The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-12-29
MR.. WARD MALLISTER.
The TRIALS AND TRIUMPas OF A
SOCIETY GsNERALISSIMo.

GONA1kA G2N 4@s2--SSk Az.
He Tells Sow He Came TO Found the
Patriarchs and the F. C D. C-McAl.
lister, sr., and the Iron Duks-The
New Years Ball TO Succeed the New
Years Call.
0uepsrsght
NEW YoRx, Dec. sS-Ths New Years
call is dead Long live the New Ysar's ball!
So says the McAllister.
The subscription ball in The Metropolitan
opera house Thursday evening derives its
importance not from the fac; that it will
represent Ward McAllisters supreme effort
70 show New Workers what ball ought 20
be. nor yet from the other fact that its ], 200
20 ], 800 social stars will twinkle in the
largest private constellation that ever illu-
minated the city, but its true significance is
grasped only when It is understood that the
great ball-giver stakes his reputation, won
by twenty years OF social dictatorship, on
his ability to create q new American fss-
tival, a legitimate successor to the outworn
custom of the New Years call.
Mr.. McAllistsr considers that be has laid
his finger on felt want, some appropriate
celebration Of the New Year The soto
this figure must the new social census con-
form-have ceased, so far as in them lies. 70
receive on the first Of January. Many Of
them are of to the country for the holidays.
but the second Of January finds them back
in town, and they will dance with lighter
feet when they know that MeAllis,sr means
the ball to be the great prototype Of an un-
ending series, and that he counts conf
IDENTIFY on his ideas bsiag taken up In other
cities and towns of social enterprise from
Maine to California, until thu New Years
dance becomes all over the country the
great winter diversion, holding its place in
upper tendum by as firm tenure as Fourth
of July fire works or the Christmas tree in
lower ten-milliondom.
81 am not conceited enough" said he ,
ito believe that can do this all alone, but
the idea is sure TO commend itself every
where to society leaders"
Such triumph will be the fitting cul-
mination OF a social career. A publishing
house in New York has just offered Mr..
McAllister a large sum TO write his
memoirs, predicting that the book would
make as great hit as Grants autobiogra-
ply. "But don't mind telling youn remark
ed the general of bloodless battles, "that /
consider the greatest thing Bismarck has
ever done is that he hasn't written his re-
miniScences."
Seated before coy CRATE fire the other
evening, pictures of generations of debu-
tantes may have have danced in the flames
The carpet was a warm crimson, the orna-
ments crystal and silver, AMI photographs
of beautiful girls in ball gowns stood on
easels aud overrau small stands
Now there's Newport this in vein Of
ofhsnd recollection; "of course you know
iaakw 4,
was the summer capital of tho southernars.
When money grew less plenty with them
after the war there was first a Boston inva-
sion and then New York drove out the Bos-
toniaps. Everybody knows what the place
is now. don't take to myself any undue
share of the credit, but / have done what |
could TO make it bright and gay. | gave pic
nics-dinners in the woods you know, and
all that sort of thing-and drives into the
country to farmhouse. Society people are
tickle and always wanting change, 50 We
had dances in the barn, cattle in their sta Is
on one side, haymows on the other, decora-
lions of pumpkins. you know, and corn, but
French cooks, you see, and servants in liv-
cry and the best wines to be had and every
thing managed, o, most charmingly.
Then there are the Patriarchs. We've
been giving them, it must be seventeen
years. Now, Pm going to tell you how
came to think of starting subscription balls
in the beginning. This gentemanis grand
ia her" aud ME-. McAlllster nodded toward
young man seated on the other side of the
fire, Twas Dominick Lynch, who was the
greatest beau and gourmet Of his time.
From 1910 TO 1880 was tue period of his
social triumphs, and 1t was about 1880 that
he went to Europe with my father. He had
letters Of introduction by the hundred, let
ters to every body worth knowing, but when
he got out to sea he let every one of them
fiutter out of his hands into the Atlantic
ocean. If Dominica Lynch couldn't make
his way in European society," he said,
without introductions he didn't deserve to
succeed
Lynch aud my father were invited to an
Almack ball. Almaek's was common sort
OF place, restaurant. like Delmonico's, but
the balls were very swell, and all London
society pushed and iostled for invitations
for they were very exclusive. Dominick
Lynch and my father entered and stood
there uncomfortably. for nobody spoke to
them, or so much as looked in their direc-
ton. What fools we were, said my father
to Lynch. to put ourselves in such
deucedly awkward position BY
and by the old Duke of wellington
appeared, looked about bit, and came
straight to where they were standing. He
shook hands with Lynch, put one arm
around him and the other around my
father, and walked the length OF the ball
room with them twice Ia that manner.
Then he pleaded an engagement, sent a
servant for his coat, and left the floor. No
sooner was this little performance over than
everybody came pressing about them with
profuse cordiaiity, The les was out of the
atmosphere. The duke had spoken to them;
no other introductions we're necessary.
"The Almack balls were subscription af
fairs, and | took the idea OF mine from
them; hut they were broken up IN time by
the quarrels of the women, who split into
clques and became altogether too exclusive.
When l conceived the notion Of the Patri-
archs, l didn't start with the women
women will quarrel, you know-but with
the men. This has been my theory in all
my social entertainments, to begin with the
heads of families, the peres dc Jdmilie,
with daughters to bring out, you under
stand. That avoids one rock Of stumbling.
And will say this, that Pve never yet had
a man go back on me, come to me, you
know, and say, %, you can't do this,
McAllister.' Now, that is what l call a
pretty good record.
"This is my theory Of the subscription
ball, nous nous sOutenons, we protect our
selves, you Bee. At first there were thirty
Patriarchs, now the are fifty. They pay
500 apiece and have nine invitations to
each Of the winters balls. That allows for
450 persons to an occasion, and each
Patriarch is held to account for the use he
makes of his tickets. The name Of the
Patriarch giving it appears on every invi-
tation, and 80 if a queer-looking woman, or
one who is YOU know. q little too pTO-