The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-25

: Swell >ori--A Clear Case of CoanWsie-
! Sociai Nartyr,iom.
A few year. ago entertainments whether
breakfasts iunche0ns dinners. receptions OF
balls. we're given for the sake of sociability
and pleasure. Plus such distinction rs may be
gained by the giving in the circle in which
one happens 20 move But Eow these conSid
eraflnir ar, ~iirurdinated &c the passion for
sell lH,t.ri i~iug ibai rules society M all il
er4,l-- 10 ~rai- o. p'tAc reverse Of deli
csii,. 900. .i..lr' Uau.,'.. o. '-t-. and all
til, .fs,..... o., LiI press AndstneD 10 call II
private hospitality. when it is made as pub
/ lie A. tyru priuters' ink and widely circu-
Z LATED ncW>Dapers can make it, Privacy has
vel uigh ,cased, so far as aught relating TO
society l. concerned If your friend lives in
a plain way. Is socially obscure, and prefers
&c be. YOU may take dinner at his house with
out any fear Of seeing the fact chronicled the
next morning But if he has means, or is 50
ciaily ambitious in the least, you will be
pretty certain % find your name with others.
in print. as elegantly entertained by MIR
John Jones, at No 1889 Blank street.
IL might he supposed that only persons Of
a certain kind. who have no position, but
are anxious 10 secure one. Would be eager to
advertise their entertainments Cut the
suppostion would not be correct Tho very
best people, as they are styled-thosc who
have had wealth for gcnerations-who arc
leaders OF sOciety-the very piuis OF gcntil-
fty regularly report their parties of what
ever nature, and are solicitous that tho re-
ports be accurate Generally they try to
disguise their vanity ia this regard, intimat-
ing that the newspapers somehow get hold
OF such thugs, and they cannot bo Pre-
vented As a rule, however, nothing is said
on the subject-sociai advertising is taken
for granted. the hosts and que IS reiishiug 10
exceedingly Nearly every daily has its
society news, in which are recorded the feat
ures Of the season. Reporters are employed
To look after such affairs, particularly fash
ionabe houses But they have small trouble
in discharging their duties, since they re
ceive great assistance from the hosts of the
seasdcs They are received with marked
kindness. though secretly, the names fur
nished. with particulars Of dress. and the
like In some instances, the ladies who are
most deliberately dressed actually write out
descriptions Of their toilets, and carry them
with them TO I've handed 60 the representa-
tives Of the press in order 20 save trouble
This sounds improbable, but it is strictly
true
Dinner parties Of a swell sort are almost
always mentioned. and often infinitely lie
scribed. so that their givers are more inter
ested ID the way they aiil be presented TO the
public than Al the l4-,.a,uc c.sca 10 their
guests Accounts Of such parties are fire.
quenty printed 10y the direct conniyance OF
persons eudeavorine to get into society
Dinner giving L considered a very desirable
means TO such an end. Two or three well
known citizens are secured, and they are
paraded with others who may be- nabod.as,
but who are thought 10 be somebody from the
company in which they figure know
several rich men, Indifferent 10 society, who
have married late in life, or married a second
time. and whose wives hive been fired with
an ambition that they had not Women
generally fcclanxious TO shine socially, what
ever NAV tie the views Of their husbands,
who are fairly driven by them to act part
that they diSdain.
It Is curious TO observe hard headed men,
wholly occupied with money getting until 50
or more, suddenly indicted into dress suits,
put at the head OF tables laden with crystal.
silver and flowers, and compelled 10 play
host They would rather have dinner OF
corned beef and potatoes, washed down with
beer or cider than all the French dishes AMI
fragrant wines which they present to their
guests and assune 10 enjoy Their wives at
tempt To look used 20 the display, and are on
nettles lest their licges commit some unpar
donable bunder Poor fellows, they endure
this connubio-social martyrdom with "A fort
tude worthy Of better cause They swallow
what they do not like, and try to hide their
ignorance with an air that would be iudicrous
if 1t were not pathetic And they are re
war,ied by reading the next day in the news
papers of their sumptuous dinner party, and
the distinguished ladies and gentlemen who
attended After u few seasons OF such sue
cess they will it Is hoped, he launched on the
treacherous sea OF fashionable society
Among the noted dinner gvers are the As
tors ,the late Mrs. John Jacob Astor, II most
benevolent. noble hearted lady, relished this
form Of entertainment within lmitsl, the
" ard McAlisters. the Delaney kanes, the
William Il Nanderbilts, the Elliot f Shep
ar,ls. the Stewart Webbs, the Adrian lsclns,
the August Belmon.s, the George Henry
Warrens the Philip Schuy lers, the Ruther
furd Stuyvesants. Mrs Marshall q. Roberts,
the VII Jays. the Henry Clewscs, the VIII
lam n Eyartses. the Cyrus " Fields. the
William e. Dodges, DR., the Arson Pcelps
Stokes. the David ". Fields, the Whtelaw
Reds. the William C. Whitneys. the Robert
Goelets, the Levi = hortoaS. the Plerrepont
liorgans, the Ogden Goeets. the Victor New
c0mas all Of whom have the prime requisite
for fine dinner a big fortune. -" Dcuceace'
ia Globe Democrat