The Washington herald., 1908-02-25

New York, Feb. 24.-The bright particu-
lar star in the all-star> cast Of Mrs
Waldorf-Astor's entertainment given
this afternoon and evening in the ball
room cf the Plaza Hotel for the benefit
Of the poor mountaineers Of Virginia was
the six-foot spotted python which eoiIed
itself comfortably about the neck and
shoulders OF Mrs. James B. Eustis as
she posed as ''Salambo."
The old gold velvet curtains which
temporarily yelled the living pictures"
from the eager eyes Of society Gor all
society was there) parted TO disclose
'Salambo" in a robe of sapphire blue.
shimmering with silver and gold and
giistening with gems
The cold blue moonlight which flooded
the scene did not lend any sparkle 70
the sleepy eyes Of the snake. and al once
the audience thought If was imitation, or,
ar most, stuffed Immediately after the
tumuItuous burst Of applause which paid
tribute 10 the artistic triumph OF the
picture. however. the reptile slightly
shifted itself with a sinuousness which
could not be accounted for by the theory
OF hidden wire springs. It seemed 10 cling
a trihe more tenseIy to the white neck
it encirCled and 10 hang more heavily on
tie diaphanOgs azure robe Salambc
shuddered almost imperceptibly. For the
space Of a second society sat in horror
stricken silence.
Admits Shuddering.
Mrs. Eustis said afterward that she
really was not bit afraid. only that.
Of course. it was wee bit disconcerung
to have the thing move even a little just
at the citical moment
Another star who moved in a picture
although not. il was suspected. unwit-
tingly. was Miss Langhorne. the debu-
tante sister Of Mrs Waldorf-Astor. In
baby blue embroidered gauze. draped
over a white satin petticOat, high-heeled
slippers. and elaborate powdered couture.
she represented the period of Louis XVI
all by herself Whether or not Miss
Langhorne was stimulated 10 action BY
the audible murmur Of Charming
which greeted her appearance. or whether
she was prompted simply by an exuber-
ance OF spirits, was not revealed. but as
matter Of fact, just before the jealous
golden draperies swallowed up the vision
OF her. the tiny toe OF her right slipper
was suddenly elevated AT least twelve
inches from the ground. with a resultant
frou-frou of chiffon. satin, and lace, and
a spirited renewal of applause.
Mrs. Astor Is AppIauded.
Mrs. John Jacob Astor's portrayal OF
Romney's conception Of Lady Hamilton
as That's was voted by many who were
present the most beautiful picture in the
collection. Mrs. Astor stood on a stair
way, holding aIoFt the seepter Of Alex
snder the Great She wore a olinging
robe Of white gauze with Overdraperies
OF pale blue. These were plenufuly be-
sprinkled with briIliauts
Another popular picture was that OF
Mrs. Benjamin Guinness. as Semiramis.
She reclined on leopard robe against a
background Of red velvet over her robe
Of golden Sauze she wore a gem-enbroid-
cred cloak Of pink velvet. and on her
masses of titan hair rested a crown OF
diamonds
In PuntOEime.
In the pantomime lie ReveUIon de
Pierrette.~ arranged in three tabIeaux
by Giovanni NIazzacorad with original
music by Richard BartheIemy, Mrs.
Waldorf Aston played "Pierrette," Mr..
Lydig Hoyt. "Pierrot." and Mr. Buel Hol-
lister. "ArleGuin-''
The moral Of the play Is that pretty
girl. especially If she is both slender and
round and has abundant light. curly hair
and a perfect complexion, doesn't really
need white satin frock from the Rue
de Ia Paix, because she is quite sufi-
GENTLY alluring in black alpaca Every
body agreed that Mrs Waldorf Astor was
the ideal person 20 adequately interpret
this theme
Among those who attended the after
noon performance were: Mrs. Cornelius
Vanderbilt Mrs William X Vanderbilt.
jr.. M and Mrs. Payne Whitney. Mrs.
Clarence AIackay. AIRS. Stuyvesant Fish.
Mr. and Mrs Elisha Dyer. Mrs. Phil
Lydig. Mr.. and Mrs. Ogden Mills. Miss
Dorothy Whitney, Miss Caroline Dray-
ton. Miss Lucy Roosevelt, Mrs. John
Drexel, Miss Pauline French. and the
Misses Sherman.
At the evening performance were: Mr.
L H. Ha rinau and Miss Hartman.
Commodore Elbridge T. Gerry. and the
Misses Gerry. Mrs. Glen Collins. AIr and
Mrs ogden GoeIet, Prince Troubetskoy.
Mrs. T. G. Gushing. Mr.. and Mrs. Robert
GOelet. Mrs. Charles 3. Alexander. Mrs.
J. R Drexel- Miss Caroline Drayton. Mrs.
Alfred Vanderbilt. Mr. and Mrs. Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt. Mr.. and Mrs. E. Dodge.
Miss Dorothy Whitney. and Mr.. and Mrs.
Harry Payne Whitney.
The announcement was made. unofficial
y, that financially the benefit was a
marked success