FESTIVITIES IN PARIS.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 257, 11 May 1866, Page 3

FESTIVITIES IN PARIS.

The fancy hall given on Monday night at the Ministry of Marine hy the Marquis and Marquise de Chasseloup-Laubat was most splendid. Nearly 3000 persons of the very highest rank and fashion were present, and among them the Emperor and Empress, who arrived about 11. The most striking feature of the evening was a proeessioa representing the principal quarters of the world, Europe came first, represented hy Madame Bartholeny, wearing over her costume a splendid cloak of crimson velvet, with a brilliant diadem of precious stones, and wearing a necklace composed of all the principal order 3of the various States. She stood on a lofty ear adorned with the escutcheons of all the European Powers, advancing slowly between two files of nations represented in their appropriate customs by different ladies and gentlemen, among whom Mdlle. Beckwith, as the type of Erance, shone conspicuous in a dress of white satin, with an outspread eagle on her head, a tricolored scarf round her waist, and an olive branch in her hand, as the symbol of peace. Her attendants were composed of Bretons, Basques, Normans, and also Alsacians. Asia was personated by the Princess Bimski- Korsakoff, in a rich dress of flowered brocade, reclining in an Indian palanquin adorned with heads of white elephants. Her robe was resplendant with diamonds, and before her were placed four crocodiles ofthe Ganges with gaping jaws. Africa next appeared in the person of the Princess Jablonowska, seated, on a throne covered with lions' skins. Her dress was a white satin robe trimmed with gold, with a purple mantle fastened at the waist by a girdle of brilliants ; over a magnificent diadem on her head was to be seen an enormous peacock formed entirely of diamonds, rubies, emeralds, sapphires, turquoises, and topazes. In her hand was a golden sceptre surmounted by another bird similarly composed. Before her marched Aybssiuia, represented by an officer of the Negoua in a splendid costume ; and behind the throne came Arab chiefs in their white burnous, some, however, being purple, as emblematic of authority. In the rear was the representation of a dromedary, bearing on its back Madame de Montaut, as the representative of Islamism, with helmet, breastplate, buckler, and scimitar, all of gold, supposed to be issuing from Mecca to conquer the world, with the Koran in one hand and a sword in the other. Last of all came America, represented by Miss Carter, the orchestra striking up the national air of the United States. The lady was gracefully reclining in a hammock, suspended from two palm trees, while 30 of her fellow-country-women formed the most eharmiug of all possible escorts. Madame de Chasse-loup-Laubat herself was in the costume of the time of Louis XV., with a magnificent coronet of diamonds, and attracted general admiration ; the Marquis wore a Venetian cloak. The Prince and Princess of Hohenzollern were in dominoes, like their Majesties. The cotillion did not commence till near 5 in the morning, and the last waltz was witnessed by the rays of the rising sun. — Qalignani's Messenger.