The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-01-22
vuxr rs CONC ON IN souxrE

HAA& 10 tVAN" Wv ~
Jack Frost and the chilly sports for which
he alone is responsible have had II all their own
way since the snowfall OF Tuesday last. and
hayo rcrc, ptibly thinned the bathrooms
during what would otherwise have been the
gayest week OF the season. So many people
would rather DO shooting down q toboggan
Aida at tho rate OF q milo q minute or flying
over the crisp. sparkling snow In skeleton cut
ters behind Geet-footed steeds than to be whirl-
Ing about In @ heated atmosphere to the music OF
Lnnder's band, that It IL hardly to be wondered
at that absenteeism has boon the distinguish.
ing feature OF recent entertainments.
Mrs. Ogden Mills was fortunate In the
date OF her ball. preceding. as 1t did.
the cold wave. which for some carried
fearful disaster on it's icy crest and TO others
brought only new means and opportunities
of enjoyment. freshness. beauty. and unlim-
ited expenditure. directed and controlled By
unusual taste and Judgment was the sfeot
produced upon Mrs. Mills's guests. as they on.
tered her spacious hall and mounted tho richly
carved staircase on Monday evening. Only .
professional architect could describe correctly
the suite OF we'll planned and noblv proper
toned rooms, and only a connoisseur In pot
terry. art, and bric-a-brao could do justice -
their contents. They wore like = scene Of en-
Commitment Wucu ull6u WIN tuo My Okowu =
smiling women. whose fresh own rustlsd -
they danced. and whose diamonds flashed and
sparkled in tho light Of candles and electricity.
Mrs. Mills was herself q striking figure, -
shc wore q most becoming costume, q corones
OF diamonds at the back OF her hair. and three
rows OF brilliAnts with pendants around her
neck. The belles were principally married
ladies and girls OF the older sets, a. very few
ddbutantss were present, and the kids" - the
very young SGT OF dancing men are familiariy
called. were conspicuous by their absence. On
this account. as we'll as for the beauty Of the
women and the picturesque sumptuousnsss OF
the scene. it was o good ball for q foreigner "a
see, and to Judge OF what America can do n
the way Of q refined entertainment
The second Patriarchs' followed on Tuesday
evening. and was so little of Q crush that many
Of the much-coveted invitations must hsve lain
unused on drawinR-room tables, or been 10.
turned to the hospitabls subscribers. It was
gay and pleasant ball, however. and tho i'm
provement In the lighting OF the rooms. through
Mr.. McAllister's g~olden-hued shades. called
forth much admiring comment. Tho d6bu-
tantes were out In force, and not having sx-
hausted themselves on Mrs. Mills's polished
floors. were full OF life and . disposition for en-
joyment. For tho lovers Of dancing. and those
who 60 to Q ball from a pure and simple delight
in the Rayety and exhilaration Of the scene,
Delmonico's rooms are undoubtedly tho 0sld
that they love best. In private houses they are
cramped or crowded. and as theyiare absolutely
indifferent to everything but the music and the
tinGling In their feet thatSbids them CO." deo-
orations, diamonds. and display arc absolutely
thrown away upon them. Honce tho buds"
hold out for Delmonico's balls. while the
older bellies, and no mon who have
passed their first youth, scornfully an
nounce that they 60 only to private entertain
ments. SO few people have houses large
enough to dance In. and Of those who have 20
few are willing to yield them up to tina ruthless
destroyers Of supper and ball rooms that the
gay season would be like the play Of Hamlet"
with tho gayety loft out BY particular request.
were Dslmonico balls abandoned. II would
DO we'll for the ladies who have Como to 30 much
trouble to secure the success Of the series Of
cotillon balls. however. to resume tho dignity
Of tho formal reception and announcement of
guests and tho personal supervision that they
ormerly exercised over the entertainments.
The second ~ootillon. on Thursday. was By no
means . success. Neither. Mrs. Wslman. MIRA
Drayton. Mrs. Jones. nor Mrs. Walker Smith
was present. People wake into the rooms
without presenting their tickets or giving their
names, and although there was . fair contin-
gent OF wsl-knowa subscrib ers, yet Junior
Patriarch ourios" seemed to have been re-
surrsoted for the!occasion. The ~eottllons have
hitherto been such charming reunions. marked
by the utmost refinement and elegance. rot
free from formally and restraint, that It will
DO q thousand pities to allow them to degen-
crate. On Thursday evening there were but
few married women present, and Of those Mrs.
Prescott Lawrence and Mrs. Pierre La Mon
tagne wero BY far the handsomest There
was no oostliness Of apparel. Miss Casey Of
Washington looked extremely well 10 the
only yellow dress In the room, and Miss
Hope Goddard was eharminsly graceful
andlprstty n.white and silver. Miss Smelling.
Miss Hartman. Mise Clariee Livingston. and
Miss Maud Robbins were among those who
received most admiring attention. The bali;
broke up with the new finale dance b the
tune OF Dancing In the Barn" It's evolu-'
tions gtve opportunity for the display Of srsosi
and agility. and 1t leaves . pretty picture pho
tographed on the memory.
All the world that was not slsighing, skatinR.
or tobogEanins on Friday night was dinin4
and dancing. Banqusts were given By Mra
Bradley Martin. Mrs. Seward Webb, Mr.. Henry
Sloane. Mrs. W. D. Sloane. Mrs. Henry EmmsA,
Mrs. W. Boerum Wetmors. Mrs. Ogden Mills.
Mrs. Oliver Iselin. and Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt,
and after a brief period allotted to smoking for
tho mon and to a little rest and reoupsrstion
for the ladies'. the scene was changed. and they
found themselves In Mrs. Wsbbs ballroom.
where dancing was begun. and continued until
the early hours OF tho morning.
Those who love . toboggan better than Q
Toast and ind moro enjoyment In . sleigh ride
than In Q cotlllon will bs glad Of the luIl In
social festivities next week which win Give
them q chance to do full justice to their favor
Ito sports. The slsighs on Fifth avenue and In
the Park. with thor noddins plumes. silvsry
bells. and housekeeping horses. have made Q
pretty show during the past few days. to say
nothing OF the bright eyes and glowing cheeks
that looked out from the becoming framework
Of furs. Mr.. Harry Cannon was the only one
whose sleigh and harness were particularly
new and striking. Whether came from Rus
Ella, Lapland. or Alaska nobody seemed 70
know. but 1t is certainly quite unlike anything
that has boon seen here. Mr.. and Mrs. Pres.
colt Lsuence have been out evsry day In .
double cutter drawn By two high.stepp!ng
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