The San Francisco call., 1909-02-25
MARDT GRAS BRILLIANT

VI AkDi ORAS DRiLLfANI
Tuesday nights Mardi Gras ball was
as brilliant a gayety as ever de-
lighted san Francisco society. 1t was
given under the direction of Mrs. c. o.
Alexander. and was held in the new
ballroom at the St Francis hotel Miss
Crocker and her brother are the prin-
cipal owners Of the hotel and Miss
Crocker has been most active in all
the social affairs centering about the
: ball room
Before the ball Miss Crocker was the
guest Of Henry T. Scott at dinner
party given at the st. Francis other
guests were Mr.. and Mrs. Horace D.
Piusbury. Mr.. and Mrs. Horace Blanch-
ard Chade. Mr. and Mrs. William Hinck
ley Taylor. Mr.. and Mrs. Laurence r.
wing Scott, Mr.. and Mrs. Samuel knight
and Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Martin For
the dinner party the young woman
wore evening dress. and to complete
her handsome costume she circled her
throat with her $50, 900 necklace of
round white pearls, as splendid and
costly a piece Of jewelry as is owned
on the coast, and beyond doubt the
most expensive single decoration worn
at the St. Francis Oh that evening, for
sn the grandeur OF Mrs. Alexander's
ball. After the dinner party Miss
Crocker went to her apartments, rooms
727. 72s and 72s. on the seventh floor
Of the hotel, in the northeast wing. 1t
was then $50 o'clock.
Wore Simple Gown
The costume party was to start at 10
O'Clock and Miss Crocker had little time
10 prepare for the opening dance. Her
costume was decidedly simple She
went as a school days" sort of garb,
a short gingham dress Of blue and
white pattern. and large white hat.
The richest woman in the ballroom was
notable for being the most simply
gowned.
The shortness Of time did not permit
Miss Croeker opportunity to take her
pearls down to the Office of the hotel
and put them in the safe deposit box,
and she did not dare to leave them in
her room, so she wore them TO the ball,
although the costly ornament was de-
cidedly mot in character"
The first part Of the dance was en-
5oyed by Miss Crocker to the full The
dance was a brilliant affair of wondrous
costuming effects. and as il was the
closing function of a gay season the
fun was furious.
Miss Crocker's pearls excited the at
tention Of her partners. If you had
s-1T -1,r,
said Walter Martin, as he danced with
the young woman. L could identify
you by your pearls.
During the midnight hour there was
an intermission for supper.
Had Pearls at Supper
Miss Crocker went to supper with
Mr. and Mrs. r. L. Coleman, Walter Ho-
bart and Mr.. and Mrs. Walter Martin
The refreshment was served in the
white and gold room of the hotel. Dur
ing the supper H. D. Pillsbury, Walter
Martin and Samuel Hopkins noticed the
pearls.
1t was at the supper that the merri-
ment OF the bail took on the real mardi
gras spirit. There was a riot of froIic
Between sips and nips the dancers
tossed gay streamers Of ribbon and
confetti from side to side of the great
dining hall. The mirth about the table
where sat Miss Crocker and her party
was highly toned. They led in the zest
Of mardi gras. 1t was the moment OF
highest exaltation-
Thinking neither Of necklace nor cos
tune nor anything material. Miss
Crocker and her party merrily trooped
from the fiashing dining room to the
ballroom, which is located on the mez-
canine floor Of the hotel. When she
left the dining table other dancers were
making merry in the room, and the
army of walters, the majority of whom
were strangers to the hotel manage.
ment, having been engaged for the bal
alone. were gathering up the debris
Of the festive feast.
It is the theory of the house detec.
tives offthe st. Francis, and one shared
in by the mana agement, that during the
frolic Of the supper the necklace was
3oosened by one of the streamers OF
confetti paper and fell TO the floor
there to be found by one of those
anomalies society thief-or by some
attendant. The excellence Of the gems
and the great number Of them would