The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-28
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Threw every other question of public in
terest In the background during the prem
arations. was an event In history that ius
tieo the newspaper space devoted to It.
Both the sensational and conservative New
York papers THURSDAY morning fairly
reeked with news of the ball. The Jour
nal, including all pictures gave about thir-
ty columns to the blowout; the World
confined itself to three pages, and the Her
AID ran them close in the matter of space.
The closely printed. conservative Sun de-
voted ten columns. and the Tribune got n
hustle on Itself to the extent of a page
The Journal had fun with the event. and
the World. following the instincts OF its
owner. calculated above all else on what
1t cost The Sun took the matter scri-
ously as an event that will live in his
tory, but put plenty of ginger In Its &C.
count
This is the way the Sun apologies for
devoting so much space to the ball
once in generation or thereahouts
the rivalry Of social ambitions crystalize
In an entertainment so stupendous in scope
and sumptuous In detail that 1t makes
On epoch in the history of society From
private party concerning only the givers
of the feast and the circle from which their
guests are chosen 1t takes rank as a mat
ter of public import. With the last previ-
GUS event of the kind as a standard TO be
transcribed the entertainers exhaust every
facility of money and ingenuity to set a
new standard. The fame Of the function
goes forth TO the uttermost parts of civillz-
alton, and when the few hours OF revelry
which has formed a fortnight's topic of
news are past the thing has become a nota-
BILE reminiscencc fit for comparisons and
contrasts until revel of still greater
grandeur shall eclipse It, Such was the
ball given by Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Martin
and participated In by the greater part Of
the society of New York City at the Hotel
Waldorf last night"
The World summed 1t up this way:
"rhe most sumptuous, brilliant and cost
lv social function that New York has ever
known was the fancy dress bail given by
Mrs. Bradley Martin at the Waldorf last
night.
about 500 people were there. OF whom
more than $50 we're women. The ball placed
about S500.000 in circulation.
"The ball began at midnight and ended
pleasure cost at the rate Of 100000 an
hour. The cost to the hostess was about
SIPS 600
There was vast deal of display. very
little originality. much stiffness and for
mality and very little fun.
II she reads the World. Mrs. Bradley
Martin was not pleased at the papers de-
scription of her. The paper said:
"she who originated this entertainment,
who was glad to spend $4,000 to crafty
an ambition. is short stout woman. Her
blue eyes are rather cold She has a square
determined face and n high color Her
rose looks as II 1t intended to tilt and
stopped short.
"She was dressed as queen--queen OF
Henry of Navarro. who was Marguerite OF
Nallois. You saw flash of jewels and a
train that swept backward for twsnty feet
There was a crown upon her florld brow
and 100000 worth of Jewels on her stoIn-
acher which Is very like a waistcoat.
she were girdle Of diamonds on ropes
o; pearls and diamonds-the rosary of fash
ion. Her black velvet court train flashed
with iridesccnt black Jet.
"a little to one side stood the king. for
Bradley Martin played the same part in
this mimic world that he does in real life
He was robed as King Henry Of Navarro
Whom you looked upon him tho lines of
Macauley's poem seemed TO rattle through
your brain.
"All honor to our Lord Of hosts, to whom
all honors are.
And honor to our sovereign leige, King
Henry OF Navarro.
"But the lines did not fit exactly. 1t was
distinctly Mrs, Bradley Martins ball"
Here are some bits of conversation heard
before the dancing began
Look; there's that girl told you
about" said the EfIel tower dame. Shes
got her invitation after all"
"Why? Was it missent?" asked the
other.
"No; It wasn't sent at all at first. and
she went to every friend she has vAo has
any influence with the Martins begging
them to help her. Such wire pulling! And
it seems 1t has succeeded. Doesn't she look
radiant?"
If it comes to that suppose there are
more than hundred people here tonight
who have had to beg for invitations, and
probably 500 that he'd begged and
been refused. Why. there was
And then the little circle moved forward
to the stairs and another coterie took its
place, with other gossip on the same gen.
eral subject.
what bothers me chiefly" remarked
the Incroyable, lis my diamonds. Dor
rowed them from my sister, she being down
| South, and now can't seem to keep them
On. They are constantly dropping of, ana
II / lose any of them the bosom OF our fam
/ lily will be torn with dissensions, so 10
/ speak"
Diamonds are wearing on the mind,
| put in a French courtier, but lace Is
| worse on the skin. My neck, where the
| lace rubs on ii, feels as If had been shaw
| ing with crosseut saw and rubbing down
with vitriol. Blessed be the man who H.
| vented linen collars.
Hello! look at Tom as Sitting Bun,
! said the king, as an Indian walked into
! the room. Trade you my sword Tor your
tomahawk. old man. But look here! what
/ kind of a costume is that for ball where
| The cards are marked de rigeurF
Eyes. we all take that to mean the fnil
court costume OF nothing; that is, don't
! come at ALL mean, go
And what might you suppose fuii courl
1 iii lodi 1v