The age-herald., 1901-08-14
A Flower Cotillon.

| From the New York Heraids Lonooh Letter.
 | London-Mrs. Jefferson must be credited with having given the most beautiful co- tillon ever seen in London. but greater credit must certainly be given Mir. Albert Stopford, who thought and carried out | the whole delightful scheme. It was a floral cotillon, by which l mean that nothing but flower figures were introduced.
 The dancing went on from quite half past l till o'clock in the morning, and this will give some little idea of the num- Der of figures in the dances. To begin with. little black coon stepped into the middle of the room dressed in the con ventional slouch straw hat and red and white striped trousers. He announced the name of the figure about to take place.
 One was entitled. NO Grief Can Enter the Rose Garden" a pketty quotation from an old Persian poem.
 Four enormous crimson rambler trees placed in weighted pots and with masses of glorious blossoms all over them, were placed in a square,
 To each of these trees various young and pretty girls. dressed in white, were fastened with long scarfs of pale blue crepe de chine.
 When freed by their cavaliers they threw the scarfs around their waists and danced some few minutes to the strains of dreamy valse.
 Then came another pretty figure, which was also announced by the little coon with an appropriate quotation. It repre- sented a sun dial, from which hung trails of roses. Against it leaned, in very graceful manner, Lady Westmoreland, who just now is looking perfectly lovely. She was dressed all in white, with great wreaths of white lilies in her hair. She presented each man who came up to her with one of these floral ribbons. He in turn handed it to the partner with whom he was to dance.
 The next figure was a singularly happy idea. An enormous bed of growing lilies was arranged in the center of the room, in the midst of which stood Miss J%fer> son, who assisted MT. Stopford in leading the cotillon She presented great sheaves of lilies to the men to give to the women. This pretty conceit caused quite round of applause.
 | Another effective figure was the pre- sentation of great garden hats trimmed with many colored ribbons to the women, which they slung over the arm when dancing, the men receiving cigars and cigarettes.
 After this came charming figure in | ad In held long garlands of sweet peas, which had a sort of Sevres Chint effect. MT. Stopford then proceeded to pick up ladies In black frocks. They were given garlands of scarlet geraniums to hold, round which various dancing couples waltzed.
 But now came perhaps the most sen- sational figure of the night All the cleo tric lights in the ball room were turned out. A long procession of unmarried women came into the ball room carrying trails of artificial magnolias. In the cen. ter of each blossom gleamed an electric light. The effect was indescribable. Il was almost fairy like. The magnolia blossom was followed by trails of orchids similarly lit by electricity, which were borne by young married women.
 After such brilliant figure rather simpler one ensued, which was entitled Who'll buy my Sweet Lavender?'
 Miss Jefferson appeared on the scene carrying a large basket filled with dainty punches of lavender, which were covered over by white cloth in order to keep them fresh.
 The idea was taken from the real law ender flower sellers in the streets.
 Perhaps one of the most amusing events of the evening was a figure entitled I'll Weeds Grow Apace," but this was not announced until half a dozen or so of the very tallest men in the room were placed in the center, when they were handed punches of wild flowers, which they gay, to their partners.
 Another figure worth describing was en. titled "Potpourri," an appropriate verse being taken from the well known poe Dobson. In the course of the figure de lightful old fashioned boxes filled with g fragrant compound were presented to the ladies.