. The Saturday evening post. felttransported to the days of Maria Theresa as one looked onat the perfect fete given by candlelight. It was a pictureand a perfume of ancient times. The ball at the Marquis Palavicinis was more gorgeousas to its flowers and the proportions of the vast rooms;where the same number of people did not seem a crowdand where the light was brighter and the jewels andgowns showed more individuality; but it was less quaintthan the first or than were the fetes given in several ofthe older palaces—such as the soirees of the old but stillbeautiful Countess Clam-Gallas, a ball
. The Saturday evening post. felttransported to the days of Maria Theresa as one looked onat the perfect fete given by candlelight. It was a pictureand a perfume of ancient times. The ball at the Marquis Palavicinis was more gorgeousas to its flowers and the proportions of the vast rooms;where the same number of people did not seem a crowdand where the light was brighter and the jewels andgowns showed more individuality; but it was less quaintthan the first or than were the fetes given in several ofthe older palaces—such as the soirees of the old but stillbeautiful Countess Clam-Gallas, a ball at the Larish Pal-ace and one at Prince Hohenlohes, as well as two balls atthe Duke of Cumberlands. These last deserve a word ofspecial mention. The Duke and Duchess of Cumberland possessed greatwealth; and he was the eldest son of the blind old King ofHanover whom Bismarck had dethroned. Various coun-tries had refused this king a hospitality which promised tobe indefinite; but the court of Austria, true to its traditions. Henry H. Hondre of birth, accepted the exiles and made them welcome. Theold blind exile had lingered for a time, and then died,mourning his lost throne. His son had never used the titleof king, but had taken his fathers second title, which wasEnglish, and styled himself Duke of Cumberland. He wasphenomenally ugly, about fifty, cultivated and amiable,though far from a brilliant man. The duchess was fifteenor more years younger in looks, with a very pretty figure,complexion and eyes. The latter with her charming man-ners won many friends. In society she was received withenthusiasm and went, without her husband frequently,to the balls, even very informal ones, where she dancedwith an enthusiasm equal to my own. It was an unusualthing to do in Vienna, as none of the archduchesses, oncemarried, seemed to dance much, but in the Duchess ofCumberland such action was never criticized, since inspite of it her dignity was maintained. Her clothes andjewels were perfec
Size: 1399px × 1786px
Photo credit: © The Reading Room / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookidsaturdayeveningp1933unse, bookpublisherph
