A DRAWING ROOM RECEPTOM BY QUEEN VICTORIA.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 211, 16 July 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A DRAWING ROOM RECEPTOM BY QUEEN VICTORIA.

Tiif Queen's drawing-room was umwi-all y crowded. A fine day brought oub a great crowd of people along the Mall to witness. the line of ladies sitting in very undrew full dress in carriages, waiting to be admitted. The finst carriages were in line as early as 11 o'clock in the morning, and the last carriage was not out of the grounds to return until nearly 6 o'clock. Th' ie was no one who was presented who did not have to wait at least four hours, in all, befoie and after reception, to earn the fleeting ten minutes' parade. Within the palace the crush was terrible and disastrous to magnificent toilets and beautiful bouquet while many tempers were sorely tried. The most beautiful dresser,, as. usual, were those worn by American ladies. Mrs Henry T<, Horton wore an artistic and costly gown. The petticoat was of white satin, the fioni. breadth of which was embroidered with Eearl point soie and lined with turquoise lue ottoman silk en revcrs, and upon which were placed seven clusters of three tips each. At the centre of her corsage was a veritable Kohinoor on the left of a huge diamond crescent, and her hair was beautifully dressed with diamond-headed pins. The most extraordinary display of jewels was that made by Lady Lacon. On the right side of her hair was a magnificent fly. The veil was fastened by three diamond stars, and in her hair, at the nape of her neck, was a diamond bar. Around the neck were two ropes of pearls, each at least as large as good-sized peas, and then below this, and falling far down on the bust, a wonderful diamond necklace, with pendant diamond fringe two inches in depth. On the right side of the corsage was a huge dragon fly, the body a yinglo pearl of enormous size, and between that and the middle of the corsage were- two diamond stars. In the middle of the corsage was a diamond arrow, at least fh c inches in length, with a large crescent. In the centre of the left side of the corsag-e*a huge emerald brooch was surrounded by diamonds,and her train was fastened to the shoulders by a diamond and emerald star. Her earrings were diamond screws and as large as hazel nuts. The display created a genuine sensation. j The most magnificent toilet was that of Mrs Austin Huntington, a debutante and the wife of a prominent New York lawyer. Her petticoat was of pale yellow Canton crepe, draped most esthetically with clusters of plumes. Tho train was four and a half yards long and of pale yellow satin, brocaded with large flowers in genuine silver. The right side of the train was round and trimmed with five clusters of three tips each, The left side was square

and plain with three white tips. In the hair was a white tulle veil and bouquet of Marechal Niel roses backed by genuine valenciennes lace. Tho dress was simply beautiful. The ornaments were diamonds, which w< re in groat profusion. In a cluster of feathers were aigrettes of solid .silver, and on the left shoulder wore thirty coloured lips, also Avith .silver aigrettes. Tho train was lined throughout with yellow sal in. The Queen's dress was of black satin and mau\c, trimmed with jet and tulle. The Piinoess wqig a Lyons velvet and gold brocade, diaped with Irish lace, looped with am mones and leaves. On her head was a Liaia of diamonds and feathers. Her ornaments weie diamonds and pearls.