The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-11
FIRST ASSEMBLY BALL.
A LATE, CAR, AMI BRILLIANT AZ
FAIR AT THE WALDORF.

First Grand Function In the New Ball.
room - BeHuttrui Decorations Nearly
All the Seasons Debutnntes Present,
but Not Many Out-oETown People.
The first of this seasons Assemblies was given
last night at the Waldorf. II was the first grand
ball to be given In tho new ballroom. Mrs.
Aston. Mrs. Eltridgo II. Gerry, Mrs. s. Van
Rensselaer, Cruger, and Mrs. H. A. c. Taylor
received the guests rs they entered the room.
All wore diamond tiaras, necklaces, pendants,
and many splendid corsnRe on their
gorgeous brocade and satin gowns. The music
balcony, which extends out In n semicircle. Is
directly opposite the mirrored walls and on the
southern end OF the room. 1t was very orna-
mental, tho ivory and gold ratings being fes.
TONED with Garlanus of feathery asparagus
vines caught at intervals with clusters of Ameri-
can Beauty roses. Nnhan Franko's festival
orchestra was stationed at one end.
The entire balcony floor was transformed into
a conservatory, and the mass OF bloom was re-
fected time and again in the opposite mirrors.
There were divans placed about amid tho
flowers, and this was used as q sitting -out
place. So was the big foyer under the project
ing balcony, which was arranged like a draw
ing room. with groups of palms and jsrdiniercs
filled with American Beauty roses, The ball
room is so ornate that little floral decoration Is
possible. and II was confined to groups Of palms
In corners aud odd places. The coloring Is In
pale yellow, and big diamonds formed of little
incandcsccnt lights find place between the
ornate panels of the ceiling.
The guests OF the Matriarchs were moderately
early in arriving last night, and 1t was not long
after IL o'clock when the informal dancing
was begun. At 1880 o'clock supper was served
at small tables in the big Empire dining room
on the Fifth avenue side OF the house. These
were all trimmed with pink roses and cnrna-
lions. 1t was after ! 30 o'clock that the cotillon
was danced. 1t was led by Washington White
house. who danced with Mrs. Henry Sloane.
Mrs. sloane wore II gorgeous gown OF pale blue
diamond The favors were large
silk bags. In various colors. and hand painted
II was q late, gay, and brilliant ball. tho
women being attired with great splendor.
The prominen. dSbutantss Of the season wer,
in the costumes they wore when presented.
With a few exceptions, all wore white satin.
were in pink. The list included Miss Parsons.
Miss kosal,s Floyd. Miss poro,hes Miller, Miss
Gloss. Miss Dorothy, schierelin, Miss Bertha
Munde, Miss sara Thompson. Miss Daisy Hol-
Inns. Miss Laura Duane Ireland, Miss Wyckoff.
Miss Madeleine Cutting, Miss Ethel Smith, Miss
Reyes, Miss Mary Hopeton Smith. Miss Whits,
ker. and Miss Evelyn Sloane. The list OF
strangers at the ball was unusually small. In
v~itations were sent as usual to tho entire Diplo-
matte Corps, ut Washington, and q few
Ol INC mem Oers, luCIuulug. D"Iou 40 uLuis
Belgian Minister, awaited themselves OF the
opportunity. Others were Capt. and Mrs, Fen
wick, George Ware, and n. Earle Of EnElandi
Arthur Amory. Henry Shaw, and Lawrence
Femme, of Boston; Mrs; Pruyn and Miss Pruyn
Of Albany. Miss Derereau and Miss Mary
Mitchell of Philadelphia. NJ, de sivner and Miss
seilliere of Paris. Miss Mary Sargent Of Ten,
Mrs. Richard stevens of Hoboken. Besides
these the guests included pretty much every
one going about now In the gay set.
| Tho list of matrOnS who give the Assembly
balls this season includes Mrs. Cadwalader
Jones. Mrs. Charles A. Post, Mrs. Aston: Mrs.
John Jacob Aston. Mrs. Isaac Bel. Mrs. James
4. Burden. Mrs. Lloyd Bryce. Mrs. Edmund L.:
Daylies. Mrs. 5. Van r. CruEer. Mrs. w. Bayard
Cutting, Mrs. Henry Co,ter, Mrs: William X.
Cowles. Mrs. w. Butler Duncan. Mrs. James q.
King Duer. Mrs. William. A. Duer. Mrs. Ell
bridge T. Gerry. Mrs. Frederic Gallatin, Mrs.
James W. Gerard, Mrs. Ogden Go.let. Mrs.
5. 5. Rowland, Mrs. John Hone. Mrs.
Adrian Iselin. Jr.. Mrs. Luther Kountze, Miss
Louise Aston Kane. Miss kean. Mrs. Benjamin
Franklin Lee. Mrs. John Minturn, Mrs, j.
Pierpont Morgan. Mrs. Low p, Morton, Mrs.
A. New bold Morris, Mrs. Richard Mortimer,
Mrs. Ward McAIlister, Mrs. Charles II. Mar
shall. Mrs. A. Lanfear Norrie. Mrs: George b.
Post, Mrs. Frederic j. De Peyster. Mrs. Casimer
De Rham, Mrs. Geraidyn Redmond: Mrs. Scher-
merhorn, Mrs. Sheldon. Mrs. w. Watts Sher-
man, Mrs. William Douglas sloane. Mrs James
Russell Soley, Mrs. Henry A. Q. Taylor. Mrs,
sidney Webster. Mrs. John G. Wilmerding,
Mrs. Arthur Welman. Mrs. Egerton l.. Win
throp, Jr., and Miss Whitney.