Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-24
ARTHUR WASTES AN HOUR
To See if He Might Properly Attend
Minister Vests Masked Ball as
Hamlet


Minister Vests Masked Ball as
Hamlet"
A Washington special of the 20th to the
Boston Globe says: "The President spent
an hour this morning looking up prece-
dents guiding the social conduct of Presi-
dents. He wished to lind precedent to
enable him to attend an entertainment at
foreign Minister'S house. He was not
successful. The social code declares that
the President can call at the residence of
a citizen of this country, but not on any
member of a foreign legation, as that
would be beneath him in his official ca
pacity. Mr.. Arthur really wished to at
tend the brilliant masked ball given at the
British Minister'S tonight. 1t is said he
wished to go in the character of Hamlet
Mrs. McElroy and Miss McElroy. how.
ever, were among the guests. The
ball was given in honor of the
two younger daughters of Minis
ter West. They are about Miss
McElroy's age, and are not in society.
Nellie Arthur was very anxious to 90 the
the ball, and pleaded very hard TO be
allowed to do so, but Mr.. Arthur did not
think it best. When he found he could
home and take care of him. To this she
cheerfully assented. Miss West is a very
deYOut Catholic, and some surprise is oc-
casiOned by the fact that the ball is given
during Lent. AS it is in honor of the
younger ladies, and very private, il does
not make SO much matter. The guests
numbered over 200. Not all of the ladies
were masked. This was left principally
to the young ladies. The costumes were
NJ Iosq,f ha
principally to the members of the diplo-
matte corps. Mr.. West makes a distinc-
ton between his Official and his
private entertainments. A very
limited number of Americans are
invited to his private affairs. The rule
adopted among the male portion of the
diplomatic corps tonight was for all the
gray-haired men to wear dark wigs ana
all the young men gray wigs and Whisk-
ers. This made an interesting confusion.
Young ladies would rush up to the Young
men, and, thinking them as venerable as
they looked, would express in round
terms their horror of those stupid young
men. When the gay maskers came to un-
mask, explanations were in order. 'Of
course" said the ladies, ''we knew all
about il all the time, and simply tried to
keep up your delusiOn. The Chinese
Minister found it impossible to disguise
himself. He put on high black wig and
long, dark cloak. He looked very much
like the heavy william in play, and i'm
agined for a short time that his disguise
was complete. His feet, however, betrav-
ed him, and as the guests were con
tinually coming up and addressing him
as Mr.. Ju, he began to suspect that some |
thing must be wrong. His delusion was |
completely lost when the butler spoke to |
him by name and asked him to have !
some wine. He swore a big Chinese oath |
and tore off his mask. Baron de Struye.
the Russian Minister, wore an immense |
gray Wig that hung down on his shOul- |
ders. He rather Overdid the matter, how |
ever, by using a large staff to assist him |
in walking. A very pretty domino came |
up to him and said, ''GOOd evening. |
Baron" The Baron speaks very good |
English, and replied III that tongue. The |
domino was suspected Of being Miss Me |
ElrOy. The Baron, by the use of a little |
succeeded in throwing the |
young lady off the scent. Baroness de /
Struye wore plain black domino, with a /
pink ribbon at the throat and bunch of |
yiOlets on her breast. Mrs. West was not |
in costume. The two Misses West wore /
black dOminOs trimmed with blue and /
cardinal ribbons. Miss McElrov was /
also attired in similar costume. The le- |
CATION was brilliantly Illuminated A /
number of masquerade balls are expect |
ed to follow the Que given tonight.