The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-02-11

Every feature OF the ball and oil con-
corning IL I'm the slightest was guarded
closely. Mrs. Bradley Martin, from the
first, insisted that the ball was for her
guests. and that the first intimatio OF
the decorations should be received when
the guests entered the ballroom.
Arrangements for receiving the guests
as they arrived were as nearly perfect
as they could be. Carriages approached
from Fifth avenue. east, through Thir-
ty third street The guests aliehted
from TIE carriages and went directly 10
the second floor OF the hotel where they
were received by Mrs. Martin I'm the
small ballroom. In this room Mrs Mar
tin stood on a dais, slightly raised. under
canopy OF rare tapestries The
scheme of decorations I'm this reception
room was that OF the time OF Louis w.
and before the dais passed the counter
feit presentments Of all the prominent
people OF that time, 60 mingle in pic
turesque confusion with characters of
other days.
After being received by the hostess
the guests passed through flower lined
corridor into the large ballroom.
In the early portion OF the evening
dancing in the small ballroom on the
first floor had been general. and Il was
not until all the guests had paid their
respects TO Mrs. Bradley Martin. the
hostess. in the small ballroom. and she
had been escorted to the ballroom prop
err that the fancy dress ball was de-
-elared formally opened.
In the small gallery. where were the
members OF the Twenty second Regi-
ment band and the Hungarian band. the
music suddenly stopped There was 81
lence for just a moment, 10 be broken by,
flourish of trumpets as Mrs. Bradley
Martin and her escort, John Jacob As
tor, entered the room. A moment later
they had taken their places al the head
OF the room. There was another flour
ish OF the trumpets. which told that the
quadrille d'honneur. arranged by Mrs.
william Astor. was about to be opened
The forming Of the first figure, Tile
salute, was like the turning OF pages OF
history The characters gathered from
AL sections OF the room. There was Mrs.
Bradley Martin. wearing a Marie Stuart
costume, copied from an old plate OF
that queens time; John Jacob Astor in
a Louis VI. court costume; I. Town
scnd Martin. as a cavalier OF the court Of
s'uiS Nill.' anu IleIlg Lonf IN Louis
Nv. court costume. From another Sec
ton OF the room came Mrs. Orme VIII
ron. looking picturesque In n Louis XVI.
court dress of white and q! yer brocado.
which followed the elaborate designs of
the period. and Mrs Whitney Warren.
wearing a costume OF pale blue brocade
and silk. after the style OF the time OF
Louis XIV. Llspenard Steward closely
followed hls partner, Mrs. whitney
Warren. and looked elegant In his dross
OF a cavalier OF the court OF Louis Nil.
The others OF the rs who took their
places I'm this quadrille were Mrs. Lee
Taller erals Wadsworth. Miss Gerry.
-cantnE- Hitchcock. Miss Lena Morton. J.
]. Van Allen. Miss Madeline Cutting,
Mrs. StuyvcsGn ~ Fish.
A. these partners took their places
ana waited Tor the opening first barS
of the music. the scene was the most
impressive OF tnc night. For. beyond
these characters of action about them
on every eide. were the rich laces. the
gliterinC gems and all that went 20
make up the historically represented
personages Of the ball. the whole back