Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-23
PATRIARCHS, BALL

The Patriarchs danced in the gray
dawn Tuesday morning. And they
danced out at least one tradition n, ar
quarter of century old.
Yet the fact that Monday nights was
the first ball in the history of the Pe-
triarchs to be held away from the shel.
interferfere with snybody's pleasure.
No one seemed to detect an inauspic-
ious omen in the circumstance, and
there were no copj-ctures about the
possibility of Ward McAilister turning
10 mis- grave. In fact, all the jewellers
declared that the Waldorf ballroom was
nice enough for anything, and the sup
per thing ofjoy.
The new environment was not the
only outward and inward visible sign
of tendency to break away from Nc
Alisteriau tradition. There was
hsudwiting on the wall, legible enough
even though it was outlined in festoons
of leaves and blossoms. 1t proclaimed
that the Patriarchs' dances as original.
" planned are thing of the past.
The Patriarchs were the best thing
invented by the late Ward McAllister.
They were designed as broad meet
ing ground for society in a general
sense, and as means of extending
courtesies to strangers within the gait
of Gotham. The latter day Patriarchs
have changed all that. There may
have been $50 people at the first ball
- ho Mnn6AU
night, and there may have been less.
There were certainly no more, in fact,
supper was ordered for much smaller
number. Nevertheless, the occasion
smacked of all its old-time brilllance
and verve.
The Patriarchs are never early.
Monday night they were unusually
late. A great many OF them had
shown their gowns at the opera first.
On alighting from their broughams
they were ushered up short flight Of
stairs to the cloak rooms, which had
been apportioned of on the belcony
floor. Thence, after divesting ihem
selves of their wraps aud prlnklng
themselves discreetly for the fierce
light that beats down upon the dancing
floor, they descended to the ballroom.
The decorations were viewed with
ewes made critical by long experience
in such matters. They were voted su-
perb. Small had excelled himself in
the effort to convert the magnificent
apartment into tropical glade, with
out interfering with the dancers. Not
particle of woodwork was to be seen
around the balcony, either above or be-
low, where it abus in crescent above
the floor. II was smothered In smilax
and all manner of delicate vines, which
looked as if they would wither at a
breath, and yet cleaned fresh and
green the long nil ght through. From
between the tendrils peeped roses, so
cunningly woven into the mass that one
would have sworn they grew there.
Giant palms and all the rich foliage
of the Florida jungle reared themselves.
The wonderful oval mirrors with which
the opposite side of the room is panelled
were framed foot deep with American
sBesuty roses orooping among generous
tangles of their own stems and leaves.
The windows on the western side were
.curtained with heavy ivory SILK, over
which ran delicate tracery OF feathery
asparagus vines.
Hidden in the powered balcony were
two bands, which relieved each other
throughout the night in making music
for the feet of the dancers. They were
the Waldorf Orchestra and Lenders
Band OF twenty pieces.
The dresses were superb. The dis
play of diamonds was remarkable, ana
an extraordinary amount OF white satin
was worn. | deed there were accl-
dental groups aud c listers formed now
and then wt,ch we nough to create
the illu ion ,hat AJAX, of brides hat
gathered together S .tueIimes, as In
the case of Mis- r.oa Munde, the pre-
vailing style WAS varled d oy The wearing
of white MORE Nor need 1t De
said that no Two of hess white gowns
were alike, even in the smallest de-
tails. Some of them We're enyeloped
in priceless lace, Others in tinsel and
others with flowers. Among the black
costumes none was so s,rlking as that
of Mrs. John c. WesteI velt. 1t was OF
tulle over satin, and it fairly giittered
with Jet.
1t still lacked few minutes of
m. when the moitre d'hotel announc'
ed supper. The ball committee, con
sisting of James P. Kernochan, w
Watts Sherman and William Z. whit
aey, led the way to the dining room
on the Fifth avenue side Of the hotei
through the Oriental and the Louis
Quinze drawing rooms. Supper was
served at little tables of four, six and
q eight covers. :.
IN This arrangement threw the dis
BE- tinguished guests of the Pstriarchs into
Immediate contact with their hosts
instead of being segregated at whal
was derisively known as the "roya
table" under the MoAllister regime
The distinguished guests included
Mustapha Bey, Baron le CHAT, tne
belgian minister; Baron Fsva, OF Italy,
aud other diplomats of note.
ARNoLD's BRoMO-CELERY. Try thi