Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-08-11

Mason who died almost instantly.
Mrs. AsToR's BALL.-The ball given
last night by Mrs. Astor, at her villa,
Beechwood, at Newport, r. l., was not
only the largest, but pr obably will prove
the most notable event of the present
season. There were many faces and
forms at last nights ball comparatively
new to Beechwood, but the gathering
was representative one, and Mrs. Astor's
adaptability to the changes of the years
was proved. The ball was like all her
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by an
atmosphere of quiet elegance and refine
ment.
A dispatch from Newport says three
thousand American Beauty roses woven
into a single decoration, the presence OF
Miss Alice Roosevelt and collection OF
cotilion favors that rivaled in value and
beauty any ever used there were the
features of Mrs. William Astor's grand
ball in honor of Miss May Van Allen
last evening. Mrs. Astor threw all ira
ditions of society to the winds, tore down
all barriers that have heretofore existed
between cliques and sets and invited
everybody. Her ball was therefore not
only one of the jolliest and most repre-
sentative parties ever gathered, but 1t
really created a new social list. The
only drawback, and it was avery notice
able one, was the shortage Of men. AS
the men who come to Newport for the
summer live on the stocks that Wall
street deals in, most of them are in New
York looking after the sources of their
income. Therefore at the ball it was
necessary for women to tie sashes around
their arms to make them linen" for the
purposes of the dance. 1t was perfect
night, aud the myriad of electric lights on
the lawn shone out brilliantly against the
dark beyond. The decoration ofthe ball
room was exclusively of American Beauty
roses, which were used on the man tells and
the tables along the sides of the room.
At one end of the room was rose
vine covering 200 square feet and hang
ing gracefully over one side OF a mirror
which formed only one of a series which
reflected the merry dance in all its
beauty, showing color and brilliancy.
Beyond the ballroom is the large and
new piazza, and here was made beau
tiful scene by the employment of many
handsome palms and towering plants,
as well as the rare passion vine in full
flower. Each of the supper tables held
a centrepiece of flowers, the red cactus
dahlia predominating, Others being or
chids, lilies of the valley and roses.
The cOtillon was the feature of the
ball. 1t was led from one end by Elisha
Dyer, jr., with Miss Roosevelt, and by
Harry Lehr from the other, with Mrs.
Richard r. Wilson, jr., youngest
daughter of the hostess. The Presidents
daughter was honored with many favors
and was the central figure in the merry
romp. The favors we're valuable and
beautiful souvenirs, many of which Mrs
Astor bought in Paris in the spring. In
one figure the men had boutoniers and
the women garlands of roses; in another
the men received bisque cupids ard the
women costly jeweled chatelaine
chains. The most valuable fayors
we're used in the third figure. In
this the women had beautiful lOrgnette
chains, ieweled with coral, turquoise
and pearls, and the men had jeweled
court orders, which added gay touch of
color to the scene. In the same figure
the men had horsewhips and bits of sill
yer of regular size and bronze taper
holders.