Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-08-26
TIE PomP OF WEALTH.
Modern Entertainments Which Cost For
tunes-An Expensive Breakfast.

Modern Entertainments Which Cost For
tunes-An Expensive Breakfast.
Immense sums are occasionally ey-
pended on extraordinary social iunc-
tions. London Answers quotes tho
fancy dress ball recently given by the
Duchess of Devonshire and the Bradley
Martin ball as cases in point. Tho
former, it asserts, put in circulation
50, 600, 600. This, however, includes the
sums expended by the royal and noble
guests in costumes, resetting OF old
| jewelry and purchase of new, and in
various other incidental expenses.
To find anything equal to this, con-
tinues the article, We shall have to go
back to the palmy days OF the old
French monarchy, when to spend ten
or twelve millions Of francs on fete
was accounted as nothing The Comts
| d'Artois, to entertain the Queen for
week, rebuilt, rearranged and refur
nished Bagatelle from top to bottom
employing 300 worKmen day and night
and as there was no time TO go any
| distance for lime, plaster and cut stone,
he sent patrols of the Swiss Guard on
| the highway to seize. pay for and bring
in all carts thus loaded.
The Marshal do Souhise entertained
the King one day and night in his
country house at cost of 500, 900.
:" hear said his ma iesty to his
host, who owed millions, THAT you are
in debt,
~ shall inquire of my steward, and
inform your majesty" replied the mar
shal, hiding yawn hehinu his hand.
At another entertainment, given by
the Prince do Cont, u new form Of di-
version was introduced. Tho company
were invited TO select by ballot the
most beautiful woman present, who
was to lie presented with ring con-
tanning a miniature OF tho host. The
lady who headed the poll stipulated
that the ring should be set without
Jewels. The miniature wGs accordingly
ret in a simple rim of gold, hut, to
cover the painting, IA large diamond,
made very thin, served as "A glass. The
lady returned the gem. Tho Prince had
it ground to powder, which he used to
dry the ink of tho note he wrote to her
on tls subject.
OF recent balls, excluding the Ouch
ess of Dovonshire's, tho most brilliant,
though by no means tho most costly,
was that given by the Countess of War
wick IN January, 1893. The costumes
of the guests were limited to the reiGns
of Louis XIV. and Louis XVI, with
the result thar thors was reproduced
the most brilliant Imaginable picture
of State pageant of That magnificent
period.
On June 22d, 1850, Queen Victoria
gave state ball at buckingham Palace,
which was the talk Of Europe for at
!eust a week. Two thousand guests
were present, including nearly 100
princes and princeFses, ID dukes, l6
duChessas, Is marqulses ami about 200
ears and Couptesses Tho cost of this,
the most brilliant function of bril-.
liant reign, did not exceed Sll0, 600.
The costliest entertainment ever
! given hy her majesty took place in the
: summer OF 1865. when several thou
sands OF her loyal subjects were invited
to grand breakfast in the grounds
OF Buckingham Palace. The hours
we're from / To 30, ana the meal was
served 10 immense marques, all Of
which were profusely decorated with
costly exotrs Tho bill was slightly in
excess Of 1925, 600.
Among other splendid and costly
dances may lie mentioned that given 10
1881 by the NGnderhilts in their New
York Marble Palace, the AEtor bal
in January, 1894, and the famous Del.
omniro Dance Of 1857, when William
G. Whitney. the millionaire New York
banker, entertained tho elite of the
+ City'H /, 300 at cost of $500, 600.
Finally, the gorgeous fancy dress bal
given by the Princess Of Wales ut Mari
borough House % years ago is said Il
have cost more than 900, OO0