PERIOD BALL AT THE ALBERT HALL

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 13

PERIOD BALL AT THE ALBERT HALL

REMINISCENCES OF VAUXHALL. The costume ball, of which Princess Mary is patron and which was held at the Albert Hall recently, was a brilliant success. The promoters had hoped, although they would not directly say so, that the Prince of Wales, who is president of King Edward’s Fund for the London hospitals, would be. present, but it was a pleasant surprise when the Queen notified her intention of accompanying him. Describing the decorations a writer in the “Manchester Guardian” states that the front of the organ was covered by an enormous canvas depicting the bandstand and part of Vauxhau Gardens, and around the hall were arranged grottos and shrubberies such as adorned the gardens in the days of their pride. Pink flowers and garlands were everywhere. A number of extra boxes had been built, and these resembled the grottos in which suppers used to be served at Vauxhall. All the attendants wore the stiff uniform of the Guards of 1810. Fancy dress was optional,, but nearly all the people chose that in preference to ordinary evening dress, and many of them wore fashions of the past century, which was illustrated in detail by the procession at eleven o’clock. In the centre of the hall hung a great transparent basket fillfed with coloured balloons that would be released towards midnight, and from the basket, forming a sort of canopy, hung more festoons of these roses, which were looped to the masts. Many of the boxes were decorated, and at this stage the vast shining floor itself was a decoration.

People who were to take part in the procession gathered in the great corridors on the first floor where the light was very dim, but one got a close view of the frocks, and this was fortunate because the procession passed almost too rapidly for anyone to get any idea of them. Lady Newnes, dressed in the costume of Queen Philippa of Hainault was marshalling the members of her section, who were very much disappointed because the quadrille in which they were to have taken part had been called off. They wore the costumes such as were worn at the fancy dress ball which Queen Victoria gave at Buckingham Palace in 1842 with the idea of stimulating trade. The costumes were arranged from 1300 to 1600. All those taking part were descendants of people who had been present at that ball, and most of them wore frocks similar to those worn then by their ancestors. These were extremely handsome, chiefly of gold and silver tissues with heavy metallic embroideries and with jewelled head-dresses.

Lady Newnes had chosen the costume worn by Queen Victaqja. The beautiful robe was a pale blue embroidered with fleurs de lys, and the sweeping cloak that trailed on the floor was a pale green embossed with gold. The crown had outstanding ornaments of pearls over the ears. Anne Brittany in cloth of gold, was one of the representations, and the Earl of Warwick wore a long robe of crimson and gold damask and a longer cloak of cloth of gold. Philip of Spain, much more amiable looking than his portraits, wore white satin with gold. embroideries, and looked very effective as he danced in the dim light with one of the lovely ladies.

Through the groups of elegant frocks came three ladies in dresses of a graceful simplicity which made the gorgeous ladies gasp with admiration. “After all,” said Lady Newnes, “there is nothing more beautiful than those frocks.” They represented th® three Graces of Mr. Sargent’s famous picture. Their frocks were perfectly simple, with close-fitting bodices and narrow skirts that trailed a little on the ground, and each carried a sheaf of flowers with foliage in her arms. At a quarter to eleven Queen Mary appeared in the Royal box and came to the front. Tho dancing ceased, and all the dancers- flocked towards her while the band played the National Anthem. They cheered the Queen, and then the Prince of Wales, who had held back for his mother to receive tho first greeting, came forward, and the band played “God Bless the Prince of Wales.” The Prince was wearing the ribbin of the Garter, and stood there with his mother smiling while the people cheered heartily. After that soldierly attendants marched into the ball and formed the dancers into an enormous circle of brilliant colours. Trumpeters stationed among the orchestra sounded a fanfare, and down the steps came the first group of the procession, representing the fashions of 1810. The women wore Empire frocks. Each was accompanied by a gentleman of the period. The effect was rather odd when one lady walked past accompanied by a sailor in straw hat and pigtail. Each lady, as she came opposite the Royal box, /stopped and curtesied to the Queen, and then parsed on to a position inside the circle of spectators.