The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-02-18
THE BALL IN DETAIL.

New York, EeD. Neutrality-suspicious. LOT
receiving the guests as they arrived were
as nearly perfect as could be. The guests
alighted from the carriages ut IL
West Thirty 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 apartments
had been set aside as dressing rooms. The
guests were received by Mrs. Bradley
Martin in the small ball room. The
scheme of decorations in this room was
that of the time of Louis XIV, and before
the dias passed the counterfeit present
ments of all the prominent people of that
time to mingle in picturesque confusion
with characters of other days. After be-
ing received by the hostess, who stood
upon raised dias under canopy of rare
tapestry, the guests passed through a
flower lined corridor directly into the
large ball room.
In the early portion of the evening
dancing in the main ball room on the first
floor was general, but it was not until all
the guests had paid their respects to Mrs.
Bradley Martin and she had been escort
ed to the ball room proper that the fancy
dress ball was declared formally opened.
| In the small galleries, where were men,
bers of the Twenty-second Regiment
band and the Hungarian band. the mu-
sic stopped for just moment to be brok-
ley Martin and John Jacob Aston enter
ed the room.
A moment later, wnen they had taken
their places at the head of the room,
there was another flourish of trumpets
which told that the quadrille, named the
quadrille d'honGeur, arranged by Mrs.
Astor, was about to open. Forming
the first figure" the salute, was like the
turning of the pages of history. People
gathered from all sections of the room.
There was Mrs. Bradley Martin, wearing
old plate of that time; Mr.. John Jacob
Astor, in q Louis XIV court costume; Mr..
Bradley Martin, as cavalier of the
court of Louis NH, and Mrs. Henry
Lohr, in Louis XIV court costume.
From another section came Mrs. Orme
Wilson, looking picturesque in a Louis
XVI court dress of white and silver bro
cade, which followed the elaborate de-
signs of the period, and Mrs. Whitney
Warren. wearing costume of pale blue
brocade and silk after the style of the
time of Louis XIV. Mr. Lispenard Stu
art closely followed his partner Mrs
Whitney Warren, dressed as a cavalier
of the court of Louis XVI. The others
who took their places in the quadrille
were; Mr.. Lee Taylor. Mr.. Craig Wads-
worth, Miss Warren, Mr.. Hitchcock, Mrs.
Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, Mr.. Palmer.
AS these partners waited for the open
ingF strains of the music the scene was
beautiful. The whole background was
lot of natural flowers, lights and ferns.
In this way ''the salute" was danced.
Mrs. Fish and Mr. Van CORTLAND took
their positions behind Mrs. Bradley Mar
tin and Mr.. Aston. Miss Gerry and Miss
Warren walked up, to a position in front
orfi nd
They were followed by Mr.. Martin and
Mr.. Steward. Then the side couples ap-
preached in similar way, four at time,
leaving an aisle in the center Mr. Aston
and Mrs. Bradley Martin promenaded
down the aisle, the other dancers bow
ing; then formed in twos they returned
to their original positions.
AS when 200 years ago the 'quadrille
d'honneur was danced in the French
court and the king and queen took part in
it they were accorded due and proper hon
or, so Mrs. Bradley Martin and Mr.. AS
tor were given that honor as king and
queen of the night. In those old days,
too, the crown prince and princess stood
beside king and queen at the head of the
quadrille, so in this set their places were
given to Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and Mr..
Robert Van CORTLAND. After the first
measure followed 'the figure" and the
uOnHeuI, DUH VI WHICH were more
elaborate.
The second quadrlle, which had been
organized by Mrs. Il. l.. Bayliss, was
danced by Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mrs. John
Jacob Astor. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Jr., Mrs. Henry Sloane. Miss Edith Nor
ton, Miss Van Rensselaer,; Messrs. AL
fonso De Navarro Ed Robbins, Worth
ington and WithrOw.
The cotillion, which was led by Mrs.
Ellen Dyer, Jr., was eagerly looked for
ward to by the younger guests, and there
were nearly 200 couples in it. Mr.. Dyer
appeared as Francois III, his costume con-
sisting of n cloak of purple velvet lined
with violet satin and embroidered with
gold.
1t was not until after 1 o'clock, at the
conclusion of Mrs. Bronson's supper, that
the regular supper was served, though
there had been light refreshments passed
around previously. This was served in
the winter garden. where 100 tables had
been prepared, and so hidden by the for
lists art as to resemble arbors. White
roses and white lilacs were banked so
high that the guests appeared to eat from
the top of floral bed. Behind the Ia
IL.