The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-02-17
Gotham's Greatest Ball.
Regal Splendor Outshone by
Americas NouveauX
Riches.

New York, February 10-The
Bradley-Mart fancy dress ball took
place this evening in the spacious
ball room of the Waldorf Hotel.
The mise en- scene was of bewild-
ering enchantment. vertiable fairy
land, resplendent with all that wealth
and taste could command, and graced
by the presence of many hundred
members of the fashionable set,
radiant in rich robes of historic re-
rown
The richness of the decorations,
the ancient picturesque costumes, the
beautiful allegorical toilettes, the
commingling of so many beauties, old
and young, amazed and charmed all
fortunate enough to have been bid
den to the ball.
As superb social function it has
had no parallel in America lis
fame may pass into history, and per
haps, it's splendors will be writ
down as the standard for the bellies
and gallants of the coming century
The scene presented was strange
spectacle in this up.to date metro
polls. At the first coup d'oeil one
would have imagined the graves had
opened. and the kings and queens, the
princesses and titled aristocracy of
the decayed centuries had arisen in
chorus to again become themselves
in all their old time glory
Perhaps there were 100 guests
present, all gorgeously garbed in
silks. and satins and magni6cently
bedecked in diamonds.
Almost every character in the
times Of Louis XIV and XV. from
plebeiap peasant to the jewel crown
ed king and queen was personated
They presented imposing figures,
dancing in the stately minuet or
whirling the merry waltz Numer-
Gus were the pseudo Marie Antoin
cites. Queen EIizabeths, Lady Teas
les, GismonGas, Juliets, Joan D'Arcs,
Empress Josephines, Mary Queen Of
Scots, Colonial Danes, Knights of
Malta, Cardinals, Romeos. torea6ors
and cavaliers, all presented in cos
tunes Of the costliest fabrics, and
with marvellous truth to detail.
The Mare Antoinette ladies pre-
dominated. Americas historical
notables seemed. badly neglected,
even the father ofhis county, George
Washington. being honored by only
two representatives.
Aside from the beauty of the cos
tumes interest centred in the un-
precedented display of jewels. many
rare, old, priceless family heirlooms
being worn. There is no estimating
their monetary worth, but they GER
tainly represented vast fortunes
Many of the women seemed ablaze
with the sparkling gems The guests
began arriving about II o'clock.
They entered the hotel through a
private door on 33d street, and were
Immediately ushered to the second
floor, where a suite of fifteen large
apartments had been reserved for
dressing purposes. Here were sta
toned numerous hair dressers, COS,
tuners, .mcdistes and all functionaries
required for the final polishing touch
es of the exquisite outfits. These
rooms were decorated with a profu.
sion of roses and smilax.
After the guests had assembled and
made ready for the grand entree they
descended the fower.strewn stair.
way to the reception parlor, on the
main floor. As they passed through
the archway they were met by the
hostess. Mrs Bradley-Ma1tin, WHO
stood beneath canopy of rich tap
estries and floral effects. Mrs. Mar
tin wore becoming costume Of the
Queen Elizabeth period, made oI
black velvet over red brocade. She
was adorned with all her magnificent
jewels, including, her famous robe ot
diamonds.
As the guests approached, their
names and their characters imperso
mated were announced by lackeys.
The walls of the reception room were
covered with costly tapestries of the
daintiest colors, while myriads ot
roses, carelessly thrown, rested in
the folds as they CHANGED to fall. In
one corner was placed the Hungarian
Band, hidden behind a bower of long.
stemmed roses
The guests moved from this saloon
to the big ball room through the
corridors, which had been made to