A MILLIONAIRE’S FEAST.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1152, 28 March 1884, Page 4

A MILLIONAIRE’S FEAST.

Mi Vanderbilt gave a great ball lately in New York, which is •said -to have “ surpassed anything ever -done in that line ” by the “ Queen of England or the Paince of Wales, whether in Buckingham Palace or at Marlborough House.” A few days before the great event came off Mr Vanderbilt is reported to have said:— •* I have put my mind into this thing.' It will lay over all Europe.” “ Do you really hope to vie with the EugJ Lsh aristocracy’s great balls V’ he w<is asked. “Wait and see,” said Mr Vanderbilt. “ Depend upon it, it will . fee a snorter ” The entertainment .■seems i-o have been more elegant than Jus language. I be decorations, the supper, the music, the toilettes had

be*-n discussed and weighed aid p"d red over for weeks. The'costumes worn b t'lp Indies are said to have been very beautiful. A few hundreds of them were ordered from Worth, Pingat, and other Parisian houses, hut the majoritv of them were made under the supervision of “ our leading modistes.” Every lady wore a new costume. The- displiy of diamonds was unusual even for New York. Several million dollars' worth of the rarest jewels were worn, and at last a half-dozen detectives in full evenin ' dress took part in the festivities to protect the gems Mm H. Vanderbilt wore a Wor>h costume, trimmed with a lace flounce valued at 2,000d0l The two large houses belonging to the family were thr wn open and appeared as one. They were so arranged when built, sliding doors being placed between the two large vestibules. These vestibules appeared like a large hall, and were cecked on either side with flowers, ferns, and palms. The ballroom of each house had the floor highly polished so as to resemble a minor, and flowers bloomed everywhere. It was Mr. Vanderbilt’s idea to turn the bouse into a veritable rose garden. All the florists were busy buying and forcing rosea for the occasion. Several thousands of dollars’ worth of flowers came from the far South, where they were grown to order. Magnolias, jessamines, vines, orange trees, oleanders, and beautiful Texas loses, with their delicate perfume mingled with Northern roses. It is estimated that the floral decorations cost 20,000d01. The supper was the most elegant ever served in Am-rica, Every delicacy that money could buy was on the tables, and the best- aiets in the city worked for two weeks concocting the dishes. The supper was served by Delmonico, assisted by the Vanderbilts’ own corps of cooks and waiteis, the very best in the city, served. Wines the rarest and costliest flowed as freely as water, and the china and silver were of the finest. It is said that each napkin used was worth sdol. The supper cost, including the wines, “in the neighbourhood ” of 50,000d01. The tables were decked with masterpieces iu lancy cream*, pyramids of fruits,jellies, and bonbons. An entertainment worthy, indeed of a millionaire.