The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1897-02-11
EVENT OF A DECADE
A Gathering of The Fairest and Rich
est in the New World Life.
LAVISH REGAL SPLENDOR
Mrs. Bradley-Martin's Bal Masque
Ecllpses All Former society
Events-Potentate OF
Old Portrayed.
LAVISH REGAL SPLENDOR

not picture scenes one-half as lovely as
were presented In the Waldorf. For
weeks Mrs. Martin has worked in the
preparation of the sumptuous AFFAIR.
Her efforts were richly rewarded, The
bitter criticisms hurled at her were for
gotten and the hundreds who were
present We'd i'm making her the hap
piest woman in America. The decora-
tions throughout the Waldorf were ex-
quisite. American beauties, lilies and
the rarest of imported blossoms with
vines and palms, were intertwined in
maryelously beautiful scheme.
Never in New York has a greater
floral display been made at ball. Tiny
electric lights and mirrors were used
in a bewildering and artistic manner,
all combining to transfer the already
beautiful hotel to an enchanting fairy
house. The arrangements for the ball
were tested to their fullest extent. but
with excellent good fortune, they were
equal to every emergency.
Thousands of men and women crowd
ed the streets around the hotel. but
the police kept them moving and no
conflicts or excitement of any kind re-
suited. Detectives swarmed in and
around the house to prevent trouble,
but their presence was not needed. The
costumes were exquisite. All the great
men and women of the last three cen-
turtles were represented. Arrayed In
raiment, costly beyond the dream OF
the originals, were the men and women
who appeared tonight as ladies and
gentlemen of the olden periods. AT
midnight the great ball was at It's
height. All society was there gathered
to portray the regal splendor OF past
centuries. The great ballroom of the
kFaII ONT h.a Al IN
roses and fragrant, was the scene of
grandeur never before equalled In this
country. Courtiers of old of every
cline mingled with grand danes and
ladies, kings and queens, princes. and
prncesses. but here and there the old
spirit OF loyalty had manifested itself
in the presence of colonial mon and
women of the old and quaint days I'm
America.
Great social functions of the past in
this city We're eclipsed. even the MEM
orable Vanderbilt ball of 1888. with
which since then all other affairs have
seemed TO suffer i'm comparison. For
lavish expenditure. for artistic decora-
tions and surroundings, for reflection
of the most picturesque episodes in old
world history, and as a gathering of
the fairest and richest in the new
world life, the ball tonight marked
an epoch II was more than n mile
post in New Yorks history-it was the
event of decade.
Arrangements for receiving the
guests as they arrived, were as nearly
perfect as could he. The guests alight-
ed from their carriages at No. IS West
| Thirty-third street. which is the pri-
vate residence of Manager Bolat of the
hotel, and went directly to the second
floor of the hotel. where 60 apartments
had been set aside as dressing rooms.
| The guests We're received by Mrs. Mar
/ TIN in the small ball room. The scheme
| OF decorations in this room was that of
| the time of Louis XIV. and before the
| dais passed the counterfeit present.
| ments Of all the prominent people of
! that time tn mingle i'm picturesque con-
fusion with characters of other days
| After being received by the hostess,
who stood upon raised dais under a
! canopy of rare tapestry. the guests
| passed through flower-lined corridor
directly into the large ball room. In
the early portion of the evening dane
ing in the main ball room of the first
| floor was general. but it was not until
| the guests had paid their respects to
| Mrs. Bradley Martin and she had been
| escorted to the ball room proper that
the fancy dress ball was formally
opened.
In the small gallery We're members of
| the Twenty-second regiment band and
the Hungarian band. The music sud
denly stopped for just moment to be
broken by flourish OF trumpets as
Mrs. Bradley Martin and her escort.
John Jacob Astor, entered the room. A
moment later they had taken their
| places at the head of the room and
there was another flourish of trumpets,
which told that the quadrillc d'honneur,
arranged by Mrs. William Astor. was
| about To open. The forming of the first
| figure. THE Salute" was like the turn
ing of pages of history. The characters
gathered from all section Of the room.
There was Mrs. Bradley-Martin wear
ing a Marie Stuart costume, copied
from an old plate Of that queens time;
| Mrs. John Jacob Astor in Louis vi.
court costume; Townsend Martin as a
cavalier of the court OF Louis MIL.
and Mrs. Henry Lohrin, Louis Nv.
court costume. From another section
of the room came Mrs. Orme Wilson,
looking picturesque in a Louis XVI.
court dress OF white and silver broCade.
| which followed the elaborate designs Of
the period. and Mrs. Whitney Warren
wearing costume of pale blue broCade
| and silk, after the style of the time Of
Louis Nv. Lispenard Steward closely
followed his partner. Mrs. Whitney
Warren, dressed as cavalier of the
court of Louis XIII. The others Of the
l6 who took their places in this quad
drille were Mrs. Lee Taylor. Mrs. Craig
Walsworth. Mrs. Geary. Mrs. Hitch
cock, Miss Lena Morton, Il. II. Van
Allen, Miss Madeline Cutting and Mrs.
Styvesant Fish. While waiting for the
opening bars of the music, the scene
was the most beautiful of the night
Far beyond these characters Of action
about them on either side. We're The
rich laces. glittering gems and all that
went to make up the historically rep.
resented personhges Of the ball. tht
whole backgrounded by the natural
flowers. the lights and the ferns.
In this way The Salute" was
danced: Mrs Fish and Mr.. VanCort.
land took their positions behind Mrs
Bradley-Marti and Mr.. Astor. Miss
Gerry and Mrs. Warren walk up To a
position in front of Mrs. Bradley-Ma
tin and Mr.. Astor. They are followed
by Mr.. Martin and Mrs. Stewart. Their
the side couples approached In a simi.
lar way. four at a time. leaving an
aisle in the center. Mr.. AstOT and Mrs
Bradley Martin promenading down IN,
aisle. the other dancers boNins, theI