BRILLIANT PARTY AT WELBECK ABBEY

Otago Witness, Issue 2814, 19 February 1908, Page 15

BRILLIANT PARTY AT WELBECK ABBEY

1*ENTERTAINMENT IN FAMOUS UNDERGROUND BALLROOM. The complicated Druce case now going on in London lends interest to the account in the Aforning Leader of November 21 of a brilliant party at Welbeck Abbey, at which 3fche Spanish royalties were entertained. The eccentric Duke of Portland, about whose personality the litigation is now being waged, had constructed a set of apartments underground. The paper cays : The King of Spain must have been in maqy ballrooms, but never certainly in one like that vn which 1200 guests assembled at Welbecfc Abbey last night in his honour. The great picture gallery is the largest and finest of the series of the subterranean halls constructed 'by that fifth Duke of Portland of whom so much has lately been heard. Like the others, this apartment ,has been excavated out of clay. It is a noble apartment, 158 ft long, 63ft wide, and 21ft in height. It is approached from within the abbey by a flight of corridors, and the adjoining rooms, though not so large in extent, ate similarly impressive. The walls are hung with paintings by famous artists. At one end of the gallery is a bust of the late Duke, executed by H. R. Pinker in 1880, and pronounced to be an exact likeness. GORGEOUS DECORATIONS. For last night's ball the whole suite of rooms had been magnificently decorated, the Spanish royal colours — red and gold — being the predominating hues. The rooms were brilliantly illuminated by soft shades of electric light streaming from countless lamps in the form of flower baskets. A powerful electric fan forced the air, heated by coming through a hot water system, into the great gallery, and maintained an even temperature. The ball, though given in celebration of the Spanish monarch's visit, was interesting, from another point of view, in the fact that it witnessed the debut of Lady Victoria Cavendish Bentinck, the Duke of Portland's ODly daughter. Lady Victoria is a godchild of the late Queen, and is very popular in the -dukeries. There were 22 dances on the programme, 17 being valses. King Alfonso and h<s Queen entered- the ballroom about 11 o'clock, and shortly afterwards took p»rt with their hosts, Lady Victoria, the Spanish Ambassador, and 'tearing members of the house party in a State quadrille. The music was Strauss's. SOCIETY QUESTS. At this time the scene was gorgeously effective. In addition to the house party the guests included th Duke and Duchess of Norfolk, the Duke and Duchess of Newcastle, Earl and Countess Fitzwilliam, the Earl and Countess of Harrington, Lord and Lady Galway, Hon. Monckton Arundel, Lord Belper, Earl and Countess Scarborough. Earl and Countess Manvers, Lord and Lady Sayile, Earl and Countess Liverpool, Bishop Brindle, D.5.0., Bishop and Mrs Hamilton | Baynes, Right Hon. and Lady Gertrude | Foljambe, the Tiishop of Derby and Mrs Ware, Don Vicente Dominguex, Mr and Mrs A. B. Markham, Mr F. Newnes, M.P., Mr S. Roberts, M.PI, and Mrs Roberts, Sir John and Lady Robinson, the Bishop of ' Southwell and Mrs Hoskyns, Sir G. and Lady Sitwell, the Lord and Lady Mayoress of Sheffield, the mayors and mayoresses of neighbouring boroughs. PROTECTING KING ALPHONSO. The precautions for the safety of the I Spanish monarch were most elaborate. I The tunnel entrance was not used. All the roads and paths leading to (he abbey were constantly patrolled, a cordon of police surrounded the abbey, and close watch Mcas kept on the tunnels. Happily, though there was a drizzling rain, there was. no fog. The King of Spain and the Duke of Portland were both in court dress, each wearing the Garter. His Majesty wore English decorations and the Duke Spanish decoraDINNER NEIGHBOURS. The scone when the dance was in full swing was very striking. At the supper table the guests were paired as follow : — -The Duke of Portland and Queen of Spain, the King of Spain and the Duchess of Portland, the Grand Duke Michael and the Duchess de San Carlos, the Austrian Ambassador and Countess Torbay. the Spanish Ambassador and the Marchioness de Villavoisje, the High Sheriff of Nottingham and Lady de Grey, the Marquis de Toxrelilla and Duchess de Montellana. the Duke de Santo Mauro and the Countess of Scarborough. The Duke of Alba was next Mine, de Villa Urrutia, Marquis de Villalobar and Lady Charles Bentinck, the Duke de MonteJlana and Countess Manvcrs, the Karl of Scar- ! borough and the Duchess of Manciie<=ler, Earl de Grey and Lady Desboroug-h, Lord Hugh Cecil and Lady Cynthia Graham, Lord Heischell and L-idv Savilc, Mp Balfour and Lady Maud Rolloston. Mr Tesla's wireless plant winch he has already equinped for tue sending of longdistance electric waves will enable him to attain a rate of 800,000,000 horse-power— much more than is necessary to bridge rb.e gulf of from 40,000,000 to 100,000,000 miles ' between thie earth and Mara