Evening star., 1915-02-28
second floor of the club throughout IL
evening.

evening.
The finest house in America was
| thrown open to the public Wednesday
| afternoon for the first time. Any one
who had the IS to pay for the pleasure
| could knock at the door at 962 5th
avenue. New York, and walk right up
| ex-senator William A. Clark's Million
| dollar stairway, past Gobelin tapestries
and over priceless Persian rugs to the
heart of the mansion, which is a forty
thousand-dollar pipe organ.
The occasion was an afternoon of
French music for the benefit of the
French military hospital at Val de
Grace. About 200 persons, mostly
women, paid IS for the privilege of
getting into the house and hearing a
little music on the side. After the
concert Mr. Clark made a little speech.
telling the ladies to make themselves
at home in the galleries. An army of
secretaries and footmen were on hand
himself did the honors for those of the
guests he knew personally.
The entire second floor was open for
exhibition. Four art galleries were
lined with paintings of all the worlds
great artists. Not name was missing,
from Raphael to George 1nness. The
Fortuny masterpiece. for which Mr..
Clark paid $4,000, and two famous
Gainsborough portraits attracted the
most attention. The concert was held
in the music room, the walls of which
contained Rembrandts, CorotS, Millets
and Rousseaus to satisfy the most ar
dent lover of art The grand salon. in
Louis XVI style, contained a gold
harpsichord which belonged to Marie
Antoinette. and a Fragond ceiling lifted
bodily from an old French chateau. A
one hundred thousand-dollar Persian
rug adorned the floor.
Adventurous spirits climbed down
mysterious secret staircase, which
wound down into the basement. where
the faience collection of porcelains is
kept Priceless bits of majolica and
Tanagra stood in cases along the walls.
and in the corner was Rodin figure of
Eve.
Another exhibition room which at
tracted large numbers of admirers was
the state dining room, with its carved
ceiling, made from an oak from Sher-
wood forest. said to have been l.zeo
years old when it felt the woodman's
ak.
The concert was under the direction
of Mrs Charles H. Marshall, who es-
tablished the hospital at Val de Grace
Miss Adele Ziegler, the Queen of
Proteus sat on wonderful throne at
the ball given by
A Queen and that org n zation
rl during the recent
Ae1 AAAoAe' Mardi Gras festivities
in New Orleans The throne was par
ticularly beautiful. Built in rich colors
of red and gold, it had on either side
peacock sentry and directly behind was
magnificent peacock with its tail
spread. Overhead was a glittering au-
rora borealis, from which hung tiny
spangles of brilliants. Clever lighting
made the picture very beautiful (Ihe
stage setting represented garden
Miss Zlegler, the queen of the even
ing. is an acknowledged beauty of the
younger set this winter, and has been
extremely admired. She came in for
larger share of royal honors in one
season than has ever, perhaps, fallen
to the lot of any one member of the
younger set in number of seasons.
She was queen at the ball of the
Twelfth Night Revelers, a member of
the court at the balls of Mithras, of
the Elves of Oberon, at Comus, and
as Queen of Proteus, all coveted honors
of the social season in smart circles
here. She was radiant Monday even
ing in one of the prettiest gowns worn
this year: 1t was of white chiffon
founce of silver lace studded with
jewels. A tunic of the chiffon velvet
was edged with fringe of bugles and
over this was worn the elaborate court
jewels given by the organization and
forming almost a tunc in themselves.
of brilliant gems. The long court
mantle of nile green velvet was lined
with gold-colored satin and bordered
with silver lace. 1t was closely en-
broidered in f1eur de lis designs and
finished with high collar of pearls
and rhinestones, forming a lovely set
ting for her head. Falling from the
crown was a tulle veil spangled with
jewels. This was divided to fall on
each side of the head in Grecian effect
that was extremely becoming and love-
ly. Besides the scepter she carried a
cluster of orchids and lilies of the
valley.
Miss Dorothy Spencer. the third of the
Mardi Gras queens, who reigned for
Comus, wore as her royal robes a crea
tion of silver cloth having broad
silver fringe around the bottom. The
over-dress was of tulle, heavily en-
broidered in rhinestones and paillettes,
Napoleon wreath design, and with
waist entirely of brilliants. A tulle
train hanging straight from the shoul-
der was divided on each side and
caught to the dress with brilliants. 1t
was bordered with bands and rhine
stones. completing glittering mass.
The mantle. which was six yards long,
was of cloth of gold, bordered with
rhinestones and heavily embroidered
with fleur de lis and butterfly designs
in gems. 1t was lined with white satin
and finished with high Medici collar
of gold lace and rhinestones. Miss
Spencer made very gracious queen,
adding another triumph to her popu-
larity of the winter.
All her maids wore the short capes in
cloth of gold studded with rhinestones
that were presented by the organiza-
tions and carried huge arm bouquets
of orchids, valley and fern
Just before midnight the blare of gold
en- trumpets rang through the great
theater. 1t was the note proclaiming