The sun., 1883-12-16
WHAT ~ GoING OY IN SOCIETY.

occur in this city for many years. Tho sizo
Of the rooms. the imposing entrance hnll.
the pictures, hnngings. and decorations. to say
nothing Of the dresses and diamonds of tho
ladies'. all helped to make n gorgeous display.
There Ia scarcely Eentlemans home In Lon
don. not even excepting Stafford or Dcvonshire
House. upon which more skill and money have
been expended than upon Mr.. vnnderbilt's
mansion. All that it wants is tho mellowinR
hand of time to tone down its coioring and TO
impart to it's uneuualled collection of costly
and artistic decorations the interest Of associa-
tion with the past Many OF those who were
present on Tuesday night had seen court balls
In London, Vienna. aud st. Petersburg. and
they agreed that no more fairy-like spectacle
OF its kind had ever delighted their eyes than
the view OF the ballroom from the gallery
above while the cotillon was going on below.
At balls given by the crowned heads OF Europe
the immense variety Of uniforms the blaze oi
jewcled orders. and the splendor with which
royalty is hedged about produce more I'M
posing effect. but. for IL scene of light-hcarted
enjoyment, where youth and beauty. in anu
ent yestments clad were shown in frame
work OF all that taste and luxury could supply.
Mrs. Nanderbilt's was unrivalled.
Diamonds were rs plentiful as blackbcrries.
and II would be u never ending task to recall
the names of all the ladies whose jewels were
remarkable. Mrs. Vanderbilt wore u tiara that
might have been mistaken for n coronet
necklace with n perfect cascade OF diamonds
depending from ii. and earrings. pins. and
bracelets to match. All the other ladies' Of tho
family were adorned with almost equal lavish
ness and in spite of the sortlid meanncss of the
thought the problem would present itself to
the average republican mind OF exactly how
much was represented in dollars and cents by
the united jewels of tho family connection Tho
only lady present whose diamonds approached
them in magniiicenco was Mrs. Marshall o.
Roberts. whose dress was literally covered with
superb gems. The Astor Jewels We're not out
in great force on this occasion. and Mrs. Bel
mont. whose diamonds are as remarkable for
the perfection Of each stone and the taste dis
played in their arrangement as for their size
and brilliancy. was not present. Take them for
all in ALL however. the dowagers looked their
best and made o good show OF beauty and
dignity. And as for the dancers whether mar
ried or single, 1t would be impossible to do JUS
tice to their grace and loveiiness.
Mrs. Seward Webb. the young daughter OK
the house. looked more than pretty as she
stood before the lcaty screen distributing the
cotion favors which consisted OF hats and
baskets OF fresh roses in which not a leaf
showed signs of fading Indeed, the freshness
Of the flowers throughout the house was the
remark and admiration of all.
Delmonico balls are becoming numerous
and common that they have ceased to excite
the attention and awaken the interest thnt they
did II few years ago. Young ladies' now GO to
them attended only by their maids, and with
much the same feeling of privacy and security
that they would feel in a Eentemans house.
In former days considerable trepidation WAS
felt in walking across the ballroom, and to en-
ter the front door and pass up the broad stair
case without a gentleman escort was thought
to be impossible. Now. Demonico's is the rec
ognized locality for entertaining and rc.
turning social obligations bv those who have
not the means or the disposition to throw open
their houses to the rreat world and tho yearly
subscription is therefore looked upon as a good
Investment by NJ ;.lramilias. and n cheap and
easy way of launching his daughters upon the
turbulent ocean of socety The ladies' Assem-
blies are n recent rganization. being only in
the second year OF their aye md having Ind
their origin in the celebrated Ladies' Ball OF
two wears AGO. The balls have alwa VA been dis
tippuishsd by admirable MANAGEMENT. nicely
OF detail and the utmost refinement.
The srst one Of the series given ON Thurs.
day WAS no execution TO the rule The floor
the lights. and the music were all that could
have been desired. and there was a spirit and
payety about the dancing that seems to belong
In a greatsr degree to n DeImonico ball than to
any other 1t was a first ball too to many who
were present-amonR others. to the young
debutante Miss Mary Otis who looked ex-
tremely pretty and lady-like in her fresh white
dress. and carried an armful of bouquets
Miss Marion Lanyion who is universally pro-
nounced to bs handsomer than ever this winter
Miss Minturn a daughter OF Mrs. Robert Min.
turn; Miss Eleanor Schieifelin. Miss Elliot Miss
Astor, and Miss Heckscher were among
the Young ladies' who we're most admired
and attended. Mr. Ridgway Moore led q
very animated. though rather rushing and
Intricate german. and the milkmen were
making their rounds before the weary must
clans were allowed to stop. In addition tc
these two large balls the Younger norton OF
the CAV world WAS INDUCED last week with a
charming cotilon party given BY Mrs. Alden on
Monday evening. Mt which were present all the
bellies and bsaus. Mr.. Lspenard Stewart upor
whose shoulders the mantle OF Col. Defiance,
Kane seems to have fallen led german o
nbout forty couples with Miss Van Rensselaer,
ns his nartner md tha dancing Was kent III