The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-17
THE CASTELLANES' FETE.
ITS MAGNIFICENC SURPRISED
THE GAY FRENCH CAPITAL.


able Throng-W ondrous show OF
Fireworks.
From the Courier des Etats Unis.
Paris. July 4.-The judgment which Paris
pronounced on the recent Castellane fete
constitutes the highest compliment posi-
bic to the originality. taste and resource
fulness that the count and his countess,
the latter the youngest daughter of the
late Jay Gould. displayed on that occa-
sion.
Nothing so brilliant, effective and elab-
crate in every particular was ever before
witnessed Ia the gay capital of the world.
The Bols de Boulogne was the scene Of
the festivity A more fitting frame for the
gorgeous display could not have been
imagined than the corner Of the skating
rink where IL was held. and IL would have
been equally useless to have attempted to
conceive a more intelligent employment
of the resources Of art added TO the ad-
vantages OF nature.
The weather, which had been so I'M
pleasant during the preparation for the
day became more agreeable toward the
evening. and allowed the magnificent pro-
gramme to be carried out without any in
convenience
Notwithstanding the threats Of a rainy
day the 1900 invited guests or more of
the Count and Countess Of Castellane
We're all, or nearly all, present. To name
them would simply be to write down
complete list Of the fashionable Partisan
world. The toilettes, nearly all Of white
pink or Nile green. were beautiful, while
among the hats those with black or white
fen aar Ina Ia ri IN
be admired was a costume Of white silk,
crowned with a spreading white hat,
wreathed about with tulle as especially
appropriate TO fete which recalled those
of the Louis Quatorze period
The hrst guest arrived about o'clock
A shed or gallery was put up beside the
main path, having three entrances, so that
there were no waits and the occupants of
the carriages were thus enabled to enter
without any delay. This upper vestibule
was beautifully decorated, but there was
scarcely time to notice its splendor as one
passed Immediately through a carpeted
way along which was spread double rank
Of white and gold. Through this living
and diverted avenue the guests passed to
the salon, where the Countess and her
mother-in-law, the Marquise of Castellane
received them.
This salon. which is very large and very
high, was decorated with arcades Of trellis
work, lit by electricity and draped with
white silk caught with golden bows. Mir
rors placed here and there reflected the
| light and flowers and prolonged the per-
! spective indefinitely. Between the ar
| cades the columns Of the trellis We're gar
mshed with roses, while over all flowers
| added their color and grace. and brought
/ out the living green Of their background.
| These arcades and this trells work formed
division between them and the vestibule
on the one side, while on the other they
opened on TO the lake, from which they
We're separated by simple balustrade
space of three meters by two was re-
| served on this gallery for a small salon for
! han, the guests We're able to see all
| 1t was a jewel of rural elegance with a
| rustic bench on which lay sumptuOus cusn-
| IONS, the whole under a canopy strung
| with ivy. a Chinese plant called glycine
| and roses. The balcony reached down to
| the water and from it, well as from
| the neighboring arches and from the din
| ing hall the guests were able TO see all
the displays, IL they did not prefer to sit
| on the lawn.
When dinner was announced the guests
| passed into dining hall that had been
| transformed with marvellous art into a
| scene of ravishing beauty.
| 1t was entirely open on the side of the
| lawn and the lake and a fairy-like scene
was ever present before the eyes of the
| banqueters. The tables were beautifully
| arranged and charmingly decorated, four
for dozen persons each and nine for ten,
| in all 1873 covers, each of which was des-
| ignated artstically
| The Count and Countess of Castellane
each sat at the head of one of the tables
set for dozen. AT the head of the other
| tables sat the Marquis and MarQuise of
| Castellane and other relatives of the
Amphitryons. The banquet was served.
| wondrous to relate, in less than an hour
AS TO the service, II comprised 1l5 per-
sons. All the stwards were in powdered
hair and wearing the white and gold Nv
cry of the Count of Castelane. Twenty
four were distinguished by their waist
coats of yellow plush and black borders,
and the other ffty-two wore white coats,
"a n 81 Ir.. D..
Then there were thirty footmen. also in
the livery of the Count of Castellane, and
= host OF ushers.
On the arrival of the guests they were
| greeted with sweet strains from orches-
tras hidden behind bowers of plants and
flowers, which continued to play through
out the banquet.
A little before 10 o'clock carriages be-
gan to arrive. three by three with new
guests, who saluted, in passing the count.
countess and Marquise of Castelane. The
countess wore very pretty dress Of ecru
boiling cloth with colored jet embroidery,
and straw hat trimmed with flowers
| Presently all the guests strolled out
upon the lawn, and frequent and enthusi-
asuc were the EXPLANATIONS of admiration
| Tor the WONDERFUL decorations, the Nene-
tian lanterns, hanging on the trees and
the brilliant electric display. on the right
of the dining hail they saw round stage,
II on which was stationed an orchestra be-
meath a hugh May-pOle; in the back
| ground, grand old ruins, brilliantly light
ed up; on the lake, a bucentaur. bearing
an orchestra that alternated its strains
with those of the band on the lawn. and on
the other side of the lake deep shadows.
while the basin itself looked a half arcb
set off with double row Of lamps Twelve
swans. majestic and spreading, glided on
the water.
When the fairy scene opened to view
one might have expected to see Lohengrin
appear at any moment in his boat drawn
by swans Around the lake flower bedecked
iron wire was strung, and on the lawn
and lanes large red Oriental carpets were
spread. Three thousand decorated chairs
were set about the lawn and lanes
4 The electric display began at 11.90
o'clock, and from all sides the brilliant
| fireworks shot forth simultaneously. light
ing up the enchanted palace and enhanc-
ing the beauties of its Louis Quatorze
| architecture.
suddenly on the terrace of the palace
Phoebus appeared, holding in her hand a
| flaming torch. and everything about her
was brilliantly lighted up. Then, as If
by the blow Of q magic wand, the rain