Middletown transcript., 1883-03-30
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The gilt-edged circles Of New York
society were on Monday night treated
to the biggest thing in the way of a
fancy-dress ball they had ever seen.
1t was given BY Mrs. William X. Van
derbilt and cost about 500, 900. Will
liam KS big mansion is at the corner
Of Fifth avenue and Fifty-seeond street.
Here he has collected S5,000,0 900 worth
Of art treasure, and, having no poor re-
lations, is supposed to be tolerably
happy. The guests began to arrive
about midnight and soon the fiddling
and dancing began in the grand dining
room. One thousand invitations had
been sent out and but few of those in
vited sent regrets. The floral decora-
tions are said to have cost SIC, 900. A
correspondent thus describes some of
the costumes:
Mr.. William X. Vanderbilt repre-
sented the Duke De Guise. He made
a pretty respectabIe-looking duke as
dukes 60, and his clothes were first
class. His tights were Of yellow silk,
and the trunks, mantle and the rest of
it were in yellow and black satin. The
lovely wife Of Cornelius Vanderbilt
represented electric light, and the light
came from a magnificent tiara of dia-
monds. She was accompanied by three
of her six very pretty children-a little
girl dressed to represent rose, another
as little countess and lad who was
Sinbad, the Sailor. Miss Ada Smith, a
sister Of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
was peacock, SO she declared. At
all events her dress and long train
were covered with real peacock feathers
and the ornament in her hair repre-
sented the top-knot Of that strong
voiced bird.
Mrs. Seward Webb, w. III. Wander
bilt's daughter, represented hornet
the imitation, in yellow and brown,
with gauze wings, was excellent. Mrs.
TWombly, another daughter of w. H.,
was magnifcently appareled, visible
costume being most precious stones,
rubies, turquoise, opals, diamonds and
pearls. Mrs. John Jacob Astor was
there with her S250,000 worth Of
diamonds 50 was Mrs. Astor /; so was
everybody that is anybody. The young
men were, as a rule, rather quiet in
their dress, and the number of legs
shown was not large. One young fellow
with plump extremities rather surprised
the ladies by appearing as Columbine
in feshlings and gauzy skirts and low
neck dress and bare arms. He looked
pretty, too. a Clown and Harlequin
supported him. Miss Terry was
Autumn, with wheat and corn in orna-
ments and jeweled scythe. Miss Work
was most picturesque Joan Of Arc,
her halmet, cutlass and gauntlets being
Of solid silver mail, the bodice, leggings
and shoes being Of steel cloth. Marie
Antoinette was represented by Miss
Edith Fish. Mr.. Hamilton Fish Webs
ter was picturesque in the costume Of
Spanish muleteer Miss Bessie Webb
was Madame LIE Diable, i'll red satin
dress with black velvet demon EN-
broidered on it and the trimming being
a fringe ornamented with the heads and
horns Of little demons. The men, as
a general thing, ran to Louis XIV.
clothes, and almost all of these cavaliers
were awkward enough and few knew
how to manage their swords, and it is
but right to say that their legs were
not always just what they should be.
Mr.. Luther T. Kountze as Don Car
los wore costume noticeable for its his
torical correctness. The eknee-breeches
were embIazoned in gold trimmings.
His coat was of yellow satin, fest0Oned
with gold braid and spangles. A purple
cloak, also brilliantly embroidered,
hung loosely from his shoulders. His
head was ornamented with a red cap,
from which dangled a plume. A large
Toledo blade, over three hundred years
oldA completed the custume. Mrs.
Ikas sIer Kountze represented Music, and
II costume was Of the most beautiful,
costly and unique design. Her dress
was Of red satin. The underskirt was
of white satin, trimmed with five rows
of black velvet. The bodice was low
and cut square, and was adorned with
gold bugles and bangles. A music
scale containing notes in gold was
worked on a black velvet strip across
the bodice. The sleeves were trimmed
with black lace. Her cap was OF red
satin, handsomely trimmed with gold
braiding, triangles, bells and balls.
She carried a genuine Spanish mandolin
in her arms i'll a graceful manner.
Nine. Christine Nilsson represented
Marie Stuart. She wore black velvet,
elaborately embroidered in jet, and
with a head-dress OF black velvet and
jet.
Miss Amy Townsend, as the Fairy
Queen i'll Iolanthe, wore a short skirt
Of creamy white cashmere, embroidered
in gold, under long train of the same,
looped high in front. The low-cut
waist formed glittering, golden armor
across the front of which hung three
ropes Of diamonds. From the shoulders
sprang wings of gold-spangled tulle.
She wore diamond necklace, star Of
diamonds in the hair and carried gold
wand. Mrs. Henry Clems, as Fire,
wore dress embroidered with flames
Of tinsel. Mrs. Sanford, wife Of the
Belgian Minister, wore superb Nene-
tian costume. Mrs. Ogden Gollet |
wore a pretty Polish riding costume,
with short flying jacket.
After a professional march the ball |
opened with the Hobby-horse Quadrille.
1t was funny. The horses were very
life-like, with horse-hide and hair cover
ing, nice glass eyes and real names and |
tails. They were light and fitted
around the waist of the wearer, whose
feet were hidden by the long trappings.
Then dummy legs and feet in the case
of the men and false riding-habit in
the case Of the ladies completed the
illusion.