The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-09-08
.n,ertal nea as lavlsnly as layLsh klng

LOUIS Aly himself could nave done.
once inside the towering gates Oh Mar
bic house, themselves IL "vih Oh arr, 4
scene VI loneliness was presented. The
eICuuas were illuminated W thousdnuS
VI Tiny globes OF inherent coiors. just
as they USED TO be III versailles wnen
LOUIS strolied across the broad terrace
oI AersaIiIes with ms court Upon reach
ing the portIco entrance was ifineuiatciy
between rows OF powdered IoOtineht into
tie superb man finished III yellow, with
Egyptian marbles 1T the broad stair
case winding 10 the ieit.
Inc ceiling OF inc nall Is series OF
charming fIescoes framed IN heavy slIt
mOLIoIngs. Two GODelln tapestries re-
presenting the massacre of d. Bartnolo-
NEW ana the assassination OF Coiisny
hang on either side OF the great door 10
the granq salon. This splendid apart
ment Is almost an exact copy OF a room
in The palace OF Versailles, with long
French windows, between which are pam
els OF dark wood carved and gilded. The
frcscOes on the ceiling represent Night
and Morning.
The mantel is Of marble and bronze. y
speaking portrait OF Miss vanderbilt. by
Carolus Duran. hangs here. Leading
from the salon toward the sea and COM
pieung the right wing OF the mouse Is the
Gothic room, another magnificent apart
ment finished III old OAK ana filled with
a line collection OF Louis NV furniture
and nfteenth-century treasures.
The windows in the dining-room are all
OF stained glass, which were lighted
from without TO show their exquisite
workmanship. To he left Of the hall
is the dining-room, done IN red Numician
marble and dark pink, the bronze and
gilt Ornamentation having been cast In
exact reproduction OF famous room
In Versailles. The main floral decorations
inside the house were in the hall, where
there is a bronze fountain surmounted
with large mirror That spot was
made 10 LOOK especially cool and inviting
by water plants in tull bloom and tall
lotus flowers which stood up about a
score OF pink and white nymphae bios
SONS. lllacs and mass OF water hya-
cinths, through which shone the same
little globes OF hight with which the
grounds were illuminated, while above
swarmed nocks Of humming birds.
On the terrace. where supper was SER
we'd, were elaborate decorations. consist
ing Of strands Of green garlands radiat-
ing from the three central points on the
ceiling, which were defined by three
large prisms OF bright, yellow flowers.
Eight large windows which led from the
terrace into the house were also framed
with bright garlands and flowers, palms,
ferns and orchids; plants in flower filled
in the corners. each of the supper tables
being decorated with a wreath Of pink
hollyhocks. tied with pink ribbons.
Mrs. Vanderbilt received in the grand
salon, attired in q superb costume OF
white satin, with court train. and won
derful diamonds. and looked as II she
might have stepped out Of one Of the old
court pictures in Versailles. Her daugh-
ter. Miss Consuela, becomingiy arrayed
i'm white satin and tulle, stood beside
her.
The groom Of the chambers announced
each guest by name. Mrs William Jay
and the Duke OF Marlborough, who are
guests at Marble House, stood near by,
the Duke especially interested in the
pretty women who filed into the room,
which Is so large that nearly every one
stopped there after paying their respects
10 the hostess. and the scene was thus
made brilliant from the start.
At T. o'clock a first collation. was served
on the terrace. An elaborate menu IN
French was at the disposal Of each guest.
During supper the band from the naval
training station played on the lawn. I'M
mcdiatoly after supper Mr. Richard T.
Wilson, Jr. started the cotllon. with
Miss Consucla Wand crbilt. Mutually
Orchestra and the Hungarian Band now
took up the strains OF music. In the
cotillon Mrs. Vanderbilt again showed
her Asto and desire to carry out the
idea 81 a Louis XIV ball.
The favors. which she had selected her
self I'm Paris. consisted Of old French
etchings. fans. mirrors. Weaknesses and
sashes OF ribbons, all Of the Louis XIV
period. and an element of fun was intro
duced by lanterns I'm fac-simile OF Marble
House and bagpipes. which would really
squeak md make awful noise. Each
favor was marked with a medallion rep
resenting Marble House.