The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1885-07-05
FANCY DRESS BALLS IN PARIS.
Novelties introduced by the Princess de Sagan
New lGlnans IicaYune paris Letter


New Orleans Picayune Paris letter.
The fancy dress ball which the Princess de Sagan
gives every year about this time Is OF the few
wonders of Inc French capital. The Princess ia Of
bourgeois birth, daughter of nnancier. Her
brother, the Baron Seere, purchased his title, and
the Prince de Sagan regilded the family coat OF
with her dot. 1t was not happy marriage, and
separation followed: but she always held good
place in society and has preserved her reputation in
Prince of Wales There is no quarreling between
herself and her husband; the latter has his own
house and never bothers her, nor does she bother
him. The Prince Is president OF the Cerclede la
Rue Royale better known the Little Jockey
Club" 1t has charge OF all the seeplechases and
cross country races at Auteui and elsewhere, while
the Jockey Club looks after the nat races. The
Princess, who occupies round way up near the top
OF the social ladder, lives In the Rue st. Dominique
street which Ia the very heart and centre Of the
aristOcratc FaubOurg -. German. The Hotel lie
Sagan is OF the most splendid mansions in Paris
The house and its grounds the whole space be-
tween the Rues ST. Dominique and Grenelle and the
Esplauade des 1nyalides; the enormous garden or
1t was here that Marshal Dayout, Prince d EckInuh
lived during the First Empire; after he died in 1925
1t was sold to banker named Hope, who spent eight
million francs In improvements; he used TO give
balls and fees which were the social wonders OF the
reign OF Louis Philippe, who became bankrupt, and
as NJ. Seillere was his principal creditor he
purchased II AS wedding present for his
daughter. When the Princess dc Sagan gives sum-
mer fete II IL sure 10 he something original Last
year 1t was revival of Watteau-like fees champe-
tres In which Marie Antoinete and the ladies OF her
court took so much pleasure; this year the invita-
tons requested the invites TO wear costumes repre-
senting the animal Kingdom as described by Button.
The bal-it took place last night-was preceded by
a dinner, at which there were as many as ninety
guests. AT the head Of the principal table sat Baron
Seilliere got up TO look like the Naturalist Button,
and the feast lasted until Huch late hour that the
bathrooms were already pretty well filed before 1t
came to an end. The Princess had sent out over
1900 invitations, and though the death Of tile young
son OF the Duke de Chartres and OF the Duke de
Noailes Kept members of the Orleans family and
some Of the celebrities OF the faubourg away, there
were but few regrets sent In, and long before mid
without being Oycrcrowdcd. The guests, on leaving
their carriages In the Cour dhOuneur, passed up a
broad flight OF stone steps TO the first salon, where
the hostess stood 10 receive them The Princess
wore gorgeous peacock costume, which presented
all the splendOr OF JunO's favore bird. over the
gorge de Ddon blue skirt covered with large peacock
feathers. embroidered In gold and silver, hung
cock feathers and precious stones: the long train
was OF old rose satin, covered with peacock feathers
and the corsage was entirely made OF feathers
taken from the throat Of the same bird; al
her waist she wore an enormous peacOcks tail, 40
arranged that she could spread and close 1t at will
aigreite. formed the head-dress The whole produced
truly dazzling effect heightened by the diamonds
with which her neck arms, and shoulders were liter
ally covered 1t would not be easy give full list Of
all who were present, but OF course the Princess
Leon was there, and 80 too was the Countess Aiery
de la .ItocneIoucauld The Countess was Mile
Maille. She il iine-looking woman, with some
thing OF the appearance OF Marie Antonette about
her Her sisters, the Countess Of Kersani and the
Countess Francois de Gonlaui, both OF the ie geur
OF the French arIstocracy, were also present. The
husband OF this last-named lady IS one OF the four
teen children OF the Marquis and Marqnise de
Gontaut The Gontaut family also live In The Rue
81. Dominique. The Duchess de Ia ltochefoucauld
and her husband can boast TO have some OF the best
blood Of France and OF Spain In their veins. Though
born In 1si3 and the mother OF four children. she
still ranks al Of the beauties Of Paris; she has
lot OF blooded horses IN her stables and several
splendid carriages TO ride out In; the white lyeries
OF her servants rival the red Of the Princess de
Sagan. The Duchess represented the maternal bird
which forms the central figure In the coat OF arms
of your State; Nine. Ephrussi, nee Rothschild, was
a woodcock; the Countess de Ganay-Hhe il one OF
the 1--WE daughters OF the Duchess de Mallle, nee
wealthy Miss Ridgeway, an American girl, who
married the ylscount de Mallc. The eldest daughie
of the Duchess was only prevented by ill-health
member OF less austere religious order In Austria.
The Countess de Ganay was a bat, While Mrs. Dea-
con, daughter Of Admiral Baldwin, an extraordinary
handsome woman, was a ny; Inc Marquise de
Heryy dc ~. Denis was an ibis; Nine. Henri
Schneider was snake, the Countess PAU
ess Uxkul, wife Of the Russian Ambassador to
Rome, as butterfly, Nine. Lambert Rotlschld as a
fema.e panther and the Princess de Wagram a
white cat, were among those costumes which at
tracted most attention. ON terrace at one end OF
the park there was second orchestra Of one hun
dred musicians who played for those who wished TO
promenade In the magnltcenily illuminated grounds.
AT midnight drum corps beating the long-rol an
bounced the close Of the entertainment, wheTeupOn
rush made for the DGerie des Jetes. This Is
large ballroom decorated a IA Louis XVI, with Inn
mense mirrors, white ana god columns, and loggias
painted with copies OF the ete gdides, by Boucher,
Fragonard, aud other Eighteenth Century masters.
At the upper end Of this ballroom stood AN enormous
hive whence presently came swarm OF charming
bees each wore brown satin cofaelet striped with
yellow gold iue skirts, brown saith aprons covered
with gold Bpangles, pair OF gold gauze wlngs, aud
gilt helmet. There were ten Of them, and they
went round ana about In sort OF confused, almleea
dance until presently an equal number OF hornets
made their appearance, whcreupOn The frightened
bees gathered In corner around their queen, The
Countess de Goniaut The hornets wore brown
satin knee-breeches and pourpOlnis striped with
yellow. After executing war dance around thc
hive they discovered the fwarming bees, and q
chase followed, which ended In the latter being
rounded; then the queen bee selected Count Juan
de beaumont as KING Of the hive, the others ast
paired OIL ana the ballet ended In q waltz, in wliici
everybody was al liberty 10 Join