THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE'S BALL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5961, 28 August 1897, Page 3

THE DUCHESS OF DEVONSHIRE'S BALL.

This most magnificent ball of the century was attended by the most aristocratic people of Great Britain. The splendour of the costumes and jewellery wOrn baffles description, and it is estimated that the value of the latter was considerably over a million pounds sterling. The following summary of the dresses worn by the guests is taken from the Daily Chronicle: — The Duke of Devonshire was attired as Charles V. of Germany, and his sombre black velvet costume was relieved by the Order of the Golden Fleece. The Duchess looked magnificent as Zenobia, arrayed in glistening fabrics and dazzling jewels. Her Grace, who had a kindly welcome for all her guests, was careful in ensuring the historical accuracy of her robes, which suited her splendidly. The Queen's suite was composed of four children in white Assyrian robes draped with pink shawls ; four trumpeters in white cloth robes embroidered in subdued tones of silk with a purple shawl beautifully ornamented with embroidery, and wearing fringed steel helmets and leather cuirasses embossed in steel; and four fan -bearers attired in pale blue robes with crimson shawls enriched with gold embroidery, adorned with jewelled diadems, and holding long-handled fans of white feathers mounted in blue and gold— a truly magnificent pageant. The Royal visitors were received by the grandson of the hostess, the young Duke of Manchester, dressed as a courtier of the Georgian period, in white and gold with lovely diamond buttons. The Princess of Wales, as Margaret of Valois, was a beautiful vision of white and gold and blazing diamonds, and looked quite as young as any of her three daughters who accompanied her as ladies of her Court in the dress of the period. Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein was also in this group, very becomingly dressed in pale blue, delicately ornamented with gold embroidery and seed pearls, a high laced collar, and a crown of pearls in her hair. The Prince of Wales, as Grand Master of the Knights Hospitallers of Malta, wore a doublet of black brocaded velvet, with the white cross of the Order on the breast, aud trunks of black satin slashed with grey. The sword handle, in the form of a cross, was jewelled, and the Order of St John of Jerusalem was worn. The Duke of Connaught personated a military commander, and the Duchess went as Anne of Austria, in a superb cream satin gown, brocaded in raised velvet leaves in delicate hues of fawn and green This was turned back with rich gold embroidery to show a petticoat of white satin worked over in gold fleur-de-lys. The stomacher was encrusted with jewels, and there was a high lace collar and alow crown in the hair. Prince Christian of Schleswig-Holstein, as the Earl of Lincoln in the time of Elizabeth, wore a rich costume, carried out in white velvet and satin, with a cloak of black velvet line 1 with crimson. Princess Chrisiinn was beautifully dressed as Sophia Caroline of Brunswick, copied from the picture in Buckingham Palace. The dress, of pale vieux rose brocade, with effective design, was made with full gathered skirt and a very long pointud bodice, bordered with silver galon, studded with diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls. The Duke of York, as George Clifford, Earl of Cumberland, in the reign of Elizabeth, wore a doublet of brocaded grey velvet with gorget of gold embossed steel, and crimson satin trunks slashed with grey. The mantle was to match, and all was ornamented with rich embroidery in gold, silver, and gems. The Duchess of York, who was one of the ladies in attendance on the Princess of Wales, wore a blue satin dress of the period, covered with silver, pearl, and diamond embroidery. The front of the skirt and bodice was a mass of splendid diamond ornaments, and the high lace collar was enframed by diamond necklaces. The Duchess of Teck went as Princess Sophia Electress of LunebergofHapover, wearing a gown of deep brick-red and velvet, the sides caught up at the hips with rows of large pearls. The low bodice had a frill of old Alenocn lace and revers of ermine, fastening a magnifiicent collarette of diamonds and pearls, from which hung a drapery of lace attached to the head. The dress was an exact copy of a miniature engraving at Court. The set quadrilles were most remarkable, and were watched with interest by the spectators, the Boyal visitors being specially close observers. That consisting of ladies and gentlemen costumed after the style of Queen Catherine 11/s Court was ono of the showiest. Many of the gowns for these spectacular dances had been made by Mrs Nettleship. Lady Raincliffe, as the Queen, had a white satin gown, embroidered with a crown and a large design of ornamental wreaths, a print of the period in the British Museum having suggested tho idea. Her train was of yellow, with black eagles all over it, and was lined throughout with rich ermine. She wore a blue ribbon across her breast, and walked under a golden canopy with a dozen fair ladies and gentlemen following. Graceful Lady Margaret Spicer wore a dress of green velvet and silver, edged with sable and lined with cloth of silver, and very effective were the wreaths of myrtle on her petticoat and the bunches of blosoms of the same shrub on her bodice. LadyMildredDenisonhadonawhite silver petticoat covered with beantiful old point lace, and a cerise-coloured bodice. The drapery was tucked up aud caught with gold ribbons. Her train was of white satin, with embroidered golden oagles and lined with rich cloth of gold. White satin was worn by Lady Yarborough, heavily embroidered with emeralds, eagles and scrolls copied from an old picture. The jewelled train was of emerald green velvet, lined with gold and edged with sable, and she wore a high collar of gold lace, embroidered with emeralds and diamonds. In her hair she had two lovely ostrich feathers with a diamond aigrette. Lady Henry Bentinck had a deep cream satin gown with very handsome gold ornaments and an embroidered scarf of gold. The train was of gold and silver gauze, edged with a rich gold bullion fringe. One of the many pretty women present was Princess Henry of Pless, whose costume was that of the Queen of Sheba. It was a purple and gold tissue dress, richly embroidered with stones. Round the edgo there was a marvellous display of diamonds, emeralds, and turquoises and tho neck piece was nothing more than a mass of embroidery. From the shoulder to the skirt there hung chains of precious jewels, and on each side of the cap was a bird of paradise. The Hon G. Keppel went as King Solomon, and Messrs Gordon Wood and Wilfred Wilson ware the attendants. The Duke of Fife was in a Henry 11. costume of ; royal blue velvet. The Marohioness of

Londonderry looked very picturesque as Maria Theresa. The stomacher was encrusted with superb diamonds, while in the crown on her head was a largo emerald cross. Lord Castlereagh accompanied his mother as an archduke. The Countess of Warwick made a lovely Marie Antoinette. Her gown, was of real gold and silver thread and pink rose brocade covered with lace, diamonds, and gold". This brocade, which was strikingly beautiful, cost .£l2 a yard. The train was *of blue velvet embroidered with gold fleur-de-* lys, and the headdress was in blue gauze with pink and blue feathers. The Countess of Westmoreland went as a Hebe, hq-. print crepe do chine dress looking very pretty, and the Marchioness of Tweeddale was a charming Josephine. Lady Edmund Talbot represented the Countess o£ Arundel as painted by Vandyck, the Countess of Zetland was a showy Henriette, and Lady de Trafford had a superb couthma as Semiramis. There were only four Lalla Rookhs, but the most effective was the Duchess of Leeds, whose blue velvet sash was elaborately embroidered with jewels. The Countess of ]J)erby went as the Duchess of Orleans, the Countess of Leicester as a Venetian lady, the Duchess of Westminster as Elizabeth of Bavaria, the Duchess of Sutherland as Charlotte of Corday, the Duchess of Roxburgh as Queen. Elizabeth, the Countess of Dudley as Queen Esther, and Mrs Asquith as a snake charmer. Mr Asquith appeared as a Roundhead, Mr Balfour was a Dutchman of 1660, Lord Churchill a Columbus, Lord Spencer a Francis 11., and the Earl of Arran; a cardinal.