The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-31
sHANaHArs BAL PoUDRE.
soenes Of Magnifcence and Dazzling
Brilliance.
From the Ne,o York Press.

SHANGHAI, June Sit is 2 o'clock and
.bs sound of the silver gong for tiffin has
srst reused me from sweet and dreamful
s.laep-but then it was broad daylight, $50
oclock when we drove home this morning
f-om the long talked of and really magnif-
cont Sassoon bal poudre.
Unless it was the famous Vanderbilt ball
,rbicb we read about, l don't believe YOU
tove ever had anything like it in New
WORK.. and, tired as l am, would like to
begin and go through the night all over
"7"There is no use my trying to describe
.be hall in its details, but | must tell you
ss1mething of it's chief feature, the cotillon,
as we call the german in this very English
colony here.
Mr. Sassoon, as think told you before,
;sa very rich English banker, a connection
nf the RothschiIds, bachelor, and a man
who never does things by halves, either in
the business or social world. For this occa-
sion he built ball room which might be
described as huge gem. The walls were
covered with long French mirrors, alternat-
ing with panels of superb blue, mingled
With eold-the Sassoon colors-and all the
nortieres and dIvans were of the Same hues.
The floor itself had a border nearly a
ward deep of snow white azaleas, the effect
of which was novel and beautiful. At each
end of the room was large alcove lined
with brilliant flowers. And such flowers!
One does not know the meaning of the word
until they come to China. In one alcove
sat the orchestra, in the other stood tables
covered with favors. The latter had been
ordered from Paris months beforehand at
a cost, it is said, of $4,000, and that sum
does not seem excessive, considering the
beauty and value OF the articles.
There were five dances before the cotil-
lon, then we were served with ices, sher-
bets, etc, in the banquet hall When we
came back with our partners for the cOtil-
ion. the leaders, Baron GrimSdorg and Mrs.
Sassoon (the sister-in-law of our host, stood
at the door and presented US with long
shepherds crooks of pure silver. At the
top of each was huge bouquet of rare
blossoms, tied on with exQuisitey EN-
broidered ribbons.
The color of the ribbon designated which
of the four sets the owner belonged to. OF
course / was charmed to find my crook
carving blue and gold of the house of Sas-
the first and head set. You can imagine
how we'll the crooks harmonized with the
powdered heads and Dresden tinted gowns
of the ladies' many of whom are exceed
ingly pretty.
It was past midnight when the cotillon
began, and there were forty-five figures,
short of course, some beautiful and others
most grotesque, the favors for all per
fectly lovely"
There were beside the silver crooks broad
sashes of MORE ribbon, specially woven in
Lyons and of the most exquisite tints; there
were great drums of gilt filled with French
bon-bons. The daintiest hand screens of
lace, ivory and silver; bonbonieres of satin,
velvet and plush; the back ground for
miniature scenes perfectly painted; cOquet
fish aigrettes for the hair and beautiful fans
of long ostrich plumeS, with handles of
carved mother of pearl BY the way, | am
never sorry to add to my collection of fans,
for while it is not the thing to carry with
one making calls, etiquette demands that
your drawing-room shall be supplied with
a sufficient quantity to meet the needs of
any number of callers, the fan TO be offered
almost with the salutation.
To return to the favors-there is no good
III my trying to enumerate them or more
than mention the quantities of pretty con-
ceitS that we're not counted in, such as ships
of silver gilt laden with nougat; tiny
baskets of candied violets, silver bugles, cut
glass vinaigrettes, etc. One favor consisted
of darling little portfolio of Russian
leather, with a tiny gold penholder inside
and another of a real silver trumpet.
had to borrow basket to carry home
my plumber in. 1t stands in a corner near
me now, and looks like the beginning of a
Christmas tree.
In one of the prettiest figures of the even
ing, great cannon was hauled in by the
soldiers in silken uniforms. A detachment
of twenty in the same uniforms marched to
tine extreme end of the ROOM Then the
gunner took his position and fired the can
non. Out flew a superb bouquet holding a
Jewel in its heart. 1t was caught by one of
the soldiers on the point of his bayOnet,
and this was repeated until each valiant
youth had captured bouquet for his part
her. The uniforms and the musketS were
kept as souvenirs by the gay soldiers.
There Is one quality tie English have and
which l admire-thet is, 9their cal aci6 to
enter any sport heart aud soul with such
magnificent indifference 20 appeara ices Or
ridicule. For instance, there was a figure
called Tho Races" Do you remember
when we were children seeing a burlesque
where two men came out with imitation
horses fastened around their waists and en-
braced, saying $50 glad" Well, lots of
these horses were provided last night, and
the exquisites of Shanghai DOMINIC silk
Jockey caps and jackets, put them the
horses on, and, given the word by starter,
raced off over hurdles and hedges and
jumped miniature ponds as if their lives
depended on their reaching the lady first.
As a rule the lady stood behind pill n, for
the ponies went with such force and the
floor was SO slippery that they could not
always pull up in time.
AS the races were just over, this figure
was particularly appreciated. In another
figure each gentleman was given bottle of
champagne, round the neck of which was
fastened a ribbon. A champagne glass,
beautifully engraved was given each lady.
Round the stem was also fastened ribbon
of certain color and when the owner of the
bottle found tho owner of a glass with rib
bon corresponding, ne opened the cham
payne, poured out glass, which she drank,
and off they waited
The last figure became nearly a frolic,
the guest being supplied with large paper
balls filled with "snowflakes' of tissue. One
of these thrown at the head of person was
an invitation to dance, and a picturesque
one, for the ball bursts and covers the
recipient with this pretty imitation snow.
OF the gorgeous banquet, the SPLENDID
dresses and jewels, the princey scale in
which the whole entertainment was given,
can give you little idea. Think of the
ARABIAN Nights, and you have 1t all.