Smyrna times., 1911-12-06
SMYRNA AT DUPONT DANCE
Mr.. and Mrs. Cummins Speakman
Among 600 Invited Guests at Bril-
liant Wilmington Dance

Among GOO Invited Guests at Bril-
liant Wilmington Dance
Mr.. and Mrs. Cummins E. Speak
man, of Belmont Hall, Smryna, were
among those from "out of town.
who attended the formal opening of
the new dupont ball room Friday
night by Mrs. Lammot DUPONT which
was function brilliantly worthy of
the Importance of the event, which
will mark in Wilmington annals the
beginning of greater social activi-
ty to accompany the awakening of
the city in industrial and commercial
lines. Six hundred guest, many of
them from Philadelphia, New York
and Washington were hidden to the
first ball in the DUPONT building.
The great structure was flooded with
light from base to summit, attract
ing a crowd of onlooker as the long
array of automobiles and carriages
drew up to the awning and afforded
a glimpse of exquisitely dressed
women, and men in evening clothes.
Four elevators took the guests to
the upper corridor which is richly
finished in beautifully marked Siena
marble, with panelled walls and cell
ing, and tessellated tiled floors carry
ing out the effect of the marble.
The dressisng rooms finished in
Circassian walnut, with panelled
walls which will ultimately be given
decorative treatment, are in the
same elaborate and luxurious treat
ment as the corridor and ball room.
The guests were so interested in the
new building that strolling around
the lObbies and inspecting the ball
room, dining room and drawing
room, We'd with the dancing in at
traction. The beauty of the ball
room brought an involuntary ex-
clamation of delight to the lips of
the entering guests. The four great
arches, which structurally give the
advantage of unobstructed floor
space, are most ornamental fea-
ture of the room and were much
admired. The whole effect of the
room was of a creamy whiteness,
rendered softly luminous by the flood
of Indirect light from the inverted
domes OF the great bronze chande-
liers. The walls are finished with
ornamental plaster, and the wood
and metal work is white. The only
contrast comes in the Circassian
walnut doors and polished floor.
Green was the only color allowed in
the decorations Friday night, which
were of southern smilax and palms.
The stage, where Cooks orchestra,
of Philadelphia, was stationed was
screened with smilax and banked
with palms. With the handsome
gowns of the women, the ensemble |
was a scene of rare beauty. Many |
of the guests remarked that it was
the most splendid social gathering
that had ever been seen in Whining
ton. Mrs. Lammnt duPont was
assisted in receiving by her daugh-
ter, Mrs. Charles Copeland Mrs.
William Winder Laird. Mrs. H.
Rodney Sharp and Mrs. R. R. M.
Carpenter. The receiving party |
was stationed at the right of the
main entrance to the ball room on a |
temporary erected platform banked |
with palms. Supper was served in
the dining room, by Caterer John
Holland, of Philadelphia. The floral
decorations were by Potter and
Boyd. The transformation of the |
ballroom from an unfinished hall to a |
palatial apartment accomplished in |
few hours Friday by two hundred |
workmen was very neary Cinderella
godmother magic. The dining room
floor did not receive its final coat
of shellac until late in the day and |
decorators were busy until evening.