Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-14
NOTABLE SOCIETY EVENTS.
vbe Parlor Lecture the Latest
Fashionable Fad.

Fashionable Fad.
Npw YORK, Dec. 1l.-Oae OF the fash
,orahIe fads of New York society just now
the parlor lecture of Ms. Sherwood.
This whilom leader Of the metropolis is
,-,sa in her generation, and realizes that
.ovelty is sine qua non with the tickle
n1hlic OF Gotham. Parlor lectures last
soason were in themselves unique nov
oltV. This year, realizing that the idea
80 M longer new, this brilliant replica
" the English QUEEN Catherine, secured
shrourh potent influence an especially
"orge0us setting to her picture by secur-
no the magnificent residence of Mrs.
Pobprt Hoe, Jr., for her opening enter
Comments The house is famed through
mi me city for its superb equip
wants. its novel arrangement OF
r1on,s, it's directions, it's pictures, its
furniture. The Mrs. Grundys promptly
voted il the proper thing to 60 to hear Mrs.
Sherwood at Mrs. Hoes er masse, and
nresto! when the opening day came 400
tickets at $40 apiece had been sold for
rooms that would hold comfortably about
half that number. People were carried
fairting out of the parlors. There was a
Ain like the Kaleidoscope box OF Babel
constantly going on while the lecture and
raalar and Vocalists were holding forth.
ma hostess was to be seen hurrying to
ord fro like an omnibus horse, vainly en-
deayoriug TO still the ciang and clash
md clamor of the rebelIous throng in the
house. ante-rooms and corridors. That
tha furniture was gorgeous, paintings
superb and the crush undoubted.
only the next day another sensation
shook society to its very centre in the re-
entrance, after years of absence, of that
conspicuous parsonage, Mrs. Hicks-Lord.
Old.timers of the metropolis will remem-
her this still brilliant woman when, as
The captivating Mrs. Hicks, she bestrode
her black steeds like an Amazon and can
tered through the park and into the i'm
questionable heart of the octORenarian,
Thomas Lord. 1t was not until nearly a
half million dollars OF the old miser's
hoardings had disappeared from mis- cof-
fers that the family TOOK measures 10 in
terfere and took steps to secure CON-
mission in lunacy. But the Amazon was
equal to the occasion. When the officers
came 10 serve the papers the venerable
Lord was not to be found. For ten days
tne siege was vainly made, and when
sunerlGr numbers hnally secured
an entrance it was found that her
lsd7ship had-to cover possible discov-
cries and disgOrgements - cOvertly
married her octogenarian lover. and the
batfiad relatives retired in disgust. Not
long afterward they visited England,
and Mr.. Lord died. Since then his widow
has lived mainly in London, where her
brilliancy and savior taire, have made
her prime social favOrite. She has been
living lately in New York, at the Bruins
wick, during the past year, when she,
after her impuIsive manner, decided to
take house on Washington Square, and
3 few days since inaugurated the salon
bv inviting multitude of guests, who, it
is needless to say, rarely find occasion to
meet on common ground. 1t was thor
oughly kaleidoscope gathering. There
were English lords and naval officers
and South American diplomat.
There were some represent
atiyes of old New York tamilies-drawn
there from motives of curiosity. There
were lotteries of rosebuds and young de-
butantes ignorant in belief. There was a
notable guest, an eX-Minister of France,
and his wife, world famous for her eccen-
Irlcities. There was another eccentric
widow, whose baleful intimacy with
opium and the flowing bowl Is notorious.
Her brother, we'll known naval officer
and Newport cOttager, very prominent
In New York society, was fortunately not
present on this occasion. Had he been,
the spectacle of mis- eldest sister, with
her open wig fitting back of her eyes over
q lew sparse locks OF her own snow
white hair, being carried in maudlln
condition between a stalwart policeman
and a frOwning fOotman would not have
been altogether agreeable, but the hostess
rose superior to all accidents, her rare
neck, her corsage resplendent with small
globes OF diamonds, clusters as large as a
silver dollar spangling the sable folds of
her magnificent robe. She cannot be
InnUar aha did not lnnk q
day over 40; her hair was as black and
glossy as ravens, her complexion clear,
her eyes brilliant as when sne was a gay
snd fascinating belle.
by way of contrast old-time Knicker-
booker respectability had it's innings not
more than ten blocks away on the same
day, There Mrs. Coventry Waddell,
whose receptions in old times ofa quarter
OIL century ago was the creme de la
creme of metropolitan society, and who
retired owing TO the financial disaster OF
her husband, ending in his death, emerged
ike Ph@niX, and summoning all the old
clans, gathered in an ample house in
Eighteenth street. Such a representation
OF old families has not a$ yet in
quality been excelled since the mem.
orable ball OF Willy X. Wander
bllts, Wnen three years ago he spent
100000 10 one night to secure ~ ct arms
the Introduction OF his ambitious wife to
the ultra blue blood set-but he did it.
Force and unlimited money always con-
quer in New York. 1t is only they who
Jack the nerve who fail to make their
money bags profit them in social distinc-
tsn. GOOD heavens" said William II.
vanderbilt, the father, to his son at the
time, Il could not afford to give half as
expensive ball as this" "Ah," replied
the clipper and dauntless Willie r., "you
nave not got rich father"