The morning times., 1897-01-06
STEWARDS CASTLE
RESEMBLED FAIRYLAND
Ball Given There i'm Honor of Miss
Bessie Fox.
Mansion Handsomely Decorated
Leaders in Washington So
ciety Present.

It is hard TO imag gine a more beautiful
all-outside of fairyland-than the one
given last night by Senator and Mrs. Stew
art in honor OF their granddaughter, Miss
Bessie Fox
The architectural magnifieence of Castle
Stewart is g matter OF personal pride to
residents OF the Old regime who remember
when it stood alone in its grandeur, long
before the present era OF paiatial homes
enabled Washington TO rival Paris as the
most beautiful city of the world.
The entrance hall-baronial in It's vast
ness anG shape was transformed for the
| occasion into an exotic garden OF palms
and Southern ferns, while wined about the
chandeliers and archways were gariands
| OF smilax and CHEEKY Christmas green's.
The grand salon OF Stewart Castle is
/ draped with Beauvais tapestries, and laid
with oriental weayes. The gilded Floren-
| tine chairs and coucheS are as rare works
OF art in their way the paintings and
statuary that fill the walls AMI nicnes, and
! on tables OF rare mosaic burned massive
lamps in rose ana lemon radiance, under
siiken shades.
/ Flowers aud trailing vines met the eye
at every turn, together with odd and lovely
! bric-a-brac of every description, from
!, queer, foreign vases, as big, almost, as
! the jars that hid Ali Baba's forty thieves,
! to tiny, priceless bits that only con-
noisseur could appreciate or Fortunatus
| buy.
II was in the center OF this ideal en-
vironment that tie debutante OF the even
| ing st0cd ia a EirliShly simple gown of
crystal white satin, touched with point
| applique. Her beautiful, gold-brown ,hair
was arranged in its usual graceful fashion,
| and she he'd a cluster of long-stenmed
roses selected from the masses OF flower
| gifts sent by friends.
Mrs. Stewart received i'll superb cos
tune OF white and gold brocade, and was
! assisted by Mrs. Bessie Stewart. in a dainty
| creation of pink satin and chiffon, and
Mrs. Frank Payson, in her wedding gown
! OF cream white satin and pearls.
The only decorations in the vast BAH
room were panels OF light blue silk, tufted
with Chinese draeoTs, wrought in gold
thread. and a screen of palm foliage along
the outer edge Of the recessed stage that
hid Weher's Pand from view.
To catalogue those present would be
to name at least zoo men and women,
/ representing tie wealth. brains and heauty
OF Washington : social world. Nearly every
| debutante Gf the season was there in u
beautiful gown; members OF the GiplO-
matte corps with their wives and daugh-
tiers, Judges of tile Supreme Court, Sen
ators and Members Of Congress, District
officials and a large contingent Of resi-
Genital WasliiagtoH.aas, aihong whom Sen
ator ard Mrs. Stewart have riiany friends.
As is customary at every large enter
taiument given 10y Mrs. Ste ewart, the
supper room was open FROM 1880 o clock
throughout the entire evening.
In tie center and al each end OF the
perfectly appointed tables We're tall silver
cpergnes With branching vases filled with
pink and wIdte carnations half yelled with
snlilaN sprays. Tie silver candelahra held
rose capped shades and there We're pyramids
OF bonhons and rare fruit IN bowls OF silver
and gold
Socially 1t was one OF the most brilliant
affairs OF this Or any other season, and
there are probably 700 fortunates telling
each other this morning that there was
never anything more beautiful than the
Stewart ball.