The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-11


Attended the biggest Social Event This
Continent Ever witnessed-New York So
ciety Turned Out En- Masse--The Hall Is
Scene of Unequalled Brilliancy.
New York, Feb. 1.-THE Bradley
Martin ball took place last night in the
spacious ball room of the Waldorf. The
mise en- scene was veritable fairyland,
resplendent with all that wealth and
taste could command, and graced by
the presence of many hundreds of the
fashionable, radiant in elegant robes of
historic correctness. AS a superb So
cial function it has had no parallel in
America.
There were perhaps seven hundred
guests present, garbed in silks and sat
ins and decked with diamonds. Almost
every character of note in the times of
Louis XIV. and XIV, from the plebian
peasant to the jewel crowned king or
queen, was personated. They present
ed imposing figures dancing in the
stately minuet or whirling in the mer-
ry waltz. Numerous We're the pseudo
Marie Antoinettes, Queen Elizabeths,
Lady Teazles, Gismondas, Juliets, Joan
| d. Arcs, Empress Josephines, Mary
Queen of Scots, Colonial Danes, Kings
of Maltas, cardinals, Romeos, torea-
dores, King Henry Ills, Louis XIV S,
all presented with marvellous truth of
detail.
The Marie Antoinettes predominated.
Americas historical notables seemed
sadly neglected, even George Washing
ton being honored by only two repre-
sentatives.
Aside from the beauty of the CO.'S
tunes, interest centered in the unpre-
cedented display of jewels, many rare
old priceless family heirlooms being
worn. There is no estimating their
monetary worth, but they certainly
represented vast fortunes. Many of
the women seemed ablaze with the
sparkling gems.
The guests began arriving about IL
o'clock. They entered the hotel through
| a private door on Thirtythird street,
and We're Immediately ushered to the
second floor, where suite of fifteen
large apartments had been reserved for
dressing purposes Here were station
ed numerous hair dressers, coStumers,
modistes and all functionaries required
for the final polishing touches Of the eX-
quisite outfits.
| These rooms We're decorated with a
profusion of roses and smilax. After
the guests had assembled and made
ready for the grand entree they de-
| ho -ctraWn StairWaVS TO
the reception parlor on the main floor
AS they passed through the archway
they We're met by the hostess, Mrs.
Bradley Martin, who stood on dals,
surmounted by a canopy Of rich tapes
! tries, relieved by floral effect. Mrs.
| Martin wore a becoming costume of the
Queen Elizabeth period made of black
velvet over red broeade. She was
adorned with all her magnificent jewels,
Including her famous robe of diamonds.
Near the dais stood string of lackeys
and as the guests approached their
names and the characters imperson-
ated were announced.
The decoration of the reception room
was a beautifully conceived achieve
ment The walls were covered with
costly tapestries of the daintiest colors,
while myriads of roses carelessly
thrown, rested in the folds, as they
CHANGED to fall The furniture was
exclusively of the Louis XIV period, the
general floral display harmonizing. In
one corner was placed the Hungarian
band, hidden behind bower of long
stemmed roses trained from the center
| high up and radiating to all sides over
the mirrors.
The guests moved from this salon
through the corridors, which had been
made to represent a woodland, lit by
scores of concealed miniature incandes-
cent lights to the big ball room. The
decoration of this room was also a work
of art and the illumination brilliant.
As the company entered their hand
somely gowned figures were reflected
in immense mirrors imbedded in the
wall Above each mirror were festoons
of lanset garlands, entwined with de-
mauve orchids.
The big candelabra had pendant
pouches of blue silk, bursting with a
wealth of bridesmaids roses. Pink
roses entwined in asparagus vine, in
endless confusion, made a garden-like
effect at the far end of the room. Here
also was a balcony handsomely adorn-
ed, in which was stationed Victor Her
bert's orchestra for the dance music.
Beneath this We're green covered hooks
and sylvan dells, overhung with south
ern clematis, where the merry-makers
gathered for quiet talks.
1t was near midnight before the
quadrille d honneur the opening num-
ber of the ball, was danced. 1t had
been organized by Mrs. Astor. sr.. and
was the principal dance of the even
ing. In olden days it was the chief
dance of all, in which the king and
the queen led.
John Jacob AStor was the king of
last night and Mrs. Bradley Martin the
queen. They led the quadrille, and at
one side were Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and
Robert Van Cortlandt; at the opposite
end were Miss Gerry and J. Townsend
Martin and Mrs. Whitney Warren and
Lispenard Stewart. The opposite-side
couples were Mrs. Orme Wilson and
Harry Lohr, Mrs. Lee Taller and Craig
Wadsworth, Miss Lena Morton and
I Center Hitchcock, and Miss Madeline
Cutting and ]. j. Van Allen.
/ Following this came the Mrs. Bay
liss' quadrille, which was participated
! in by Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mrs. John ia
cob Astor, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt,