New-York tribune., 1897-08-10
FESTIVITIES AT NEWPORT.
BRILLIANT BALL IN HONOR OF THE
OFFICERS OF THE NORTH AT
LANTIC SQUADRON.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIDUNE.l

Newport, r. L. Aug 9-To-night's subscription
tall in honor OF the officers Of the North Atlantic
Fleet Of the finest affairs OF the kind ever
given here. The attendance OF subscribers ana
guests taxed to the utmost the capacity OF the
Casino Theatre The decorations were on scale
OF magnhcence rarely equalled in Newport Inc
MI sic was excellent, and the weather was IDEAL
alike for dancing and promenadng. Indeed. all the
arrangements and conditions combined to make the
dance an almost perfect success 1t was only nve
days ago that the giving Of the ball was first
broached after the hearty cooperation OF the nava
officers had added much to the glorious fete
night But as soon as the suggestion was mace
responses almost instant. and the AFFAIR rap
idly took on form and dimensions which assumed
the success achieved tonight. w. Watts Sherman
William X. Travers and Lispenard Stewart were
the committee to which were ntrusted the many
details and to their labors the handsome result
is due.
At l0:45 O. clock Admiral Montgomery Scard. COM
manding the squadron. and his staff arrived at the
Casino Theatre. They were met by the members
OF the General Committee and by them introduced
to the patronesses and Reception Commttee-Mrs.
Astor, Mrs. Gerry, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Willing and
Mrs. Dyer-and by these in turn to the subscribers
and their guests. On arriving In their carriages
the naval officers and the other guests found the
entrance to the theatre banked on either side
solidly with hydrangeas. palms and bay trees. oak
leaves being freely used about the arches, pillars
and other prominent points.
In the theatre proper the same general scheme OF
decoration was carried out, the whole being lighted
by electric bulbs covered with yellow silk, pro-
ducing a mellow golden effect. The stage was
converted into reception bower, the use of palms
and other plants producing the effect of forest
scene. and it set with the finest furniture in
old gold. Above the stage were festooned Amer
lean flags, with the blue flag Of the Admiral In
the centre. Guests not wishing to dance occupied
the balconies vantage points for observing the
in .ha nall cal fbe
chestra stationed. On the upper piazzas
overlooking the tennis courts. were arranged the
dressing rooms, inclosed by red and white awnings
bordered by hydrangeas and hung with colored Jap
anese lanterns. All the stairs carpeted IN
red The lower piazza was made a long prom
enade, set out with hydrangeas and lighted by
japanese lanterns Outside. the hard paved
path another promenade covered with the
prevailing red and white flags, and at the south
end a military band furnished music for the
promenaders.
At midnight supper was served to $50 persons at
small tables seating eight For the table deco
rations three thousand roses and fifteen hundred
hydrangeas were used, the flowers being arranged
in silver vases and hung in cornucopias. For a
dining room an immense tent had been erected in
the open space between the theatre and the ten
mis- courts. The sides and sants of this followed
the scheme Of red and white stripes, the posts
being in red festooned with oak leaves. and the
electric lights. as elsewhere covered with golden
silk Beneath the feet OF the guests lay and
costly Oriental rugs.
No cotlon was danced and the guests took their
departure about 2:3O o'clock.
The list OF subscribers included almost all the
most prominent names in the summer colony. while
catalogue OF the guests would be practically denti-
cal with that OF the members OF the social set. The
subscribers who were distinguished by boutonneres
OF red carnations, were: