Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1897-02-11

GNol LlS A1GlllOl COLO cSAStOA OAAS
Ban Of 1888 was Eclipsed.
New York February 10.-Beautiful
beyond description was the ball mas
que Of Mrs. Bradley Martin tonight.
Columns have been written about the
affair and pictures have ben drawn, but
the fancy of the reporters and the ar
tist did not picture scenes One-half as
lovely as were presented in the Wal
dorf
For weeks Mrs. Martin has worked
in the preparation OF the sumptuous
affair. Her Efforts were richly re-
warded. The bitter criticisms hurled
at her were forgotten and the hun
dreds who were present wed in making
her the happiest woman in America.
he decorations throughout the wal
dorf were exquisite. American Beau
U!es. lilies ana the rarest or imported
blossoms. with vines and palms were
intertwined in a marvelousiy beautltul
scheme. Never in New York has
grea- -er floral display been made at
ball Tiny electric lights and mirrors
we're used in a beWildering and artls-
tic manner all combining 10 transform
the already beautiful hotel into an en-
chanting fairy house.
The arrangements for the ball were
tested TO their fullest but with eXcell-
ent good fortune they were equal 10
every emergency. Thousands OF men anu
women crow Ged the streets around the
hotel. but The police kept them moving
and 10 conflicts or excitement or any
kind resulted. Detectives swarmed In
and around the house TO prevent trou-
Die but their presence was not needed
The costumes were exquisite. All the
great men and women OF the last three
centuries were represented. Arrayea,
costly beyond the dream OF the orlgl-
mails. were the men and women who ap-
psared tonight as ladies and gentle-
men of the olden periods.
At midnight the great ball was at its
height. All society was gathered TO
portray the regal splendor OF past cen
turies The great ball room OF the
waldorf. beautiful with a wealth OF
roses and fragrant flowers, was then
scene Of grandeur never before equaii-
ed in this country. Courtiers OF old,
of every cline, mingled with grand
danes and ladies. kings and queens,
princcs and princesses, but here ana
there the old spirit of loyalty had man
ifested itself in the presence OF colonial
men and women OF the old and quaint
days in America.
Great social functions of the past in
this town were eclipsed; even the me-
m0rable Vanderbilt ball of 1883, with
which since then all other affairs
have seemed to suffer in comparison.
For lavish expenditure, for artistic
decorations and surroundings, for re
hecJion of the most picturesque epl-
sodes in old world history and gath
ering of the fairest and the richest ID
the new world life, the ball tonight
marked an epoch. 1t was more than
mile post in New York's history. 1t
was the event of decade.
Months of preparations and the out
Law of hundreds Of thousands Of dol
lars was exhausted in five hours. II
was very fashionable. Men and women
travelled across the continent for the
honor of being present. For one night
the gorgeous and prOsaic hotel was
transformed into q beautiful palace,
where the inmates lived enchanted
lives lapDed in soft music of adulation,
waited on by the splendOrs OF the
world New York society was picked
up and deposited in Versailles amid
the glory Of the court of Louis XIV.
As many as fifty dinners preceded
the ball. Every Coterie that makes up
sweUdom had a dinner. Those VINO
we're going to the hall appeared in
their fancy gowns. that cost thousands
Of dollars. and which they viii wear
bat once and their jewels. After the
dinner their friends were invited in
to admire After the friends came the
PHOTOGRAPHER. in order thaS the beauty
and g0rgeCusness of it all should not
he lost 10 future generations.
Arrangcments for receiving the
ruests as they arrived were as nearly
Derfect as could be. The guests alight-
ed from the carriages at No. 13 West
Tbfrtv-third street, which is the private
residence of Manager BOlat, Of the
Hotel. and went directly to the second
floor Of the hotel, where sixty apart
ments had been set aside as dressing
rooms.
The guests were received by Mrs.
Martin in the small ball room. The
scheme Of decorations in this room was
tbat of the time of Louis XIV, and be-
fore the dias passed the counterfeit
presentments Of all the prominent peo-
nla of that time 10 mingle in pictur-
esoue confusion with characters of 9th
- davs After being received by the
hostess. who stood upon raised dals
under 2 canopy of rare tapestry. the
guests passed through flower lined
corridor directly into he large ball
room.
In the early portion Of the evening
dancing in tie man ball room on lHe
first floor was general, but 1t was not
mill all the guests had paid their re-
snacte to Mrs. Bradley Martin and she
I'D baer escorted TO the ball room
ryoner that the fancy dress ball was
declared formally opened.
In the small gallery where were the
members of the 22d regiment band ana
tho Hrngarien band,rh music suddenly
stonned. for just a moment, 10 De
brolep bv flourish Of trumpets as
Mrs Bradley Martin and her escort,
a. ~ " 1obn Jacob Astor. entered the
rocm moment later they had taken
tbeir places at the head OF the room
- ,tere was another flourish OF the
ty,,nnets which told chat the Quadrli!e
d,T5onneur arranged by Mrs. VIM.
Actor was about TO open.
The forming for the first figure