Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-11
THE GREATEST BALL.
A oMIsE ZEN SCENE" OF BEwuDER-
ING ENCHANTMENT.
SUPERB SOCIAL FUNCTION.
without Parallel i'm Americn-Its
snIcndcrs WIZ nc Written Down
ms the Standard for Coming neIies
and DeRux.


,.y Martin fancy-dress BAN took place
mis- evening IN the spacious ballroom On
tpe waldorf Hotel The mise en- sceneo
was of bewildering enchantment. a
yertab'e fairyiand, resplendent with all
that wealth and taste could command
and eaced by the presence Of many hum
f-el members Of the fashionable set.
radiant in rich robes of historic re-
a0vn.
The richness OF the decorations. the
ancient. picturesque costumes. the beau
nal allogorical tonettes, the COM
m.rcling OF so many beauties. old and
Young. amazed and charmed all fortu-
nate enough 10 have been hidden to the
lau
AS % superb social function, II has had
no parallel in America. Its fame NAV
pass into history, and. perhaps. its splen-
,ers viii be written down as the
standard for the bellies and gallants Of
tra coming century.
The scene presented was strange
spectacle in this up-to-date metropolis.
40 the first coup doeil," one would
have imagined the graves had opened
and the kings and queens. the princesses
and the titled aristocracy Of the decayed
centuries had arisen in chorus. to again
become themselves in all their old-time
glory
Perhaps there were 700 guests present.
aI eorgeously garbed in silks and satins
and masnihcently bedecked with dia-
m0uds. Almost every character Of note
iu the times Of Louis XIV. and XIV.
from the plebeian peasant to the Jewell
crowned king and queen, was personated
They presented imposing figures. dancing
in the stately minuet, or whirling in
the merry waltz.
Numerous were the pseudo-Marie An
toinettes. Queen Elizabeths, Lady
Telzles. Gismonds. Juliettes. Joan
d'Arcs. Empress JOsephines; Mary, Queen
of Scots. Colonial Danes, Knights Of
Malta. Cardinals. Romeos Toreadors
Cavaliers-all presented in costumes Of
the c0stlest fabrics. and with marvel
l3us truth of detail. The Marie An
toinette ladies predominated.
Americas historical notables seemed
badly neglected. even the Father Of His
Country. George Washington. being hon
1red by only two representatives.
Aside from the beauty Of the costumes.
interest centered in the unprecedented
display Of jewels; many rare, old. price
less. family heirlooms being worn. There
is no estimating their monetary worth.
but they certainly represented vast for
tunes. Many Of the women seemed
ablaze with sparkling gems.
THE ARRIVALS.
The guests began arriving about II
o'clock They entered the hotel through
q private door. at Thirty-third street,
ana were Immediately ushered to the
second floor where "a suite of fifteen
large apartments had been reserved for
dressing purposes. Here were stationed
numerous hair-dressers, costumers, mo-
fstcs. and other functionaries re-
gri~ed for the final polishing touches to
Dr. given the exquisite outfits. These
rooms were decorated with a profusion
%. roses and smilax.
After the guests had assembled and
made ready for the grand entree, they
descended the flower-strewn stairways to
The reception parlor. on the main floor.
As they passed through the archway
they were met by the hostess. Mrs. Brad
ley Martin. who stood beneath a canopy
OF rich tapestries and floral effects. Mrs.
Martin wore a becoming costume or the
Queen Elizabeth period. made of black
velvet. over red brocade She was
adorned with all her magnificent jewels
including ner famous rope OF diamonds.
AS the guests approached their names
and the characters impersonated were
announced by lackeys.
The walls of the reception-room were
covered with costly tapestries of the
l..nrest cOlOrs while myriads OF roses
car-lessly thrown rested in the folds as
ttsr Glanced to fall. In one corner was
placed the Hungarian band, hidden be-
hu5 tower of long-stemmed roses.
The guests moved from this salon
through the corridors, which had been
made To- represent a woodland, III py
scores OF concealed miniature incandes-
c.rt lights. TO the big ballroom. The
decoration of this room was also Work
of art and the illumination was brilliant.
AZ the end of the room was balcony
hllsomely adorned. d which was sta
toned Victor Herbert's Orchestra, for the
dance music
"QUADRILLE D'HONNEUR"
It was near midnight before the Quad
rue dHonneur" the opening number OF
tle ball. was danced. 1t had been or
Fsr.zel bv Mrs Astor. Mr.. John Jacob
Ast1r was the king of the night ana
Nr Bradley Martin the queen. Iney leu
tle qualriile. and at one side were MIS-
s,uyesant Fish and Mr.. Robert van
Cortanlt: at the opposite end, Miss Gerry
ney Warren and Mr.. LisDenard Stewart.
The opposite side couples were Mrs.
Orme Wilson and Harry Lehr Mrs. Lee
Taller and Mr. Craig Wadsworth. MISS
Lena Morton and Mr.. Center Hitchcock
and Miss Madeline Cutting and Mr.. j. ).
Nau Allen.
Following this came the Mrs. Edmund
u. bayIas quadrille, which was partici-
Iatel in hy Mrs. ogden Mills, Mrs. Johh
Jacob Astor. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
Jr, Mrs Henry Sloan Miss Edith Nor
ton. 1iss Van Rensselaer,, Miss Alfonso
o. Navarro IT, D. Robbins, Worthinstoh
Nh.tehous.. and others.
Then cl'e the debutante ouadrille' an
ne dancers wearing costumes or the
Louis Quinze epoch. The quadriue was
danced 20 The slow music Of the minuet,
ana the different figures were executed
WIN grace and precision. General
cncing was then INDUCED in.
supper was served in the Empire
din.ng-rooms The tables were prettiiy
decorated with roses
THE COTILLON
Tie cotillon after supper was led by
Ar Elisha Dyer Jr, who wore cos
tune Of the period Of Francis !. IT CON
sisted OF cloak Of royal purple velvet
ana coat Of the same material rehiy
decorated with gold embroidery. The
tghis were Of violet silk. and he wore
hat with large ostrich feathers.
The gray strcaks Of dawn were strug-
slng through the windows Of the
Waldorf before the last echo OF Home
Sweet Home" had died IN the flower
scented room. and the greatest ball IN
uoinams history was ended.
There We're many guests from out OF