A COSTLY ENTERTAINMENT.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 994, 25 March 1909, Page 22

A COSTLY ENTERTAINMENT.

The power of wealth could hardly have been more displayed than at the New York party given at the Plaza Hotel by Mrs- George Gould, on the occasion of the coming of age of her daughter, Miss Marjorie Gould. The entire second floo“r of the hotel (says a New York correspondent) was taken for the occasion, and the stately rooms were transformed by the lavish use of the most beautiful flowers. Thousands of lilies of the valley were used together with 1500 orchids. and innumerable “ American Beauty” roses, each bloom of which cost 4s. The halls were decorated to resemble garden bowers, arches of smilax being erected at intervals along the corridors, whilst the four orchestras providing the dance and promenade music were hidden from view in masses of greenery.

The guests, who numbered 250, and represented a total wealth of £3OO, 000,000, on arrival sat down to an elaborate dinner. Supper was served in the ballroom, which, owing to the profusion of flowers and tropical plants and orchids, which appeared to grow from the walls, looked like a sunken garden. It was the design of Mrs Gould that her pretty daughter should appear as a bud bursting into bloom. Therefore every nook and crevice of the corridors and rooms suggested some exquisite flowering thing.

It is estimated that every cover set would average a cost of £2O. At Miss Gould’s special table, which was 45ft long and Bft wide, fifty debutantes sat. The favours which these

young ladies found by their plates were gold chains and purses, studded with diamonds.

Miss Gould, who is a general favourite, and possesses all the charms of girlish simplicity, was (says another correspondent) dressed in a modified D'irectoire gown of deep rose satin. She had no jewels whatever, and wore one big American beauty rose in her hair. The cost of the function is estimated at at least £lO,OOO, more than half of which was spent on the dinner.