The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-10

teau loved, should have been revived for
 only one brilliant nightl That anything
 as beautiful as a minuet should die with | the cadence of an orchestra The pictur-
 esque possibilities of a colonial ball seem
 ed limitless as gradually the ball room at | the Hillman took on the appearance or
 ball at the Tuilleries, reproduction or
 a Louis KY. scene, as Vatican beauties
 and fine gentlemen of another day greet
 ed each other with a courtly grace. The
 colonial period admits of so much license
 and extravaganza in dress that the modes
 in vogue during the reign of the Louis | gave to many costumes a slight distinc-
 ton from the later period when the belles
 and beauties of Washington's day are
 pictured in their minuet costumes The | guests at the colonial ball indicated a
 preference for Watteau. The brocades
 seemed made for the graceful women of
 the watteau period The faces, the jew
 els, the high coiffeures, everything was
 like a Watteau painting With few
 yards of satin, a bit of lace, a touch of
 paint and powder and patches, what a
 transformation is wrought. The powder
 ed coiffeure is so universally becoming | that no woman objects to 1t, and there
 is something irresistible in posing as ones
 favorite character in history and fiction, | or as one's favorite ancestor. The de-
 lights of being someone else is only one
 of the many alluring possibilities of a
 costume dance.
 The Colonial ball was the social event
 of the winter General Clark and Mrs
 Brooks to whom society is indebted for
 the most elaborate ball ever given in
 Birmingham. received several hundred
 guests during the evening. General Clark and Mrs Brooks, with their sister,
 Mrs. Burnet Laurie Clark, and her daugh- ter, Miss Pauline Clark of New York, in whose honor the ball was given, received in the pink drawing room. The Hillman
 was elaborately decorated. About the arcade in the palm room the woodwork was entirely concealed with sfnilax and | immense flags used in the decorations made a most brilliant and showy effect. They hung directly above the punch | tables which were festooned with the | colonial colors. The most costly roses were used in the drawing rooms, their rose colored interiors being a beautiful background for the many gorgeous cos tunes. The ball room was brilliant with
 color. About the pilasters were festoored the colonial colors and the flags drap- ing the walls made most striking and appropriate decoration for colonial ball.
 The Callman orchestra played through out the evening" the old fashioned airs alternating with modern waltzes. Supper was served in the private dining room and at small tables placed in the palm room. In these details the colonial idea was also in evidence.
 Mrs. Brooks and Mir Hill Ferguson led the march opening the bail, the minuet
 being danced by thirty-two participants in costume The minuet was led by Mrs. Harding and MT Exum Miss Dozier and MT Thomas Heflin, the minuet partici- pants including Miss Annie Jemison. Mir w H. Ferguson Mrs. William Mudd Jordan, MT B. M. Allen; Miss Le May
 Caldwell, MT. W. M Walker, Miss Dunn,
 Mir Gadsden Hume; Miss Mary Lanier, Captain Iauza, U. s. A.. Miss Thornton MT R. D. Johnston, IT,. Mrs T. U. Wal
 ter, pr. D. F. Talley; Miss Hume. Mr.
 II. U. Sims; Mrs Pete Basil Clark. Mr. M Porter Walker.
 minuet danced by the younger set | included Miss Nellie Nabers, MT. Nor man Brooks; Miss Florence Smith, MT. Thornton Estes Miss Marjorie Weatherly Mir Russell Brooks Miss Virginia Means | MT. Charles Reed.
 | So many beautiful costumes were worn that they quite beggared description. The | most insignificant details were consider ed in order to reproduce perfectly the colonial period. There was hardly a superfiuous frill or jewel, the curls, the
 puffs in the powdered coiffeures were so | carefully adjusted, the knickerbookers, worn by the men, their satin and lace
 stocks. their knee buckles. even their
 jeweled snuff boxes were historically cor rect.
 ] General Clark made an exceedingly
 handsome colonial gentleman. He was attired in black satin, the knickerbockers
 and coat of black, and the waistcoat of white brocade. The revers on the coat | were of pale blue satin White stockings
 and black slippers with jeweled buckles completed very elegant costume. | Mrs. Brooks was a perfect Watteau picture in colonial gown in pink and
 green brocade, the petticoat of queen
 satin quilted it's full length, the panniers and Watteau showing a lowered de- sign in pink roses. The gown was made with a short train, and the bodice worn
 slightly low at the throat had it's sleeves
 finished with a deep fril of lace. Black
 velvet bracelets and a band of black velvet about the throat completed the
 costume. Her powdered coiffieure was
 worn extremely high and in the laces at
 her thoat was an exquisite old minia- 1 ture.
 | Mrs. Clark, who is an unusually beau
 tiful woman wore superb gown of pale
 blue satin and pink and white and blue | brocade, with exquisite old jewels. | Miss Clark made an ideal colonial beau | ty in a pink and white brocade, one of
 the most exquisite gowns worn at the | ball.
 | Mrs. Harding leading the minuet with ! MT. Exum. were a magnificent Watteau gown of pale blue satin. The court train and panniers were of white satin bro- cade in pink roses, the Watteau lined with blue satin. The fechu and sleeves were finished with painted plaitings of chiffon. Her coiffeure was arranged with | blue plumes and the slippers of blue satin had their buckles of jewels