The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-02-11

tin fancy dress ball took place this even.
ing in the spacious ball room of the Wal
dorf Hotel. The mise en- scene was of be-
wildering cnchantment, Il veritable fairy
land, Respondent with all that wealth and
taste could command and graced by the
presence of many hundred members of
the fashionable set. radiant in Itch robes
OF historic renOWn. The richness of the
decorations, the ancient pictures, queer
costumes, the beautiful categorical tot
lcttes, the comminglinU of so many beau
ties, Old and young, amazed and charmed
all fortunate enough to have been hidden
to the ball.
AS superb social function it has had
no parallel in America. It's fame NAV
pass into history and perhaps its SPLEEN
doris vii! he written down us the standard
Of the bellies and galantS of the coming
century. The scene presented was n
strange spectacle in this up-todate me-
tropolis At the first coup d'oeil one
would have imagined the graves had
opened and the kings ana queens. the
princesses and the titled aristocracy of
decayed centuries had arisen i'm chorus to
again become themselves in all their old
time glory
Perhaps there were 700 guests present.
all gorgeously garbed in silks and satins
and magniticently bedecked in diamonds.
Almost every character of note in the
times of Louis NV was presented, from
the plebean peasant to the iewcl-bedecied
king ami queen They presented impos-
Ing figures. dancing in the stately minuet
or whiring in the merry waltz Nh.
merous were the pseudo Marie Antoin-
cites. Queen Elizabeths, lady Teasels.
GismoniiaS, Julliettes, Joan of Ares, Mary
Queen of Scots, colonial danes, knights
OF Malta, cardinals, Romeos, torcadores
and cavaliers. All presented in costumes
of the costliest fabrics and with navel
Gus truth to detail The Marie Antoiu-
cite adies predominatcd.
Americas historical notabeS seemed
badly neglected. even the Father of his
Country, Washington, being ignored
Aside from the beauty ''of the costumes
interest conferred in the unprecedented
display of jewels, many rare, Id, 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 ablaZc
with gems
The guests began arriving about II
O'Clock. They entered the hotel through
IL private door to II second floor, where IL
suit of fifteen large apartments had been
reserved for dressing purposes. Here were
stationed numerous hair-,lressers, cos.
tuners, modistes and all the function.
aries required for the final polishing
touches of the exquisite costumes These
rooms were decorated with II profusion
of roses and smilaX.
After the guests had assembled and
made ready for the grand entree, they de-
scended the flower. strewn stairways TO II
reception parlor As they passed through
the archway they were met by the host
ess. Mrs. Bradley Martin, who stood be-
meath IA canopy of rich tapestry and floral
effects. She wore Il becoming costume of
Qneen Elizabeths time, made of black
velvet over red brocade. She was adorn.
ell with all her magnificent jewels, in
Gliding her famous robe of diamonds
As the guests approached their narles
and the characters impersonated were
announced by lackeys. The walls of the
reception room was covered with costly
tapestries of the daintiest sorts, while
myriads OF roses. careessly thrown,
rested III the folds us they CHANGED to fall
In one corner was placed the Hunga-
ran band hidden behind II bower of long
stemmed roses.
The guests moved from this salon
through the corridors, which had been
made to represent IL wood, to the ball
room. The decoration OF this room was
also work of art and the illumination
brIlliant. At the end of the room was Il
balcony handsomely adorned, in which
Was stationed Victor IIerberts orchcst iii
for the dance music.
It was near midnight before the quad.
rifle opening the ball was danced. 1t
was opened by Mrs. Aston John jacob
.\stor was the king of the night and
Ms. Bradley. Martin the queen They
led the quadrille and ut one side was Mrs
Stuyvesant Fish and Robert Van Cort"
landt; ut the opposite end Miss Gerry
and j. Townsend Martin and Mrs. Whit
ncy Warren and Mr.. Lispenard Stewart
Th, opposite sde couples were Mrs. Ormc
Wilson and Harr I.ehr; Mrs. Lee Taller
and Craig Wadsworth; Miss Lena Nor
ton and Mr.. Hitchcock and Miss Made
line Cutting and j. j. Van Allen.
Following this came Mrs Edmund
l.. Baylie's quadrlle, which was partci-
patcd in by Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mrs John
Jacob Astor, Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Jr., Mrs Henry Sloan, Miss Edith Nor.
ton, Miss Van Rensselaer,. Miss Alfonso