New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-12
NOTABLE BALL AT NEWPORT.
,,Rs +. W. yANDERBLTs BRILLIANT EN-
TERTAINMENT.
rusrE HUNDRED AND FIFTY OF THE LEADING
corTAGERs her GUEsTs-THE spLENDlD
DECORATIONS OF THE HOUSE
AND GROUNDS.
rsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Newport II. l.. Aug. 11.-Though the session has
S.n marked by a number OF receptions, dances and
,hay entertainments reaching 10 considerable i'm
uorance the first Of the big tails Of the season
oot given until tonight, when Mrs. Frederick w.
vanderbilt opened their handsome stone house. on
poush Point 10 about $50 81 the leading cottagers
~ vanderbilt. though not given 10 SNOWY displays
!. accustomed to 90 in the best manner anything he
sos and Il therefore with high expectations that
,hs quests entered the handsome grounds about the
,ottare They not disappointed. Every effort
had been made to have the ball success in every
ssta1 and II was the unanimous opinion OF the more
svperenced members Of the -Four Hundred that the
general effect OF the scene far ahead Of any
ming seen this city, famous for its many pictures
~ social magnifcence.
Nature lent not little of the charm that
cave the bah this pre-emnent position In the social
S,.o-v ~ the place. The house fronts
the ocean, and the grounds pleasantly diversified
with smooth lawns and shady groves. Directly OPP
pote the house is a stone bridge over small inlet
N ihe ocean. This liz with calcium light, giving
The guests a glimpse of the breaking waves under the
h-aSe while the sides, the hand rugged rock,
m the other smooth slipping ravine gave fairy like
.nn.arance by means Of hundreds of tiny lamps The
house Itself had received especial attention from the
florist and decorator
The main interest Of course was in the ballroom
boh occuped the centre Of the building and extends
49, oauerv for spectators. To break the effect OF
the heirbt Of the ceiling. immense japanese UNI
,,als Was suspended from the centre. In the top OF
ta umbrella was globe Illuminated by 2oO candle
-, electrc light The effect Of this was modified
Nv esrlands Of flowers hanging so as to cast Their
shadows on the floor. The edges Of the umbrella were
studdsd with smaller electric lights, and trimmed with
rarlands Of flowers and greens. The gallery fronts
were covered with an almost solid mass Of flowers in
white and red the numerous electric lights in the
ballroom were shielded by tulip shaped shades, and
the brackets fsstooned with flowers and green's The
large stained glass bay windows, extending, Ike the
ballroom 10 the roof, treated in similar manner,
the ceiling having smaller Japanese umbrella with
100 caade-pewer light. on the floor was large fern
tree rising from a bed Of smaller ferns, and making
under the subdued electric lights pretty picture
The handsome saloon. finished in Louis XIV style.
which was not completed last formed with the
library a number Of sequestered bowers or lovers
pookss There was a large tank, containing
varieties Of wsteres Of various styles and countries
ncudlng those Of the Nile and Tiber and the Sacred
lotus OF Egypt The floral feature Of the rooms was
the massing Of wild grasses and hullrushes.
The dining hall finished in old oak, par
ncuarIy pretty picture with It's fifty small tables.
The nantes and tall freplaces were dressed with tall
foliage plants Of various kinds. The piazZas were
covered in with red willie and blue bunting, and rooted
with oak branches. Two large tents connected ths
hvdrangeas, the stone pillars Of the pazzas being
vrettly massed with laurel One OF the tents left
open on the ocean sde, to give unobstructed
view o. the ocean lawn and the effects
which Nature gives 10 this part OF the
dihs which offer such strong contrast Is the ard
,cial scene within The staFways leading 10 the
aides rooms Oh the second floor were garlanded with
loses upward Of 1000 Of which were used. AL these
Elects were In addition 10 the handsome tapestries
and furniture with which the house is so abundAnty
applied and which Of themselves would be considered
ample.
The guests began 10 come AZ about half.psst TO- and
Or time the hurly bury, incidentto their arrival
made the shore mont Of the building seem Ike city
foroughfare in striking contrast with the quiet
more and the country calm Of the ocean 'front.'. Mrs
Vanderbilt was assisted In receiving by Mrs. Red.
-ife Of the American Minister to Paris;
rant. 5 sister Of Miss Adele Grant As soon as
he brilliant costumes OF the ladies filed In the back
round supplied by flowers, tapestries stone walls
presented under the subGued light Of
twiDking candelsbra and upward Of 10000
seemed flv to sustain the veterans opinion that the
spectacle the handsomest not only OF this but OF
The german was led by Thomas F. Cushing and
Miss Post, Mr.. Gushing showing great ability and
skin IN his part The i.vors were, as was to be ex
pected. unique and valuable, though by no means
otentstous. ard consisted Of silver gold and eweled
hat pins in cpriOus desgns Parisisn gauze fans spe
sS 81 gaT,ons colored ribbon covered with an assor
nent Of designs. including artificial flowers, and
we're of course for the ladies' but the men were rot
forgotten For them there we're costly designs Of silver
scarf pins East Indian keekos. sandawOod and mege
fans which, Ike those for the ladies wsre a special
design, and rosettes Of ribbon, with artificial flower
trimmings to match the sashes worn by the ladies
Two bands, one for dancing the other for pr0menad-
ng kept the guests busy tn supper ready about
midnight when ts guests msreled into the dining