The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-03-07
THAT QUADRILLE PROBLEM.
Will It's Solution Become Great So
ciety Problem2
From the Nep York World.


That opening quadrille at the Washington
centennial ball at the Metropolitan opera
house, April %, promises to became burn
ing question, and in CO.. sequence the ball
whicl it will open begins to throw into the
shade all other arrangements for the cele-
bration, including the great banquet Of 500
covers at S25 cover. The suggestion in
yesterdays World, which emanaUed from
a loQu aclous member of the entertainment
committee, and was to the effect that the
ladies dancing in the quadrin9 must be
selected on some basis other than that sup
piled by their long and distinguished
American ancestry, was received with de-
rision not only by kuickeroocker repre-
sentatives, but also by intelligent cham
pions Of what is historically appropriate
Al old New Yorker, whose relations to
two Of the ladies named for the qladrllle
prevent his ide LITIGATION here, said that the
only way to make the quardrille absolutely
American as beftt ID tue occasion and the
hero sought to be honor d, was to have all
the ladies dancing direct descen 1ants of the
soldiers and statesmen of Washington'S
time Who were present at tue first inaugura-
ton ball. This believer in American al
cestry took exception to the list printed two
or three days 40 on the score taav several
ladies ma ned do not themselves represent
old colonial stock. Their HUSBANDS come
os old ia Miles, but, according to American
ideas this woull codfer no position on
the wife. This old gentleman was of the
opinion tina the ladies Sc ected must them
selves be nneal descendants of revolu tionary
slres.
Tried by any such test as this, the selec-
ton, it is admitted on all sides, Will be made
very difficult IL has lstked out thaJ there
is trouble in the committee already over
4. Ill ID e. In ~
information which can be gained C mplica-
tions promise to multiply as the time for tie
final selection approaches. In the midst of
all the discussions, however, which natur-
ally increase in bitterness of feeling as they
are carried on, there are two or three
names, it is said, which the committeeman,
without exception, agree are liked beyond
dispute.
One of these is that of Mrs. William
Aston. Not only is she dire Il descendant
of an old New York family, resident here
and distinguished during revolutionary
times, but she is the acknowledged leader of
New 70. k society to-day. 1t would be inn
D ssible to overlook her. Mrs. Aston would
represent tie Van Cortlandts. her grand
mother on her mothers side h wing been
lughter Of Gen. Philip Van Cortlandt
He was one of the youngest and most bril-
liant sold ers of the revolution and it Is re-
lated Of him that he bore SO striking re-
semblance TO Gen. Lafayette that Oh the
occasol of the French generals visit here,
in 1924, he took his place at a reception he'd
in the City hall. Gen. Lafayette became
very tired from seeing so many people and
sha ing so many hands and Gen. Van Cort-
landt acted as his su bstitute without excit-
Jig any suspicion or having his identity
challenged.
In a ldition to all this it is pointed out
that Mrs. Astor's leadership IN society here
has not been questioned during great many
years, and on this account alone she is en-
titled to take her place in the qua1rille. AS
al illustration of what her leadership really
means, it was mentio led yesterday by q So
Getty woman who had something 10 do with
this years charity ball that the affair gave
every promise Of failure til Mrs Aston
came forward and gave her name to IT.
Then fas ionable society supported it and
everything went we'll with it. This lady
estimated that Mrs. Astors purchase of a
box was worth from $4,000 to $1,000 to the
cause Ia benalf OF which the ball was given.
1t is known that Mrs. Aston regards her self
as ab olutedly and finally selected as one OF
the dancers, because, just before her recent
departure for Europe, she assul cd nuner-
ous frie.ds that sac would returns in time TO
participate ia the quadril Q.
Mrs. g acie KING the wife q the banker,
is another who must DO selected according