More about The Rink Ball.

Observer, Volume 1, Issue 7, 30 October 1880, Page 53

More about The Rink Ball.

As I had not time to finish my account of the Fancy Dress Ball .before last week's Observer went to press, I will "now give a few more particulars. Before doing so I Avould like to make a few remarks about the refreshments, so called. The " Herald " states that "the refreshments provided were liberal and suitable. " Tbis is, to put it very mildly, a misstatement, for they were meagre in quantity and poor in quality. The Catering Committee deserve no thanks for the way in .which they performed their duties. Considering the charges for tickets, no one expected a grand supper, but it was expected that good light refreshments would be provided. However, "blessed are they who expect nothing, for they shall not be disappointed.'' The attendants did not treat the guests with even common politeness, for, when a gentleman asked for some sandwiches, he was told to cut them himself. I have said enough about this, which was the only drawback to an otherwise eminently successful ball, andwill now proceed to notice a few more of the dresses. Mrs. Mackechnie, as a Lady of the Court of Henry VIII.-, wore a black velvet dress, trimmed with gold braid, and a cone-shaped head-dress. Mrs. L. D. Nathan, in the short dress of a Russian Peasant, looked very pretty. Mr. McQuarrie is, I am told, very indignant that no mention was made of his costume in the Observer. Well, the fact is that his "borrowed plumes " — the dress of Sir Lucuis O 'Trigger— scarcely suited him as well as they did Mr. W. F. Hull, onwhom I saw them last. Mrs. Angerstein, in her bridal costume, looked very pretty. Miss Shailand and Mr. D. Nolan_ appeared as Harlequins, in unique and effective costumes made of pieces of silk of all colours, reminding me somewhat, however, of a patchwork quilt. Miss M. Gossett, as Shamrock, wore a white muslin dress, trimmed with leaves of the "dear little Shamrock," which made a neat and pretty costume. Miss Jones, whom I did notknow, though I fancy I have heard the name before, was very lifelike in

the character of a Nun, so much so indeed that I wondered that Cardinal Richelieu or Cardinal Wolsey did not order her to return to the convent. Lady O'Rorke really looked like a Castilian Lady, "but I thought that Sir Maurice might easily have selected a better costume than that of a Barrister. It was too much like "shop. " Mrs. Tom Morrin looked so much at home in her Yachting Costume that I found myself wondering that she had not gone to and from Napier in a yacht instead of in the Union Company's steamers. Mr. H. Forrest's impersonation of lago was not a success. Miss Alice Taylor,asthe Queen of the Roses, woreawhitemuslin dress trimmed with roses. Mr. H. Moccatta, as the Knave of Hearts, wore a white suit, with a scarlet heart fastened on his breast. The costume was very effective, though not quite up to Mr. Brock's as the Knave of the Clubs, which, by the way, the " Herald " describes as the " King of Trumps " (sic). Messrs. Ernest and Harry Townsend, in white suits, with their faces whitened, appeared as French Clowns. Their "get-up" was too forcible ji reminder of the "white-washing" process of the Bankruptcy Court to be altogether pleasant to some of those present. Mrs. A. Saunders, dressed in a short blue dress, trimmed with gold braid, was a very pretty Circassian Lady. Mr. A. Carrick and Mr. F, Yonge, in naval uniforms, and representing Captain Corcoran, incurred the displeasure of Mr. Von der Heyde. A number of ladies, who thought they were naval officers, asked for and obtained introductions to them, instead of to the genuine officers. Mr. Horace Walker appeared as a Foreign Attache of the Court of St. James's, not as the " Herald " had it, an "Attache of the Foreign Court of St. James's." His costume consisted of an ordinary dress suit, with two rows of silver lace round each cuff, silver lace round his waistcoat, and two stripes of silver lace down each trouser leg. There are doubtless a number of costumes which I have not described, but, if the ladies or gentlemen who wore them will forward the descriptions to the Editor of the Observer, they Avill appear next week. I have done my best, and no mortal can do more.