The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1888-02-19
WHAT rs GONG ON IN sourr1.

carry out her enterprise Of entertaining 100
guests at dinner under her own roof without
striking on the rocks OF splurge and pretension
on one eide. or stranding In the quicksands OF
confusion and fuss on tho other. The result
showed Mrs. Martin to possess the most per-
feet Heneralship In all social matters. for q
more beautiful and symmetrical entertainment
was never given In this city. II there had been
q dozen guests instead OF n hundred tho ma
chinery could not have worked more smoothly.
In the dressing room each gentleman re-
ceived n card. which not only gave the name
OF tho lady whom he WINS to take in, but q dia-
gram Of the table at which the two were to sit,
with their places indicated In colored ink. IA
the guests made their salutations to Mr.. am
Mrs. Martin in the library they were requested
to move either to the right or the left, accord
Ing to the room In which their places had
been designated. nus the whole party was
seated as II by magic, and without any Of the
searching for cards and locations which Is not
uncommon at ordinary dinner parties. Nor
was a single false step made in arranging the
guests: and in this rather difficult task Mrs.
Martin showed no deficiency Of diplomatic
tact. Husbands and wives, almost without ex-
~ception, we're %relegated to different rooms, and
the right man was generally found to DO in
the right place in regard to his %nciRhbors.
No effort was made at novelty or singularity
in the decorations Of the great horseshoe tables
around which this brilliant company assem-.
bled. There were neither lakes, fountains,
goldfish, swans. nor terrapins. but thousands
Of gloire de Paris roses. which have come to be
distinctively Mrs. Martins flower. waved and
swayed on their long stems. producing a most
exquisite effect Of color, and permeating tho
atmosphere with their freshness and fragrance,
II fault could be found with the entertainment,
md it "a a1uava eaafar In NAnaurA than -
praise. the guests and not the hostess must
bear tho blame. as the l%avishness Of Jewels dis
played by the married ladies was almost "a
tiguing to tho eye. Because q woman has two or
three complete sets and parures Of precious
stones It is hardly in good taste for
her to wear them all at the same time, any
more than It would be to put on half a dozen
Worth gowns. should she chance to be the for
tunate possessor OF them. On this occasion.
however. jewel boxes must have been empted
and their contents transferred to the hair.
neck. arms. and waists Of their owners, q
several ladies wore tiara upon tiara IN their
heads and covered their necks and tho
fronts Of their gowns with diamonds. For
~tunstely Mrs. Martin had provided even for
this emergency by mingling the young ma
irons with the unmarried girls. 80 that the eye
might rest with relief on faces like Miss Adele
Grants, Miss May Brady's. and many others,
who. though unadorned. seemed CONSEQUENTLY
on this occasion to be adorned the most.
The cotillon that followed Mrs. Martins din.
ner was both lively and enjoyable. "a tho Hun
R~arians and Lander played alternately. and
there was no lack Of vim and 60. The favors
were exceptionally tasteful, consisting Of sill
ver-mounted crops. riding whips, and trinkets
for the men. enamelled lace pins for the ladies,
and souvenirs Of Mr.. and Mrs. Martins home
In the Scottish Highlands in the shape Of bon
bons, bags made Of tartan satin, and fastened
with an exact reproduction Of the Highlander's
dirk. with jewelled hilt. and with the scabbard
divided into two sheaths. in which a knife and
fork are usually accommodated. Thee dirks
the Highland chieftains carry In their bolts OF
at the top Of their short tight stockings.
OF Miss Van Auksn's wedding and tho last
Patriarchs' ball. full descriptions have been al
ready given in the newspapers That garden
ers and florists must see the close Of the season
with bullying pockets and grateful hearts, IL
beyond o doubt, for never has their fascinating
trade met with moro remunerative apprecia-
ton. The canopy Of flowers erected In NrA.
Van Auken's drawing room. under which Arch.
bishop Oorrigan stood to conduct hal eagre
service allowed by his Church to q marriage
out Of church. was q marvel OF taste and skill.
being constructed entirely oflarge white roses,
with Q deep fringe Of lilies Of the valley. and
~sufmounted by graceful plumes OF %annuncia-
ton lilies. Miss Van Auken made . gracious
and interesting bride, and tho whole affair was
admirably well arranged.
Ash Wednesday saw . very feeting cessation
of social pleasures, as on Thursday came Mrs.
Hewitt's concert and q meeting Of the Thurs
day Evening Olub at Mrs. Mtnturn's In WASH
ington square. and judging from the crowds
assembled at both places condolences this Lent
are not sensitive In the matter OF diversions.
The performance Of Miss Hewitt's Ladies'
Orchestra was in the highest degree not only
satisfactory. but enjoyable. Great progressh has
been made since last year. n although tho
overture gave signs Of some little nervousness
on the part Of tho players. this disappeared On.
tirely later on. Miss Grace Arnold added
greatly to the enjoyment Of the audience By
her rendering of her aria from Gluck's " Semi
ramids." Her voice is sweet and sympathetic.
and her method excellent. The Q Z oppor-
tunity to hear both orchestra and singer will