The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-06-28
Princess Mary'S
Costume Ball Is
Gay and Bright
By United NeWs

LONDON, June 2S.-Princess
Mary's costume bail, given Tuesday
night for the benefit Of King Ed
wards Hospital fund, was a spectacle
Of gaiety and splendor which rarely
has been equaled,
It's glories will be remembered
nearly as long as the historic ball
given by the Duchess of Richmond,
at Brussels, on the eve Of Waterloo,
and it was q worthy rival to the
one given by Queen Victoria at Buck
ingham Palace in 1871.
Princess Mary. as president Of the
organizing committee, which was COM
posed of London's titled society lead
ers, devoted many hours to working
out arrangements for the big charity
event-something no daughter Of a
British sovereign has done within
memory. She was assisted by H. r.
n. Princess Alice, Countess of Ath,
lone, and a list that included six
duchesses, five marchionesses, twenty
countesses and many other well.
known titled ladies. Mrs. George
| Harvey, wife Of the American am
bassador, and Dame Margaret Lloyd
George also lent their organized
abilities.
The ball was held in Albert Hall.
a vast circular building set in the
spacious greenery Of Kensington Gar
dens. Washington and New York so
ciety was largely represented. Elk
President William Howard Taft and
Mrs. Taft were in Ambassador Har-
vey's box, which was next to the
royal loge in which King George
Queen Mary and Princess Mary were
seated. Competition for invitations
was so great the galleries, seating
between 1000 and 5000 persons, were
packed with the diplomatic and So
ciety leaders Of every great nation
Of the world.
The main floor, decorated to rep
resent the famous Vouxhall Gardens
tho beauty spot whore the gallants
and smart danes Of the eighties
went to stroil-shimmered with the
dazzling costumes and bright uni
forms 1t was a scene possible only
in a monarchy with ancient feudal
traditions. The stately halls and Ions
mirrored corridors were piled with
flowers. Electric fans blowing over
cakes of ice kept. the dancers cool.
With all its formal grandeur, there
was plenty Of snappy, low-brow Broad
way jazz TO put kick into the dancing
The big orchestra Of 40 pieces played
twenty-six numbers. with fox trots
and one-steps predominating. There
were only a few wajtzes. There was,
however. less jazz and more music
than at some of the recent balls.
Titled ladies gave a gorgeous pag-
can't during the evening, representing
the evolution Of dress from 1900 to
1900, a group of women displaying
the STYLES of each decade.
A list Of the women participating IN
this pageant reads like an extract
from Burke's peerage. There We're
quaint. high-waisted frocks OF the
empire" period. with narrow, slim
Skirts. demure founces and poke bon
nets. Then came the wide "~crinolines, %
bustles and side-curls. The "greenery-
yallery' period immortal.zed by Gil.
bert and Sullivan. the "leg-of-mutton"
sleeves, the wasp-liks waists, bell
topped skirts and bell sleeves were all
there.
Descendants Of the tr~atn.bearers Of
Queen Vlctoria's coronation. displayed
the fashions In vogue then.
Princess Mary was moved to or
game the big charity affair because
Of the financial plight of the II hun
dred and twenty odd hospitals In Lon
don which We're founded through the
efforts Of her grandfather, the late
King Edward. lie created a fund 10
stimulate the establishment Of volun-
tary hospitals but owing TO lack Of
contributions, the system Is In danger
Of collapse. In which case the hos
pitfalls would have 10 be supported by
the state or be closed. Two and one
quarter million dollars are needed.