Evening star., 1937-10-10

Cor the dinner and ball as the present
generation would call it, rendered. in
February, 1859, to Lord and Lady
Napier when they were leaving Wash
ington, Lord Napier, the then British
Minister, having been relieved by his
government and assigned to duty else
where.
THIS distinguished diplomat had
made a host Of warm friends
during the few years he was stationed
in Washington-just as Ambassador
James Bryce did in more recent years.
And although President Buchanan
was actually the moving spirit in his
transfer, yet the people. through SEN
ator Seward of New York. thought
they would like to give him a farewell
party, at least to show their own high
regard and esteem for his services,
and especially for the uniform courtesy
shown by him to each one with whom
he came in contact.
That the high public officials and
the citizens of Washington made a
good job Of it there is ample printed
evidence. The press tells us that it was
the largest such entertainment ever
given in Washington, except on the
occasion of the Inauguration of a
President" and no doubt it was. for
in all there are said to have been
present to enjoy the dinner and the
dancing around 1900 ladies and gen.
tlemen. Just how they ever managed
to get so many people into the old
Willard is question, no doubt, many
of us would ask
However, it must have been a mar
velous affair, for even outside news
papers sent their representatives on
to cover what is still commonly known
as the Napier ball. One correspondent
in his write-up said:
THE entire suite of parlors on the
Fourteenth street side of the hotel,
with others nearby. were used as dress
ing and reception rooms. One parlor
was especially reserved for the guests
of the evening, viz: Lord and Lady
Napier, the diplomatic corps and the
members of the cabinet with their
ladies. When such of these as at
tended had arrived they were formally
escorted by the Executive Committee
Of the Board of Managers downstairs
into the ball room, the band playing
God Save the Queen The broad
staircase down which they passed was
lined with rare exotics. embedded in
moss and ornamented with mirrors.
This magnificent apartment. $50
feet in length, was draped with the
ensigns Of all nations, supplied for
the occasion from the navy yards at
Brooklyn and here. Opposite the stair
case was a raised orchestra. also
draped with flags, and at the northern
extremity was a raised dais. behind
which was mammoth oval mirror,
fanked by full-length portraits Of
George Washington and Queen VIC
toria. On this platform were chairs
for Lord and Lady Napier. and so far
as for the other guests; but they pre-
ferred to remain on the floor, and the
position of honor was occupied by a
bevy of beauty, who from there could
survey the brilliant scene, and be sur
veyed.'
BUT. after all. what attracted the
writer's attention most about this
famous ball was the most wonderful
dinner served upon that occasion. for,
of all the menus he has ever read. he
believes this is the fullest and most
complete of its kind. just imagine any
human being sitting down to dinner
Of this kind. which is copied from The
Star of February 18 1859:
"Terrapins; oysters. stewed. broiled
and fried; wild turkey. truff1es. sauce
perigord, canvasback duck, currant
jelly.
cold ornamented dishes-Game
pate, trufles, ornamented with Jelly;
boned capon, truffles. decorated with
jelly; gelatine de pheasant. truffles en-
belle vue; pain de fois, truffles. en- belle
vue: chanfrois de partridges. bordered
with Jelly: westphalia hams, orna-
mented with Jelly; round of beef. deco
rated with jelly; saddle of mutton;
saddles of venison; tongues. en- belle
vue; tongues, ornamented with Jelly:
chicken salad. ornamented with jelly:
chicken salad. bordered with jelly:
aspic of oysters. en- belle vue: chicken
salad decorated; picked oysters; lob
ster salad, in decorated border
Gold roast-Pheasant. capon. prai-
rie hen. chicken, partridges, turkey,
duck. woodcock
Fancy emblematical pyramids
Britannia, on an ornamental pedestal.
with armorial bearings Of England.
Scotland and Ireland America on
an ornamental pedestal, with armorial
bearings of all the United States:
ermitages Parisien. grande cascade
de Cuba; temples marine. United
States flag; temples marine, British
flag; cabinet chinois, coup gothigue,
temples des fleurs. grand fountain
d'eperenes; fancy basket, la Parisien.
Ornamental confectionery-Char
lotte a rImperatrice, Charlotte a la
Francois: Charlotte, decarer aux
pommes; meringues montees en- cor
BELLE royale; meringe. TItalliene
garnie de chantillie; jelly macedoin;
jelly all punche. jelly au cafe Mocha.
jelly auvin de MADEIRA, decorer. blanc
mango and pistache: blanc mango,
aux chocolat, fromage bavaravois, a la
vanille. fromage bavaravois
In fancy molds. ice cream-Vanilla,
caramel, strawberry. apricot. choco-
late, lemon, raspberry. pineapple.
orange, bisque, glace, peombia, plum
pudding, glace."
Indeed, this recalls to the writer's
mind the old song we used to sing
years ago:
oook my girl to a fancy ball. Il
was a social hop.
We stayed until folks went home and
the music it did stop;
TOOK her to restaurant, the finest
in the street,
She said she wasn't hungry. but this
Is what she eat"