Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-03

EAEA EFShA< ratified down Fifth ave-
4A nue.. without stopping
q% for those who indicated
q desire to become pas
sengers. 1t was late in the afternoon, at a
time when every scat might have been
quickly filled. Not until the vehicles
reached the cl1mp Of Vanderbilt residences
did they stop, and then it was to let in half
a dozen ladies and gentlemen who emerged
from those famous houses. At other points
on the way down the avenue recruits were
accepted, and when the Astor domiciles
were reached the two loads were completed.
The two sections of the party thus gathered
were plainly inclined to hilarity, and it
took on the unconventional manners of a
picnic, a husking bee, or a straw ride; but
the daylight of the time, and the publicity
of the place, spbdued the spirit of mirth al
most altogether. The stages rolled on down
town, and then through the great Eastside
to an old and somewhat dilapidated wooden
building, which bore no outward sign of
business, nor yet any indication of its occa-
pants. The excursionists from Fifth ave-
nue. here disembarked. They we're exceed
ingly playful now, for they were far away
from the fashionable section, and out in the
woods, so to put it.
Once inside the house, they laid aside
their overcoats and cloaks and sat down at
a long table in a room that had been en-
larged by:.roughly taking down the parti-
tions of adjoining apartments. Then beef
steaks were served to them by several wait
resses, superintended by a man in his shirt
sleeves. He was Beefsteak Bill. He has
lately come into a vogue that cannot last
long, of course, but is for the present rather
remunerative. 1t is a passing fancy of the
nobs that Bill can cook steaks better than
anybody else on earth. To put a prime
piece Of beef on a broiler over a clear, hot
fire, turn it frequently until it is rapidly
cooked, save it from smoke or scorch, and
finally serve it without delay, is an opera
ton requiring much care but little skill.
As perfect a steak as can be produced may
be had at hundreds of New York restau-
rants. But the lark of going to Beefsteak
Bills is a novelty, and the indulgence
I have described was keenly relished
by those who participated in it. With
their appetites sharpened by an omission of
the monday luncheon, as a preparatory
treatment of their stomachs, and with the
delights of pleasant company and a strange
place to give zest to the meal, the beaux and
bellies devoured the steaks with rayening
satisfaction. The only accompapiments
were potatoes, bread and butter, and for
beverages claret and ale. 1t is by recourse
to these occasional whims of diversion that
the swells save themselves from ennui. Just
how Beefsteak Bill was CHANGED Upon 1 have
not been able to discover. Ordinarily he is
a cook in a Broadway chop house. His
over on the Eastside is not a restaur-
ant, and has been rented by him for its pres
ent purpose. He only operates it by ar
rangement. Two or three times a week it is
in full blast, and on other days entirely
idle.
The subject of the weeks general prepare
ton in society" is the costume ball to be
given next Tuesday night at the Academy
Of Design. The project was originally that
of the American Watercolor Society and
the Society of Decorative Art, but fashion
taken it up, and at the top of the list of
patronesses are names of two Astor ladies
and two Vanderbilts. In printing me in
vitations, by the way, the managers nave
been as careful with the types as though
dealing with jealous prima donnas, for they
have placed the Astors at the head of one
column and the Vanderbilts at the head of
another, SO thatit cannot be said that prefer
is given to one family over the other.
No person is to be admitted unless clad in a
belonging to an era earlier than the
present century, excepting that officers of
he army and navy may wear their present
informs. There will be preludes in a
lozen or more mansions of wealth in the
orm of costume dinners, at which invited
,uests will be tremendously dressed in the
lyle OF a single time or place of long ago.
After the banquet these distinctive parties
will go the ball, and there preserve
heir artistic entirety BY dancing in
together. Thus Mrs. Hamilton
fish will entertain and chaperone a Greek
'arty, all in togas, while Mrs. Burke Roche
Till have some Venetians, Mrs. Kernochan
Till contribute gentlemen and ladies of the
french Empire, and Mrs. Waterbury will
resent g~allants and beauties of the court of
ieorge the Third. But the majority will
70 individual in their costumes, or unless
merely coupled. From all my inquiries 1
Judge that directoire costumes, both male
female, will be plentiful. Not a few Of
ur gilded beaux seem to fancy that they
I'LL be as graceful and pretty as Dixey in a
ong, thin-tailed satin coat and silk stock
nged legs, while so many of our bellies are
eady to reduce their corsages to almost [
BY lowering the upper edges and {
their belts almost to their arm pits. '
ONE of the late Lester Wallack's wardrobe, I
'hich was sold by auction the other day, I
ill reappear OF this occasion. Other :
andes have gone to Hamilton Bell, a !
andsome dudeling OF the stage, who has .
Itely turned artistic designer of theatrical 9
ear, and have paid him high prices for s
In several cases he has been '
ired to produce completely colored pictures
the proposed costumes, and fully written
to the maker how to work out the
fects.
What is the use Of trying to write about
srsons and peculiarities Of snowy New
ork life without bringing in Mis-. Langtry
Mrs. Potter frequently? Here they are
gain In connection with the costume ball.
everal ladies high up in wealth and
,sition sent word to Mrs.. Langtry that
ley would be glad to consult with her
'out apparel for this occasion. and to
borrow with just a hint that borrowing
cant hiring at any figure which she might
ention-dresses which she wears in 1.-THE
of Lyons" and "Romeo and Juliet" Il
ow, Mrs. Langtry has never been snubbed Il
Fifth avenue, for the simple reason that ,,
e has avoided it by making no o~vertures
ward entrance into that portion of society;
1t ON the other hand, she has never been
vited thereto, and knows perfectly we'll
at her defiance of decorum has placed her
revocably outside the pale of recognition.
she is rich, sensitive and very indie
ndent. So she returned messages to these
idies bluntly informing them that they
uldn't have her costumes. In one instance
thin my personal knowledge she said to
e intermediary: 81 haven't any costumes