Ball Anecdotes

Balls were the mainstay of the Regency and Victorian eras, and the Thorn’s enjoyed these extravagant affairs more than most. In previous posts I have devoted some time to the Colonel’s most exceptional ball in 1840. Below are some other mentions of Thorn events. I have enjoyed re-reading the ball extracts after reading Jane’s letters to her ex-governess Kate. It’s been a great way to cross reference friends and people who were frequently in their lives.

Ball Commentary:

... Regarding Colonel Thorn's last costume ball, one of our most elegant men, unwittingly came up with a rather clever remark . This gentleman, who sports the finest mustache in the Jockey Club, is renowned for his inventive genius when it comes to fancy costumes ; indeed, it is between this kind of invention and the improvement of horse bits that he divides his genius. — A young woman, who gives this handsome gentleman all the credit he deserves , asked him , a few days before Mr. Thorn's ball, what costume she could wear. — That of Venus, replied the handsome man, more gallant than witty. — And what is this costume ? asked the young woman naively. — Nothing, nothing, replied the embarrassed gentleman, who, in trying to dodge the question, gave a very precise answer to the young woman, who tried to appear quite confused.

This following reference is to the writer’s fear of being robbed at Thorn’s great ball:

 ...and this time there will be no fear of theft on the way from the stairs to one's carriage, as almost happened at Mr. Thorn's, for none of his guests even know that a group of these industrialists, for whom a stay in Paris is so convenient, having learned that the Hôtel Monaco was sheltering high-society ladies for one night, ladies who had several hundred thousand francs' worth of diamonds in their hair or dresses, had hatched a plan to infiltrate the ball, invade it if necessary, and seize all this wealth. Fortunately, Colonel Thorn was warned in time, and a reinforcement of thirty municipal guards was sent to watch over the approaches to his hotel and all the garden exits. 

Another ball, a year later:

A grand ball was held last Thursday at Mr. Thorn's. The wealthy American colonel had envisioned a spring party that would remind his many friends of the splendor and luxury of his magnificent masked ball last winter. Unfortunately, the weather thwarted some of these wonderful plans; only half of the Venetian illuminations, which had transformed the gardens on the rue de Varennes into a veritable fairyland, could be enjoyed. Dancing had to take place in the drawing rooms; but the exquisite urbanity and amiable politeness of Colonel Thorn and his gracious family easily made everyone forget these minor setbacks.

And another comment about the Thorn's epic balls.

I will not conclude, however, without expressing one last regret about the two splendid spring parties given by Colonel Thorn at his magnificent Hôtel Monaco. Among the guests were the cream of French and foreign aristocracy: the Duchesses of Dino, Valençay, and Vallombrosa; the Princesses of Clermont-Tonnerre and Théodore de Beauffremont; the Marquise de Contade; the Countesses of Borch and Fitz-James; Lady d'Orsay; and Mademoiselle de Koeneritz, daughter of the Saxon minister. Among the distinguished foreign guests were the Prince de Montleard, brother-in-law of His Majesty the King of Sardinia; Count Hartig, Governor of Milan, and his son; and others. You can see, then, that Colonel Thorn was not lacking in high society, the great and illustrious world; It was the weather, beautiful until then, that failed her, as if to punish her for having given the most magnificent ball of last winter. 

And the Thorn's attending a ball at the Austrian embassy:


Thursday last week was a great day at M. le comt'e d'Appony. The vast salons of the embassy were lit and  arranged with a admirable taste and luxury. The gardens of have remained in their usual state, due to the fortitude of time, and none of these decorations were noticed there, which had been made there in previous years for the meal. At one o'clock already the rue de Grenelle was crisscrossed with rich crews who deposited, in the courtyard of the hotel of the Austrian ambassador, the happy guests at his lunch dance , and, in less than an hour, the party had taken on this lively, brilliant appearance, full of aristocracy and perfumes, which so well recalled the previous meetings of Madame la Comtesse d'Appony...

Nothing, in fact, could convey the picture of these graceful forms of young girls almost all crowned with roses and who fluttered airy and light like sylphs in the middle of the quadrilles. Above all there was Madame 0 d'Appony, a beautiful and noble child with brown hair, a slender and slender figure, a smile full of finesse and grace, and whose seventeen years could be counted among the roses of her crown. Then, Mme Sabine de Noailles, de Saint-Aulaire, de Chateaubriand, Numance de Girardin, and the one who was not the least noticed among all, Mme Dosne, the young sister of Mme Thiers who, for the first time, revealed to the world that day his childish charms, his white and pink face, and the still shy radiance of his long gaze. Among the foreigners who were in large numbers at the Austrian embassy, ​​we must mention the Misses Tbelusson, Jenny Thorn, Acton, Gor, Miss Collier, Miss Rolly, the two Misses Galloway, Mademoiselle de Brignolles and the two charming daughters of Minister of Bavaria. Never, as far as we know, had more youth united with so much candor and grace.

And don't think, please, that only the young ladies were there to dance; the ladies also, in this precious circumstance, claimed their share and used their sweet privilege at their leisure. In the rococo salon, Mm 6 Thiers, new Calypso, shone among all her sisters in beauty; she had a simple white dress, and flowers blended lovingly with the ebony of her hair. It is the case here to say a word about the toilets, they were all of a rich simplicity, but without profusion; It was a morning, and therefore they had come there in high dresses and hats. The dresses were completely seasonal, in muslin, organdy, or other light fabric, and the dominant colors were those known to be the freshest: pink, white and blue. —

With Mmc Thiers, we must count among the great ladies who indulged in the playful antics of Terpsichore, the duchesses of Vallombrosa, of Plaisance, of Rochefoucauld and of Caraman, the young princess of Beauvau-Comar who has as much wit as attractions, the pretty Princess Rosalie de Chimay, the Marquise de Vaugué-Bérenger, the Countess Pozzo di Borgo, formerly Mademoiselle de Crillon, this beauty both Italian and French, which both countries are proud to claim as one of their stars; the Countesses of Rochefoucauld and Ségur, Mmes de Varennes, Thorn, de la Ferté, de Fezenzac and Lady d'Orsay.