New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-29
THE WEEK IN SOCIETY.
ELABORATE PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEW
YEARS BALL.
GENERAL ENTERTAINING LARGELY DISPENSED
WITH JUST AT Observation-Disclosures
YEARS CALLING OUT OF FAVOR.

There were few new developments last week In
the arrangements for the New Years ball. There
have, however. been some changes In the plans one
Of which is to have, as first decided Virginia reel
Sir Roger de Coverly, II is sometimes called rs
II is thought the older people more familiar Win
this dance than the modern ancers The latter VIII
be danced. and the sets are being arranged by
Mr.. McAllster, who has invited most Of the members
Of foreign Legations in Washington. as well as the
handsomest women in New York, Of whom
Is Mrs Arthur Paget. who is here on a visit 70 her
mother, Mrs. Paran Stevens, for the first time since
her marriage which took place in London eleven years
Mrs. william Aston. Mrs. Philip schuyler and
Mrs. WetmOre are also expected TO dance in one of
the sets. besides such handsome women Mrs Burke
Roche, Mrs Elliott Roosevelt, Mrs. Blanche Cruger,
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Cruger. Mis-. Adolf Ladcnburg.
Mrs. Henry Clews. Mrs. Cooper Hewitt, and number
Of bellies including Miss HargOus, Miss Letter, MISS
Bend Miss Mabel Wright and Miss Jennie Turnure.
Joseph II. Taft, the architect, will have en-
tire charge Of the interior decorations and
arrangements Of dressing The corridors about
the parterre boxes will be transformed into attrac
tive dressing for the ladies' with lounges,
dressing tables abundance OF cloak rooms, the
anterooms Of the boxes being used for the cloaks.
The interior Of the ballroom will probably make
stir, with the beautiful decorations and many electric
lights. The first tier Of boxes is to be entirely
covered with sufs and tapestries while the parcrre
row viii be filed with flowers and palms. The
electric lighting will be most novel, and Edison has
been spending considerable time in devsing new
scheme. FestOons Of electric lights will lang from
the face of the dress circle down to the tier,
and at the intersection Of the festoons there will be
huge rosettes Of the lights from which will
hang baskets Of flowers The parterre will be simply
wall Of flowers. The stage Will be set
with woodland which Will correspond with the
general decoration OF the house.
h.r dota ,ft,od nrIar n
supper tables in the corridors next the first tier Of
boxes these open directly into the assembly rooms
thus giving plenty Of space and avoiding the great heat
Of the assembly Lander is arranging some new
music for the OCCASION TO be played for the first tine
in New-Yorl.
There is constant demand for cards k~fhe ball and
Mr.. McAllistcr has daily applications from people
who willing to pay large price for them but
that of course is out of the question, the ball is
to be as much Of an invitation affair one Of the
Patriarchs precisely simila-~ but on much
larger scale, probably three times large. At the
last Pariarchs' ball it estimated that $50 people
were present.
II will be well for guests TO remember that all car
raCes are approach the Opera House from the soh
the line extending from Flftave. and Thirty fourth
st. into Broadway and then up to the entrance AT
the close of the ball carriages will be found waiting
in line on the north side
Christina week IS the one week in the CAV season
wh,n general entertaining is dispensed with, con
sequenty there have been for the last week scarcely
than family gatherings and dinner parties. 1t
is seldom that the country clubs in the vicinity OF
New-YOrk have been deserted, but without doubt
the lack of cold weather had everything to do with
that The feature Of the week was the surprise
party at Mrs Astor's. AT half past 10
Tuesday night the party met at Mrs. Bradley Martins
where they donned white domnoes and MASKS, each
of which marked with the weaIer's name. These
ghostly garments trimmed with holly, and all
the men wore big white hoods like Santa Claus They
were then taken in omnibuses to Mrs. AstOrs and
found their hostess awaiting them in gorgeous array
with look Of peasuIable excitement rather than sur
prise. Masks and domnoes kept on until mid
night, when they removed for supper, and
while the guests retired TO their dressingrooms for
brief space TO arrange coffures which hoods and
masks had somewhat disturbed small tables were
placed about the dining and dressing rooms.
After supper the real fun began the favors for the
cotllon afording tremendous amusement, especially
the antics Of mechanical pigs and snakes which
were set a going the ballroom floor. one set Of
favors consisted Of well-hed silk stockings, which
we're suspended from the mantlepiece directly
meath huge Santa Claus.
The coming week bears promise Of greater excite
ment Few families will continue the old custom
Of receiving on New Years Day. The city has
tended too far uptown for that. In place Of New
Years calls trips to the country will
be made. A dance has been arranged
for Tuxedo, brd after midnight On'
Tuesday when the new year will be welcomed in.
the cotillion will be danced on New Years Day
Mrs. Eastman Johnson will give large breakfast
for her daughter, Miss Ethel Johnson. a number OF
young people will 60 out that day for the
occasion. Every one will return to town for the
New-Years ball of Thursday night and this promises
to be the greatest social occasion OF the winter.
The short season previous to Ash Wedncs
day, which will fall February 10, will
be the gayest known in many
years. NO less than twenty-fve balls and dances
will occur in the space Of six weeks. beginning Of
course with the New Years ball. and including the
time-hOnOred Charity ball The most important OF
these are the two Assemblies, the two Patriarchs'
balls six dances at sherrys ballroom and Others
at Mrs. Goodridge's, Mrs Weiss, and Mrs. Morgan's,
and though invitations have been sent out, il is
expected that Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Mrs. Bradley Martin, Mrs. William Astor Mrs. W. c.
Whitney and Mrs. Austin Corbin will give balls.
The first set Of subscription dances at sherry's will
begin January T. TO follow at intervals of two weeks.
the last coming on Shrove Tuesday. The patronesses
are Mrs. william Waldorf Aston, Mrs. August Bel
mont, jr., Mrs. A. Isclin. tr.. Mrs. Og-
len Goelet, Mrs. G. =. WctmOre, Mrs. J.
Roosevelt Roosevelt and Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
The managers are L. L. Winthrop, F. X. sturgis,
James Otis and G.. II. Redmond.
The second set at Sherry's will occur on January
IS, February and April 12, under the patronage
Of Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Cruger Mrs. Luther Kountze,
Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt, Mrs. Adolf Ladenburg, Mrs
Oliver Iselin, Mrs. Robert GOele Mrs. William whitney
and Mrs. Bradley Martin. OF course with saturday
night dance early hours will be necessary. The
are coming in fast and the dances are
bound to be With these two sets Of dances
It does not seem possible that the dinner dances Of
last year be revived.
The outlook for the Charity ball promises large
results for the Nursery and Childs Hospital, which
Is in need Of other extensions 10 carry the good
work. Last year the recepton-house added and
ms year Improvements to the interior Of the main
building found necessary 10 keep pace with modern
requirements in respect TO heat and ventilation, The
ball is to take place January T. in the Metropolitan
opera House, and will be opened by Commodore
Elbridge r. Gerry and Mrs Edward Cooper. Mr..
cornelius Vanderbilt. Of the managers Of the
hospital has promised to be present. and several OF
aft he faeh