Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-24

posed company at tables in a palace. In q
revival of "The Tanning of the Shrew," at
one of our theaters last season, the supper
scene was an imitation of Veronese's artistic
tableau, and this was one of the winning
features of the play. A Broadway picture
framer was to-day ornately inclosing some
duplicated photographs that at a glance
seemed to have been taken from the original
Veronese work, but second look disclosed
the fact that it was an arrangement OF New
York society beaux and bellies in imitation
of 1.-The Marriage Banquet" No less sedate
and digni6ed a parsonage than ex-Mayor
Abram S. Hewitt was inspecting the trainers
job, and your correspondent easily located
the assemblage at which the photographer
had aimed his camera. On the night OF the
recent costume bali in the Academy Of De-
sign, a number of prior suppers were given
| BY distinguished matrons, whose guests wore
at table the costumes in which they we're
subsequently to appear at the Academy.
Mrs Abram S. Hewitt was one OF these
hostesses. The dining room of the Hewitt
residence in Lexington avenue is very spa
cious, and has italian oak carvings, a frieze
Of old Venetian painting, heavily mullioned
easements and the general aspect of ban
quet hall in an. old Venetian palace. 1t oc-
Cured to Mrs. Hewitt that this room would
serve admirably to hold a reproduction of
''The Marriage Banquet" Therefore, she
employed Hamilton Bell, an artist, who
had provided the drawings for the men,
toned stage imitation of the painting, and
he told her how to arrange The tables, and
impaired instruction how the guests might
practically realize the Veronese effect while
at the same time indulging their personal
fancies to some extent in choice OF dresses.
The photographs, as seen to-day, show how
the design was carried out. One end of the
dining room provided a background not
greatly dissimilar to the original. The ta-
bles were placed across the apartment and
reaching down a little way at the sides.
Upon them were the stuffed bears head,
two peacocks, a very pretentious silver
service, and other articles precisely as in
the original. The guests were all posed be-
hind these tables, with nobody at the other
Sides When all was ready, and each per-
son present had assumed the attitude pre-
scribed by Bell, the photographer was
brought in. All the light was turned off
and total darkness ensued.
"All ready" commanded the photogra-
pher; "hold your positions steadily"
There was flash OF strong magnesium
light by which the instantaneous camera
did its work. In order to guard against the
failure of one negative, the operation was
repeated three times, and from the best re-
suit the photographs have been printed.
Each of the "a guests is to have copy.
One looks in vain in the picture for
Abram S. Hewitt himself. He could not
be induced to put on a fancilul costume,
But Mrs Hewitt is seen presiding in a
beautiful court dress of velvet brocade, in
which gorgeous flowers appeared on cream
ground. One of the Hewitt daugh-
tiers was arrayed in the Roxana dress
of Adrien Lecouvreur, another was in
King Charles court dress of pink satin as
though she might have been Nell Gwynne,
and the third graced Louis Quinz dress of |
blue and silver. The Misses Turnure, Win |
throp, Hunt, Post and others with names |
on the list of the 400, but not separately |
known at any distance from town, are ar |
rayed in the picture. So are ex-Mayor Ed |
ward Cooper and dozen otf er male swells. |
Mayor Hewitt interested himself a great |
deal in this exploit of fashion and amuse- !
ment, although he would not consent to |
figure in it; and the whole affair illustrates |
the elaboration and expensiveness of fash |
ionable diversion in New York,
WHY should the Vanderbilts consider the |
cost of anything that they desire? Well, they |
don't. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt gave a re-
ception at her house on Thursday night, |
and it had all the flowers, music and other |
usual belongings. But in addition it had |
some recitations bv no less celebrated ex- |
perts than CoquelIn and Hading. Each de-
livered several short things In French and |
they were occupied altogether about an
hour. For that service Coquelin received !
$500 and Hadng $500. Coqueln declined
the engagement at first. A principal artist
of the Theater Francaise could not descend
to the entertaining of a company at q resi-
dence. If he had known that the last stage
per ormers to be employed in that way by
Mrs. Vanderbilt were negro minstrels be
might have been still more ohdurate But
at length he intimated that, even if he could
bring himself to such a thing, he would
charge not less than z, 500 francs for it.
VERY well, said the emissary; Mrs.
Vanderbilt will pay $500 willingly"
The Frenchman thereupon condescended
Madame Hading put on no airs about it.
She fixed her price at 500 francs, and ex-
pressed no unwiliingness to enter the Van
derbilt service. Coquelin and Hading are
not on speaking terms off the stage. They
have quarrelIed. They went to the Van
derbilt house in separate carriages, after
having appeared together as friends in
''Denise." They wore conventional even
ing costumes, were received like any other
guests by Mrs. Vanderbilt mingled awhile
with the throng, and spoke their little
pieces when called upon. Actors or less
degree, particularly those connected with |
the comic operas and the variety shows, as
well as several who devote themselves alto
gether to that sort of work, are frequently
called upon to exercise their talents at the
private houses of the wealthy Their fees are
liberal, but the trouble is that they are not
numerous, because the fastidious and exact
ing employers are always in quest of nov
city, and Vanderbilt will not have any
thing that has already been used by an |
Astor. The consequence is that manv a
clever vaudeville artist, upon receiving $50
to 500 for a half hour engagement, hastily
that a small ortune is within |
reach. But after he has made one round of
a few households he is no longer eligible.
Mrs. Vanderbilt distinguished herself by |
bringing Coquelin and Hading to her par
lor. 1t is hardly conceivable that any
American actor Of Coquelin's rank would |
have hired himself out in that manner.
Imagine Joseph Jeferson's reply to a call,
from the same lady, to recite selections from
rip Van Winkle" to her guests.
A TALLY-Ho coach crowned with huge |
group o. uncovered women and men, went |
rattling up Fifth avenue, the other alter
noon, making everything turn aside and