Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1888-07-21
A MONTE CRISTO FETE.
Ladies Wore Dresses of Spun Gold
and Jewels Worth a Kings
Ransom.

Paris Correspondence of Chicago Tribune.l
Never, not even in the most brilliant
days of the Empire has Paris seen
more splendid fete than NJ. Cernuschi's
fancy dress ball. 1t was an assemblage
of the most brilliant people in the DOS
tnopolitan society of Paris, in the most
splendid private mansion in the world.
l will not here enter upon description
of NJ. Cernuschi's house in the Avenue
Velasquez. II has long been famed as
one of the great sights of the city.
People speak of its marble stairway and
its bronze gallery as they do Of the Tai
Mahal or the Sistine frescoes. Not the
least interesting feature of it all, more
over, is the fact that NJ. Cerhuschi has
made will, giving 1t all at his death to
the City of Paris. The value of this
gift, l suppose, cannot be less than
$4,000 1t is comparable only with
the Due d'Aumale's gift of Chantilly.
l need only say as to the size Of the
mansion that thousand invitations were
sent out, by actual count more than two
thousand guests were present, and yet
nowhere and at no time was there any
crowding. NJ. Cernuschi was clad in a
Japanese costume, and SO were the dozen
bachelor friends, who assisted him in
receiving the guests, and as they stood
together at the top of the great staircase
they presented such a scene of pictur-
esque magnificence as is not to be de-
scribed nor even imagined, save In the
dreams of one who has been reading
"The Count of Monte Cristo."
1t was intended originally that dane
ing should be begun by Mile. Jeanne
Hugo, the granddaughter of the poet,
and some thirty other young ladies Sc
lected for their beauty. But Mile.
Jeanne Hugo was too ill, and this plan
was abandoned. But the scene in the
great bronze gallery was just rs brilliant
as it could be. Such. costumes were
never seen before, and the value of the
jewels worn was to be reckoned by the
millions of dollars. A conspicuous fig.
IRE was Nine. Gauthereau, the noted
creole beauty. She was dressed as
Cupid, and of course her raiment was
exceedingly scanty. But she was liter
ally incrusted with gold and gems. The
abbreviated skirts of her costume were
actually made Of pure gold, spun and
woven into gauze so delicate that it was
not much heavier than silk. Another
much.admired costume was that of the
famous beauty, Nine Bernardaki. She
was Diana. Her bodice was of blue
velvet and skirt of white satin, and
every stitch in the seams of these was
marked by diamond or sapphire.
Hanging over her shoulders was pan
theirs skin, and her hair was powdered,
not with diamond dust, but with dia-
monds and sapphires as big as peas, all
held in place by q network of gold
thread. She had on her person more
than 1926. 600 worth of precious stones.
Mile. Marie Van Zandt, the American
singer, was esteemed one of the most
beautiful ladies present. The daughter
Of NJ. Carolus Duran was charming in
japanese dress. Her father was ut
tired as Hindoo Raiah, and not, as
one might have expected, as Velasquez.
Nine. Pasta, the actress, wore a set of
real imperial Russian sables, one of less
than dozen sets in the world owned by
persons outside of royalty. She had
also marvellous coronet of pearls and
diamonds said to be worth more than
500, 900. I will not attempt to tell who
where there; unless 1 simply say every
body, except NJ. and Nine. Carnot, who
are in mourning.