Miss Strong, who Henry James described as “youthful and precocious,” went as her nickname “Puss”. Somewhat disturbingly, the entire costume consisted of the taxidermied cat head as seen in the image, but also seven cat tails sewn onto her skirt.
From: Vanderbilt Ball – how a costume ball changed New York elite society. Museum of the City of New York
Cat: Miss Kate Fearing Strong (later Mrs. Arthur Welman).
Creator: Mora (1849-1926)
Date: 1883
Museum of the City of New York: F2012.58.1460
Bat: Marie Schleinzer, Around Vienna
Creator: Adele K.u.K Hof-Atelier, Wien
Date: 1885
Theater Museum: FS_PK250078alt
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