby Horse Qaadrille" the bal
began. The horses we're the mos
wonderful things of the kind ever con
structed In this country. The work.
men wore two months In finishin,
them. They were of life size, covere'
with genuine hides, and large, brlgh
eyes and f)wing names and tails, bu
were light enough to be easily and com
fortably attached to the waists of tn
wearera, whose feet were concealed b.
richly embroidsd hangings. Falls
legs wererepresented on tho outside o.
the blankets, 80 the deceptionI was uit
perfect. The costumes vera red hunt
Ing coats, white hats, satin vest, vel
low satin knee breeches, and whit
satin stockings. The ladies wore re-
hunting coats aud whits satin skirts
elegantly embroidered. all dresses II
the style of LOUIS XIV. This quad
rllle was organized by Mrs. Hnwlan'
with the help of Mrs. Richard Irvine
Mrs Robert and Mrs. James V. Pal
ker.
THE OPENING oUADRILLE
of the ball, however, was 18Th
Mother Goose" quadrille, led by Mri
Lawrence Perkins as Mother Coos
and Mr.. Oliver 81. Northcote as WI!
ard. Perhaps the most brillisr
qusdrille of the evening was til
." 5Opera Bouffs," organized by Fsl
nando and Yznsga, Histers of Mrs. "
X. Vanderbilt. In this qusdrille a.
pssred Miss Smith, another sister {
Mrs. W. X. Vanderbilt. Anoth'
striking qusdrille was the "Ssar qua'
rills" organized by Mrs. WIN. Asto
The ladies were arrayed as twin 81
ters in four colors yellow, blu
mauve and white. The gentleme
were in costumes of Henri Dsu
Still another was the old ''Dresde
quadrille," led by Mrs. JamesH HStron
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt organized
lively SEQ As You Please quadrllle
THE COSTUMES.
Among the hundreds of striking
uniq ue costumes but few can possib
be noted. These, however, will CO
vey some idea of the scene az 1t pi
seEted itself at midnight, when t
hall, the grand stairway and spacio
apartments were all thronged wi
animated groups enjoying the dout
pleasure OF seeing and being seen.
Mrs. Vanderbllts irreproachal
taste was seen to perfection In h
costume Of the Venetian Prince
taken from picture By Csban'
The undsrskirt was of white and y
low broeade, shading from the deepI
orange to the highest canary; fgul
of flowers and leaves were outlined
gold, white and irsdesceut beads; lie
blue satin train, embroidered mSgn
Gently In gold and lined vi
roman red. Almost the emit