Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-12-27
Gotham Gossip.
The Vanderbilt BaW-A Success a;

-Ro,ocU the Pedestrian The LITER
arg Market.
Christmas Shopping and Shoppers
Shop Gwls-A Sad Ecident-Sensible
Maritg-We First Sleigh Ride Of the
Season The Pedestal Fund Art Loan.
New York, December Esd, 1888.
Society is not yet done discussing
the Vanderbilt ball, with its wealth of
decoration, beauty of toilets, and treas
ures of diamonds. And yet, Mr.. Van
derbilt can hardly be pleased over the
result. A success the affair certainly
was, as vulgar display Of heaps Of
wealth secured for the most part in any
thing but a legitimate way. But, all
the same, it brings nothing but ridi-
Guile. The best people in society,"
really ought to spell the word with a
capital s, he failed to get. Two thous.
and invitations were issued, and only
half of those were accepted. do you
suppose" said the leader of a certain
clique whom | met at the Bartholdi
Art Loan Exhibition, and a clever
woman she is too, "that I would help
to advertise the wealth of these Cree
suses ? No indeed. | am almost asham-
ed to be found here. What does all
this display of pictures, sculptures, etc.
here mean. Nominally, they are sent
here as a means to raise money for the
pedestal for the Statue Of "Liberty En-.
lightning the World" Really, it is
only done to show off how much mon.
ey these people have, and what prices
they can afford to pay if thing strikes
their fancy, or if they believe that it is
necessary for their self advertisement.
1t is bad enough that one has to 90 to
the Metropolitan Opera House, if one
wants to hear Nilsson, and thus help
advertise Mr.. Vanderbilt's theatre but
we must draw the line somewhere, and
| for one draw it at the threshold of
his house" No doubt there was
great deal of bitterness in this speech !;
but at the same time, one can hardly
deem it too sharp, when one thinks
how men like Vanderbilt, Gould, Sage
and others keep on amassing their
wealth. The favors at the German
that evening alone cost nearly $4,000.
At the same time poor brakemen and
other employees on the New York Cen
trail, Harlem, New Haven and other
Vanderbilt roads, were constantly risk
ing their lives for the sorry pittance of
fifty dollars month.
Rowell, the pedestrian, has been tax
ing active exercise and fair training at
the Manhattan Athletic Club grounds.
The great walk is to take place early in
February. Early next week the little
Englishman goes to Atlantic City, on
the New Jersey Coast, to 60 into active
training for his six day tramp. His
trainer here finds much difficulty in
handling him; for, although he does
all the work required of him during
the day, he dissipates at night, and
thus destroys the good effect of his ex-
ercise. Rowell now says that this will
be the last time that he will appear on
the tan bark. He can well afford it,
for his fortune is but little short of
$4,000.
A leading publisher tells me that
there is less demand for gorgeously
bound and illustrated gift books this
year than in former seasons. Gin con-
sequence said he, 'many publishers
of ten dollar books will find themselves
out of pocket. 1t is high time that
such period arrived, for the craze had
reached such point that no publisher
could afford to bring out a decent
book for three months before the holi-
days.
Christmas is at hand, and the streets
generally but the main thouroughfares
particularly are thronged with shop
pers. The two snow storms have
slushed the streets considerably and
made walking and riding difficult, but
the fair world that makes purchases
does not seem to mind the discomfort
This season shop keepers can certainly
pot complain Of poor trade. The range
novelties suitable for presents is a
- everything is expensive.
iSners, retailers and
!; !, !, ]. !. ! !. !. !.
NATTER, is all to-
,hich come in
llver, glass and
result one can
these gay places
", and half
apd sub