Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-30
ON WITH THE DANCE.
A Scene of Dazzling Splendor-Decora-
tions Unriyalled,

NEW YORK, April 29th.-In the minds of
many OF those who are thronging New York in
these days of the celebration the greatest feat
ure OF all is the grand centennial ball which
took place at the Metropolitan Opera House to-
night. All that money could do to carry out
the immense scheme that was to give night
of pleasure to 6,U00 people was done, and the
result sustained was satisfactory
Carriages began TO roll up to the Broadway
entrance soon after O'Clock. The outer walls
of the auditorium and sides of the double stair
| cases formed three sides of garden, and trel-
| Used vines and Towering shrubs added to the
natural effect while real fruit trees set about in
| an artistic manner challenged one to dispute
| the fact that one had just come in from out
doors. There were apple trees in blossom and
| pear trees in bud and peach trees with strong
suggestlveness OF fruitiulness and cherry trees
with every evidence ex ept the hatchet
The rural decoration included ounces, prunes
and grapes. Even white !ilacs and smilax
climbed the balaStrades and made up a con-
tinuous panorama of floral verdure wherever
| you might choose TO go. In safe corners of the
corridors stood still rarer plants, and on each
stairlanding was miniature grove of beauty
Around on the Thirty-ninth-s side there
! was another garden, but more artificial in ap-
pearance than that at the Broadway entrance
J he immediate entrances to the great dancing
| fcor were kept clear for obvious reasons.
But what sight Is met when once within.
There is no word that better describes the first
| sensation one experienced on entering the vast
| auditorium tonight than TO say that it was daz-
| zling.
| From the center of the dome long streamers
rsdiated TO the side walls, and all around the
| tiers of boxes and balconies as well there was a
wealth of decoration. such as never before has
| beef attempted in New York. Little knots of
| colors. and picturesque trimmings OF red, white
and blue were so arranged that an advent of
pretty costumes not only enhanced its general
| effect, but the costumes themselves were bene-
| flied thereby. The fronts of the lower tiers of
| boxes were draped with red plush as a back-
ground for the costumes of those dancing and
| were festooned with wreaths and flowers, while
great pi es OF flowers were in front of the rails
| of most of the boxes
1 On the stage arose a huge architectural mass
| o. flowers and plants. Their disposition was so
artistic as to demand admiration that grew as it
was studied more closely. This structure arose
| apparently to half the hight of the proscenium
! arch. The base occupied several yards of the
| dancing floor. on: the loss of space was atoned
for in gain to the spectacle, 1t arose in several
| terraces OF different eolored flowers.
| The Presidential box was the center of the
| double tier, erected at the back of the stage
, he front was almost covered with palms, with
mounted by the words "washington-l7ss and
| 1885, in colored electric lights.
| The whole front of both tiers were curtained
with silk flags, and decorated with groups of
| standards and great masses of flowers. The box
! parties began to come in long before the Mayor
bad arrived, and by the time word went around
that the Presidential party was coming there
| were Very few vacancies. Among the families
| represented in this great concourse of expect
| ant people were those Of VIM. Astor, Ogden
Goelet, VIM. J. Hamilton, Chauncey NJ Depew,
| l. y, u.
| Winthrop, Abram S. Hewitt Hamilton Fish,
| Clarence A. Seward, Henry Clews William M
Astor, Levi P. Morton, Stephen B. Elkins, Paran
| Stevens.
A seeker after Colonial toilets was disap-
pointed. for but few attempts were made to
copy toilets of the Washington period. The Or
binary ball toilets of the present day in direc-
toire, empire, Greek and Princess styles were
| worn Dy nearly all the ladies. Simple elegance
seemed 10 have been the ain, if one could Judge
| from the countless number of pink, white, blue,
t,,ll.,
| worn by both yonng and midde-aged women.
AT a first glance one would think every woman
had on a tulle gown. but a closer look brought
| to view large number OF heavier toilets. One
stately lady wore an empire skirt of primrose
| velvet en- train. Between each fold was a point
| lace papier, embroidered with pearls. The
bSoice which only res ched from the shoulders
| TO the waist, was Of pale blue, entirely covered
| win pearl lace She wore a diamond crescent
| Ia her dark hair and diamond necklace and
an ostrich fan completed the most exquisite
1 toilet.
In the seventy-two boxes were four or FIVE
| hundred gorgeously attired and beautiful
womep. In fact, there are no adjectives to fifty
express how perfect these ladies were in graces
of peison, charm OF manner and grandeur of
costuming
Mrs. stuyvesant Fish. who is tall, stately
woman, with brown hair, lovely gray brown
eyes and commanding presence, wore beauti-
ful pale yellow tulle dress, made empress style,
with sash, elaborately trimmed with forget-me-
no's. Ornaments diamonds.
Mrs. William Jay, tall and fair wore a very
charming toilet OF pale blue and white striped
silk. with front OF crepe lisse, garninre of for
get-me-nots. Ornaments, diamonds. stars and a
few forget m nots in high puffed hair.
distinguished looking lady in one of the
boxes, Mrs. Paran Stevens was elegantly attired
in an embroidered bnocaded robe snd wearing
rare diamonds
! Mrs. Marshall o. Roberts was one of the beau
tiful women present. in gistening satin lace
costume and diamonds.
Mrs. Hamilton Fish was entertaining in her
box number OF que IS. Mrs. Fish wore a
pretty toilette Of gray tulle, made empire style,