LORD AND LADY WARWICK'S BALL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 11998, 21 February 1903, Page 3 (Supplement)

LORD AND LADY WARWICK'S BALL.

(Essex Wcchly Keics.) A grand ball was given by the Earl and Countess of Warwick, at Easton Lodge, for the debut of their only daughter, Lady iMarjorie Greville. It was magnificently carried out, and will long be remembered by the whole countryside. Special trains and motor cars brought the guests, of v>-hom there were- about four hundred and fifty, without counting the large house party. Lady Warwick wore a dress of white spangled net on Liberty satin, representing the sun, moon and stars-r-a. "creation" of Worth's. It was perfectly white except at die waist, from where dark-coloured " rays," like the sun's beams, shot upwards upon the corsage and downwards upon the skirt; while devices of silver sequins fashioned to represent the moon and stars, flashed and burned among the flowing draperies. The Countess carried a- handsome

bouquet of gardenias ; and her jewels were diamonds and pearls. A Russian tiara

crowned her hair, in her dress she wore a knot of diamonds, and a diamond riviere and a rope of pearls round her neck, each pe;trl being separated by a tiny seed pearl. Lady Marjorie, looking exceedingly prettv wore a soft dress of white tulle p'owdered with silver sequins, and in her hair a wreath-like arrangement "of silver leaves. The suite of rooms which had been erect ed upon the lawn for the purpose of the festivities might have been fashioned like the fairy palaces of legendary lore at the bidding of an enchantress. " They Mere built in accordance with the ideas of the Countess of Warwick, the designs having been drawn by Mr Caryl Craven. The finished work was extremely fineT The ballroom, 70 feet long by 45 'feet wide, had a ceiling painted to represent a blue cloudflecked sky. Massive Corinthian columns ran along each side of the apartment, sup--, porting the roof. At intervals along ihe walls were cornucopias of mauve orchids. pink roses, and lilies of the valley. Large looking-glass doors at the end of the room reflected the scene again and again; and the whole interior, excepting the expanse of blue sky, was painted pure white. From the ceiling depended brilliant electric chandeliers of Louis XVI. design, and the upholstering was executed in red satin. An " entresol" between the ballroom and the supper-room was in white panelling, alternating, with old tapestries. From there, archways hung with yellow satin curtains led to the supper-room, which was built to seat one hundred and fifty guests. The general treatment was the same as the ballroom,, but here the walls were panelled with beautiful old copies of Watteau. The numerous small supper tables were lavishly decorated with flowers, each table being differently treated with -lilies, Parma vio° lets, orchids, or pink roses. . A conservatory, which led from the house to the

"entresol," was constructed with panels of lattice work, adorned with trails of ivy and delicate pink La Prance roses, wliile baskets of begonias hung from the ceiling. Flowers were everywhere. Orchids and ferns were banked* in recesses in the ballroom, and the fragrance of roses, lilies, and violets floated through the suite of apartments, filling them with delicate perfume. During the following week, the tenants of the estate were entertained by the Earl and Countess, and a servants' ball was also given in the ballroom.