The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-09
MT, and Mrs. Gray'S Japanese
 CotiIlon Last Evening
MOST PICTURESQUE EVENT
In Japanese Hung Ballroom, Lighted With Hundreds of CoIored Lan- terms of Japanese Silk, the
 CotiIlon Was Danced.

Cotillon Was Danced.
 Like a scene from the Darling of the Gods" was the Japanese cotillon given last evening by Mir. and Mrs. Henry Bramlette Gray at the Hillman There were 200 guests, one of the most exclusive dances of the winter, and in point of pie turesqueness quite exceeding any event ever given in Birmingham.
 A strain of music from the "Mikado' and the Japanese hung ballroom, lighted with hundreds of silken lanterns, was a-fiutter. It was like a jeweled garden, full of wonderful color glowing, and yet 1t reflected the splendor of Japan in the paneled ballroom. the vivid beauty of painted lanterns and the countless flags which fiuttered amid wistaIta and cherry blossoms through which hundreds of lights were reflected.
 The guests were received in the large drawing room and the moment they step ped from the elevator on the floor ol the reception suite they entered Japan ese interior. Even the corridors through which the guests passed to the dressing rooms were lighted with silken lanterns. The drawing rooms and the Japanese room were hung with exquisite imported panels. those rare and artistic things that represent all that is best in Japanese art, The silken lanterns were hung on all the lights while about the open court a trellis of smilax was starred with loo lights refiecting the colors of Japan. Min gled with these were many flags, while onnoate the court towards the balcony was hung an immense umbrella, suspend ed from which were thirty-five lanterns each holding an electric light. About the walls hung Japanese panels.
 If was in the ballroom that the climax in decorations was reached. It was bril- liantly picturesque and when beneath a canopied ceiling of flags, umbrellas ana colored lanterns beautiful women In Jap anese costumes came in from the Jeweled garden without the picture seemed an ideal reproduction of some wonderful stage effects that gather their inspiration from Japan, the flowery.
 The immense ballroom was lighted with 300 lanterns, each one of which was m yerted and wired in order to be used over the electrical chandeliers and the seonces about the walls and the pillasters. The chandeliers had their large central hshe glowing through lanterns or dlnereht COT o, the pink yellow and green alternating +be entire length of the ballroom. This was also carried out in the sixty lights ahout the pillasters the lanterns grouped to produce this alternating effect. Be- tu,ean the pillasters hung immense um- brellas, and colored lanterns hanging from them held electric lights. The walis were richly paneled with Japanese art'
 From the chandeliers and from the hVe columns were arranged canopied erect of small flags suspended on brilliantly +ir+ed naner ribbons. The music was se- lected from Japanese operas. interspersed with the most popular American airs A seated supper was served in the pri- ] yate dining room, at tables seating groups | of four and six. The supper served Tn three courses was a delicious one, and the decorations were Japanese The sew enteen walters were In Japanese costume. l Puneh was served under an umbrella by Japanese attendants, as was the coffee In l the Japanese room.
 Receiving with MT and Mrs. Gray were | their guests of honor, Miss Mary Gill lespie. Miss Marjorie Catchings, Miss Ethel Clifford Miss Bertha Slater, Miss Mary Ruth McLester and MISS jessie I Thompson, the group Of Chrlsty sfls I whose beauty was never more pronounced | than on the recent occasion they were nosed in series of ChriSty pictures.
 Mrs. Gray was a brilliant picture in an innnorted Japanese costume of white | silk richly embroidered in chrysanthe- | n,ums shading from the pale pink into the paler yellow. The elaborate design extended the entire length of the SILK, and where the sprays of chrysanthemums faded into the whiteback ground pale yellow butterflies were embroidered. Inc i,ninga were of the softest silk and in the wide and flowing sleeves the mower design was most delicate. About the hottor of the limona was the band of tufted satin in a shade of pale blue, one of the distinguishing marks of the imnorted costumes, and the kimona open ed over A petticoat of pale blue satin. The sash of soft silk beautifully ring ed was arranged gracefully and com nleting this charming picture were the mink chrysanthemums worn In the coll fiere, which was also arranged "ith small Japanese fans
  ed brilliant scarlet peoples as the pre- dominating colors Miss Catchings was in nale yellow Japanese crepe. the em- broidery In design of white daisies and black and yellow traced in the design, which made more effective the sash Of yellow satin. Her coiffieure was ar ranged with wistaria. Miss Clifford wore n gorgeous Japanese costume of pink satin embroidered in gold dragons. Miss s,atter's Japanese costume was most eff fectiye with the crimson poppies on a white background, red roses In her coif- Aeure and a scarlet sash. Miss Thomp- son wore a charming costume in which green and lavendar were the leading shades. Miss McLester's costume was or white satin showing d design in small lanterns. and most effectively worn with a scarlet sash. All of the coiffieures were arranged with small fans and with the nicturesuue flower effects over the ears. There was not trace or the orginal Christy girls Flowered kimonas and Jepanese coinieures had transformed them into ideally beautiful women of Japan. Mrs. Gray opened her cotillon with | Mr. Edward Crawford.
 | In the opening march the women were presented with Japanese fans which were distributed by Henry Gray. Jr., from a large basket tied with the Japanese ! colors.
 The figures were quite as picturesque as every one imagined they would be when danced in a Japanese garden. and | while the puests were expecting delight