The Washington herald., 1912-06-30

| ouc B more gorgeous III ufSSes AHoA|
complete in management than the rest.
1t had been supposed that the Shakes
peare ball Of last year would stand long
as an achievement dinicult to approach
in magnlheenee; but most OF those
whose presence graced the zone Hundred
Years Ago. BAH in Albert Hal. Lon
don, on Friday night. June 2, had to
concede that its promoters have sue
ceeded in establishing a new record in
historic spectacular show and dress.
Society in every country IS prepared
to do a great deal in the cause OF char
I ity, and the happy inspiration Of Prin-
cess Christian of Schieswig- g-Holstein, the
president Of the Soldiers and Sailors
Help Society. in suggesting a costume
ball in aid Of its funds. found wide and
enthusiastic acceptance, as 1 have had
already an occasion to relate. All kinds
of ingenius ideas were conceived and ex-
ecuted, and the fascination Of mas
| querading in the dress Of the early years
Of the nineteenth century appealed TO
many whom a more remote period would
have left cold.
| It was a coincidence not without in-
terest that ladies' dresses a hundred
years ago closely resembled those now
in fashion They differed in q few de-
tails, more or less daring. yet a sur
| vey OF the ballroom. as far as feminine
! costumes was concerned, had few sur
| prises. When one is accustomed to see
ing women Of to-day in dresses OF the
| Empire period, or at least something
akin to 1t, the actual costumes worn
when George III was King OF England
| hardly seem out OF place.
We were prepared by preliminary de-
| scription for something exceptional in
the way of decoration, yet the reality
was astonishing. The somber old hall
\ had been transformed before, but never
so completely as II was last week. II is
difficult to express in words the light
and gayety, the subtle beauty Of ,the
scene presented by the interior, even
before the dancers thronged the floor
| and the occupants OF the boxes, who
included eleven members OF the royal
family, had arrived.
The hall had become a circle OF four
tiers. with 'loggia" boxes all around. In
| front Of the organ was a replica Of the
royal pavilion at Brighton with a ter
race for the band close by. The dancing
took place on what was supposed 10 be
the greensward outside that pavilion.
The blue sky OF Brighton was cleverly
suggested by a canopy Of muslin. SPAN
gled with stars, which hid completely the
roof of the hall from view. In the CEN
ter were large arc lamps, shaded with
blue, which shed a diffused light as II
from the moon. The whole effect was
deliciOusly soft. only II is almost i'm
possible to give the right idea OF the
enhancing beauty of a spectacle to which
light and color artistic movements and
music brave men and pretty women,
sparkling gems and gay costumes, all
contributed their destinations.
Ia ~ - frhN
when shortly before midnight there
came into the hall. in two professions,
the band of 500 who were taking part in
the two sets OF QuadTilles. Each party
had its standard-bearers and attendants.
dressed for the most part as members
OF Napoleon's imperial guard, but in the
reEimental Quadrilies wearing the British
uniform Of the period. Venus Of Milo
appeared as the leading figure in the
guadrilla Of the goddeSses. Each Of the
ladies in the "jeunesse d oree" Quadrille.
arranged by the Countess Of Lytton.
represented a goddess, Lady Lytton her
self being Flora.
The drama mad It's mask Of tragedy
and comedy as insignia; the Nelson pro-
cession, a model OF the Victory: the
naval Neptune's Trident and Dolphin;
and the Cries Of London" one of the
prettiest OF the quadrilles. arranged by
the Duchess of Rutland. cherries
punches Of lavender, fish. scissors, and
muffin bell as emblems.
"A hundred years ago was or course
rather loosely interpreted. There were
some pleasing anachrouism-Nelson for
one and the ball at Brussels on the
eve OF Waterloo another. both pardon
able on account of the opportunity they
gave for effective display. Lady PaGet
had organized a party who represented
some OF the most famous people who
%, 4 hn1
ViscOunt HardinEe Vas the Duke OF
Wellington. and Lord John Cavendish
represented BhCher-who may have re
coived an invitation 20 the historic ball
but was certainly not present.
Among the others in this great episode,
which furnished so great a scope for Eor-
geous dress. were the Duchess Of Marl-
borough. as Countess Walewska: Lady
Beatrice PoIe-Carew. as the Countess Of
Cunningham; the Duchess OF Westminster
as MarQuise d'Asche; the MarchiOness Of
Crewe. as Countess Liederkerke; the
Duchess Of Sutherland. as the Duchess
Of Beaufort: the Duchess Of RoNburghe'
as Duchess d'Ursel: Sir Charles Hartopp,
as Napoleon. a triumph Of realism. II
was noted. as an instance of the healing
effect of time. that Wellington and Ma
poIeon were on excellent terms.
Another branch OF history found its
COmmemoration in the government quad
lille. in which Lord and Lady Castle
reagh actually represented the lord and
lady Of that name of a hundred years
ago Be IL understood that all the per-
sons participating in the bail had anCes-
tors at tkst period. though some, no
doubt, would like to forget them. But no
such qualms were felt by the dancers in
the Ancestors Quadrille" who included
the Duke cf Marlborough, Lady Sarah
Wilson. Lady Helen Grosvenor. Lord
Robert Innes-Ker, and others. who had,
Of course. drawn upon their family pCr-
traits for their costumes BETTING the
occasion. In the drama procession and
subsequent QuadrilIe were Lady Tree. as
Miss Farren; Miss Neilson-Terry, as
Mrs. Siddons "a somewhat daring Chal-
lenge): Mrs. Patrick Campbell, as Miss
Harriet MelIen, and Mr.. Somerset
Vaughan, as Booth in the character OF
Iago. Music had Mrs. George CORVALLIS
West, as Lucrezia Borgia; Sir Herbert
Tree. as Beethoven: Mr.. A. T W. Mason,
as Meyerbeer. and Mr. Norman Forbes
Robertson, as Rossini
An endeavor was made land it was sue
cessfuD to show the development of the !
waltz from its earliest times down to the !
with Carl Maria Won Weber's 'Invitat ton !
a la Valse," and went on to the Blue |
Danube" Of the COS of the last cen
tury, with which some grandmothers
present may have revived cherished rec |
objections of the long ago. But the |
EITNNY