The sun., 1884-01-06
WHAT rs como ON IN sousrI
wh.tever it may have been In the days Of

WnHv9VeT u nlby now WV" - S,'~
potrus stuyvesant or Myndcrt Van schsiok.
tberc ia no doubt at all that Now Years Day IL
now the least popular holiday In the whole
year. II commentaries nothing but tho Hight
OF time. OF which no ono past the age OF ~
cares to be reminded. and II comes alta season
when out-of.door sports arc absolutely con-
trolled BY tho freaks and caprices OF tho at
mosphere. and whom homo pleasures. GOOD
cheer, and good will have been exhausted BY is
immediate predecessor. Christmas This year
the New Year festival was particularly
depressing. The weather made I'D.
eral contribution OF dispiritinH influence. and
the fact that no ono was out. and yet no ono
was supposed to be at home, with tho univcr-
sal closing OF the shops and the deserted streets
seen through the medium Of a thick fog. con-
verted the gay and festive capital Of b few days
before into something gloomy enough to repre-
sent November Sunday In London.
The parties to the country Jared very little
better than those who stayed and grumbed at
homo. The snow had spoiled tho skating. and
the thaw had spoiled the sleighing. go there
was nothing left to enjoy but those old worn
out pleasures Of flirting and enting-both OF
which could have been moro satisfactorily In
dulged in at Demonicos or the brunswick.
Mr.. and Mrs. William jay. Miss Astor and
Miss Work were bravo enough to start at an
carly hour for Carbon City. who're they were
met by a number OF hunting men. and doubt
less enjoyed the trip and each others society.
The sleighing was about rs good rs 1t was at
jerome Park. whero Mr.. Grenville Kano took
party and entertained them with Il most excel
lent luncheon. the appetite for which WAS not
duo to exercise or diversion in the open air.
Tho largest and gayest parties were at West
Chester. where Mrs. W. s. Hoyt and Mrs. James
Waterbury had a cheorful number OF guests.
but probably the best entertainment OF the day.
and the nearest approach to festivity. was tho
dinner given at Demonico's by the Earl OF
Cork and Orrery and yisoount Dungnrvan. Mrs.
Paran Stevens. Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Martin.
Mr. and Mrs Ogden Mills. Mr.. and Mrs.
Francklyn. and Mr.. and Miss McAllister wero
among tho guests and the dinner was both
good and gay The hosts took leave OF their
New York friends at the end OF tho banquet
and sailed for homo on the following day.
All the d6butantes and.many OF the older
bellies were present at tho german given BY
Miss Furniss on Now Years eve. The spacious
mansion in the Fifth avenue was Just full enough
to mako the sceno gay and pretty without in
terfering with the dancing. Miss Schieffelin.
Miss Strong. and Miss Lanier all looked par
tcularly we'll. as did also Miss Urauhart Of
Now Orleans. n sistcr Of Mrs. James d. Potter.
who is spending the winter here
Tho Charity ball. at tho Metropolitan Opera
House. fulfilled the most sanguine hopes OF Its
friends and patrons. The ball was excellent In
every respect and infinitely superior in point
OF arrangement and detail to any that have
como before 1t. The boxes were we'll filled with
the best society people. and tho floor crowded
with the usual motley throng. embracing all
ages sects. and nationalites. which make q
public ball more interesting to the lockers on
than the storeotyped dances and gatherings at
Delmonico's and private houses. where the
n Inn ha 1nth
the same things and dance the same dances
night after night The new opera house was
we'll tested as q dancing hall on this occasion.
| and was pronounced by all to be admirably
| we'll adapted for all public balls. but
especially-so the knowing ones said-for mas
Querades. as tho boudolrs In tho rear OF the
| boxes afforded such excellent meeting places
| for intrigue and filtration. The newness and
| freshness Of the whole building was also ap.
provingly remarked upon by many old fre-
quenters OF Academy balls. who had painfully
lively recollections Of the slough OF despond
through which they had frequently forced their
| way In a futile attempt to secure supper for
themselves or the ladies with them. The ball
was kept up until late hour. and was unmis-
takably enjoyed by all who took part in it.
The return Of Col. Maplesons troupe and the
attraction OF Patti and Crspino drew large
audience to the Academy on Friday evening.
The proscenium boxes as usual. made good
display OF youth and beauty. and as most OF
the young people went afterward to Miss Jessie
Lansing's german. full dress. as 1t is known
and freely remarked upon at the other opera
house. was almost universal.
On Monday evening the first OF what will
| probably be long series OF amateur PERFORM
ances will take place at the Madison Club The
atre. and promises. according to the report Of
| those who have seen the rehearsals to be very
perfect and enjoyable representation OF the
| Romance OF Poor Young Man." The same
play. with very nearly the same cast. will be
repeated at Orange on the 10th inst. before the
Dramatic Club. and under the supervision Of
Mrs. Teall. formerly Miss Florence Bissell.
Visitors at Lenox during the last autumn
season will remember the beautiful represen-
| tation Of Tennyson's Dream Of Fair Womon."
In series OF tableaux which was given at Mrs.
Burton Harrisons. Miss Anna Murray as
Iphigenia. Mrs. Potter as Helen OF Troy and
Miss Lawrence as Joan Of Arc will not readily
be forgotten by those who were fortunate
enough to see them. These tableaux are to be
repeated. and the Portrait Of a MarQuise"
given with them. at tho Madison Square Thea
| tre on the afternoons OF Feb. 8 and 0. for the
benefit OF the Bartholdi pedestal fund.
Amateur acting seems to be as much tho rage
in England as 1t is here. and during tho holi.
day season every country house OF note In the
| land has had Its miniature stage and Its little
troupe Of makebelieve actors and actresses.
In London. however. and at several provin.
cial towns 1t is becoming quito common to
hire music halls and theatres for amateur
performances. for which tickets arc sold In aid
OF benevolent institutions. and In reference to
which an English journal remarks that private
theatricals are fast losing their distinguishing
characteristic OF privacy, and are as we'll advor.
tised and as we'll known to the public as the
| performances at any Of the theatres" As a
greater than at any bazaar or fancy fair given
In aid OF charitable objects. where great ladies'
are advertised TO appear as saeBwomen and
where Brown. Jones. or Robinson cheerfuily
pays down his half crown for the privilege Of
| gazing at real princesses duchesses and cou Mt
esses. And these occur at least three or four
times times. IL IN ey eeyery London season. The grandes
/ cheat the public and presarYo thamsaiveS from