The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1889-05-03

music was furnished by Band Master
Lander, who had provided a string and
reed orchestra of 100 picked musicians.
The floral decorations were of the
most elaborate order. The presidents
box was large brass pendant display
ing the word washington, and at
either end of it were the dates "1789'
and 1889" in brilliant gas jets. The
box itself was draped with cloth Of gold,
fine laces, embossed velvets, figured
silks and flags festooned with flowers.
The other boxes were decorated with
plush, silk, lace and silk flags. Ten car
loads of evergreens, 1000 specimens of
azaIeas, 5000 ferns, 1000 palms, 5000
pansies, 10000 tulips and hyacinths, and
1900 miscellaneous plants were used in
the decorations which. together with
other decorating material, cost $40, 900.
THE OPENING QUADRILLE.
The opening quadrille was danced by
the following named ladies and gentle
men: Mrs. William Astor, Mrs. S.V. r.
Cruger, Mrs. Edward Cooper, Mrs.
Robert F. Weir, Mrs. William Herbert
Washington, Mrs. Fred j. De Register,
Miss Garcia Livingston, Mrs. A. Newbol
Morris, Mrs. w. Bayard Cutting, Mrs.
Edward +. Jones, Mrs. Alex s. Webb,
Mrs. l.. p. Morton, Mrs. A. Oracle King,
Mrs. Il. L. Gerry, Mrs. Alex Van Rens-
selaer, Miss Louisa Lee Schuyler. Vice
President Morton, representing the ma
ton: Lieut. Gov. Jones, representing the
state; Admiral Jouett, representing the
navy: Gen. McGook and Gen. Thomas
NJ. Vincent, representing the army;
Commodore Ramsay, representing the
commandant of the navy yard; Gen.
II ha tof q
militia; Capt. j. IL. Derst, representing
the aides of the president; Capt. w. j.
Sampson, representing the naval acade-
my; Col. johnson Livingston De Peyster,
representing the speaker of the assembly;
Senator w. Aldrich, representing the
United States senate: DIR. A. l.. Smith,
U. S. N, Col. j. NJ. Narnum, j. w.
Beekman, aud &. Creighton Webb. The
vice president escorted Mrs. Jones, and
Lieut.. Gov. Jones, Mrs. Morton.
Mrs. Aston wore white satin and dis
played her famous diamonds.
Miss Schuyler wore an heirloom, a
gown lO7 years old, which had belonged
to Miss Schuyler daughter of Gen.
Philip Schuyler who in 1888 married
Stephen Van Rensselaer,, the last of the
patrons. Ii is of brocade, with light
ground, hand embroidered in flowers,
partly covered with dark green velvet.
Miss Schuyler's ornaments were a pearl
locket containing a ioch ga Washington's
hair, and small diamond pin with haiT
of Alexander Hamilton, her great grand
father.
Mrs. De Peyster wore white satin, di-
rectoire: diamonds and rubies.
Miss Livingstone wore silver brocade
over pink silk. decollette; pearls and dia-
monds. The gown is 100 years old.
Mrs. Webb wore yellow brocaded
satin, V shaped waist; diamonds.
Mrs. Cutting wore Josephine dress
of white satin, point lace, V shaped
waist; diamonds.
Mrs. Weir wore robins egg blue satin
Louis Quinze, decollete; ornament, a
diamond buckle that belonged to Wash
ington, of whom she is great great
grand niece.
Mrs. Cruger wore pale yellow plush
ard crepe de chine; ornaments, old gold.
Mrs. King wore Worth gown OF
white velvet and satin, point lace ana
diamonds.
Mrs. Gerry wore gold brocade and
point lace; diamonds.
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, wore pansy vel
vet and mauve satin; diamonds.
f1ounces of point lace, style Louis XVI.
Mrs. Morton wore a superb Worth
dress; long square train of white bro
caded satin; designs in delicate colors,
denoting clusters of strawberries held by
festoons of lilacs. Over this train falls
a heavy sash of lilac faille. The front
of the dress is of lilac faille; the over
drapery white mousseline de sole: cor
sage low, papillon style of lilac faille;
pointed front: low neck and short
sleeves; pearls and diamonds.
ACQUITTED THEMSELVES WELL.
The quadrille was watched with m
tense interest, and the actors in the little
social drama which has created SO many
heart burnings played their parts well.
After it was over the floor quickly be-
came crowded as the general dancing
began. The scene was now one of bril-
liancy seldom equalled and the gaiety
continued undated until long after
dawn. Among the notable dresses worn
by the ladies present were especially
noticeable the following:
Mrs. Harrison wore princes robe OF
white faille. The back and train being
of the same material, front of white
tulle, embroidered in a Greek pattern
with silver beads and pearls.
Mrs. McKee's dress was of white ar
mure silk, demi-train, fashion of 100
years ago.
Mrs. Russell Harrison wore white
striped satin and grosgrain with clusters
of pink brocaded roses: diamonds.
The families of the president and vice
president and those of the members of
the cabinet, judges of the supreme court
and other high personages occupied the
special boxes reserved for them, where
they enjoyed a fine view of the festivi-
ties and were themselves the observed of
all observers.
The tables in the supper room pre-
scented most beautiful appearance be-
fore the work of devastation began.
Even the immense champagne bar
Just south Of the dancing floor looked
like piece of fairyland. The $40 paid
for the ball ticket covered all such Incl
dental matters. 1t remains to be stated
that the bill of fare set before partici-
pants in the greatest American ball in
history was printed in French.