The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-29
NEW YORK GOSSIP.
THE RIVAL CANDIDATES FOR THE
PRESIDENCY.
A Great Social ycar-strife Among the
-Four Hundred--The Big Race for So
ciety Leadership More Bridges to
BrookIyn-Met Metropolitan Chat.
NEW YORK BUREAU
pycftNo<p DAILY IINfs

ciety Leadership-Morc Bridges ia
BrookIyn-Metropolita Chat.
NEW YORK BUREAU
RICHMOND DAILY TINES, y
December y. 1888.
Politicians are watching Hill and Cieye-
land with considerable interest. Hill lnr
tends to contest for the nomination Of the
next National Democratic Convention.
Cleveland has Democratic public senti-
ment on his side, which gives him naturally
a strong pull on that partisan desideratum.
The opinion Of the majority is that New
| York will yet It's choice. but should events
prove that Hill and Cleveland are
equally strong, TO prevent division in
the state, the Governor Of New Jersey
will loom up as the compromise candidate.
That Governor Hill has the Presidential bee
in his bonnet is beyond doubt. No stone
will be left unturned. no chance neglected
that will help him attain his desire. tfeve-
land need expect no mercy. lnprejudiced
Democrats here think his'efiorts will be all
in vain, and that the goyernorshlp - the
highest rung i'm the ladder for him. He holds
the country districts, but the city belongs to
Cleveland. The patronage Of the state,
though, il in HIPS hands, which is great
advantage for the heelers always favor a
man who il I'M in preference 10 the one
who is ''Out."
THE SOCIAL STRIFE.
Mr.. McAllister is the busiest man in New
York lust at present. The coming New
Years ball requires all his time and atten-
ton. He has cast the wand of wizard
over the Opera House and 80 transformed IT
that il will be scarcely recognizable on that
evening Among other Improvements. a
false ceiling is TO be suspended below the
present one at about the height Of the dress
circle. The fronts Of the boxes are 10 be
draped with langings. which VIII be COM
pletely covered with greens and flowers.
The plan for the supper-room Is The one he
arranged for the Centennial ball. All the
beauty ana fashion Of New York will be in
attendance. and the New Year will be
opened in blaze Of glory.
The Bradley-Mortns also propose 70 give
this winter the most notable social enter
tainment i'm the way of a bail that New
York has ever known. They do not partic-
ularlv care how cXtrayagant the sum they
spend. so long as the result is absolutely
unique and magnificent. The New Years
ball. that will cost less than Slo.OOO ~ TO
be thrown completely in the shade. More
than this. the fancy dress ball of the W. "a.
Vanderbilt, which was the social event Oh
1888. will also be displaced as the most
hlllllDluOlfN III ''TN'N
York social history.
The Martins are very DESTROYS Of securing
the Stewart house, but Judge Hilton has
refused TO lease the mansion for the single
evening required. The price offered was
s.. 900. and i'm addition to the cash, tue hOu,
would have received an advertisement IN
being thrown open on such an occasion ana
under such brilliant conditions worth
great deal more than that. IT Mr.. Martin
does not get the Stewart house he VIII prop
ably take either the Metropolitan opera
house or the Panorama Building at fiily-
ninth street and Madison avenue. rms
latter place has been very handsomely iitted
up as a ballroom. one thousand guests Is
the number Mr.. Martin desires TO entertain.
STRUGGLE FOR SOCIETY LEADERSHIP.
The giving of this magnificent ball by th@
Bradley-Martns is signiicent OF a struggle
for society leadership between the miiii0h-
aire families that are now dominant in New
York social life. The contestants now III
sight are Mrs. William Aston. Mr.. William
c. Whitney and his wife, hr. Cornelius
Vanderbilt and his wife, and the Bradley
Martins. All Of them have planned eosty
entertainments. and it is safe 10 say thal
more money will bc spent among the
florists. decorators, caterers, and other peo-
ple whose services are necessary III the
preparation and launching Of social enief-
tainments between now and the be'inhiiis
Of Lent, than has ever been spent IN inns
city before.
Bradiey-Martin proposes to put out Tor
the giving of his entertainment matter 81
$50 900. lie can of course abundantiy AFFORD
10 do il. The family possesses something
like seven or eight millions OF dollars, the
greater part Of which is invested IN railroad
bonds. so that the income thereirom must
he about 500. 900 a wear. The tiara Of dia-
monds which Mrs. Martin wore at the Pa
trarch ball. and which is declared 10 Dc
the most splendid thing Of the kind known
to the diamond merchants OF Paris ana
London. cost S3oO,OO0.
The ball which Mrs. AstOr proposes 10
give will be a splendid affair without doubt,
bur will cost no such money as this. Mr.
Aston has never been given 10 the extraNa-
CANT use Of money, and is not likely To begin
now. The Nanderbilts. on the other hand.
will paw out money without any stunt. As 10
the ball which the Whitncys propose 10
give that will be one Of the sensational
events Of the winter, If for no other reason
than that it will make known to society
the new Whitney ballroom, which IS with
ont question the most startling apartment
of the kind in America. The architects ana
the decorators have been az work on 1t since
last spring. and money has moi
been spared 10 make it magnliicentl
unique. When il is finally thrown
open for a night of dancing it will furnish a
subject frr gossip and wonderment 10 every
body present for very long time alter
ward. With such a ballroom at their dis
pOsal the Whitneys hold an advantage over
their rivals which it Is not easy to over est-
mate. Mrs. Bradley Martins big ball or
four wears ago has not yet been forgotten.
On that occasion the supper was served I'D
mammoth extension built in the yard ana
lne.l with red baize. In order 10 allow the
building 10 be put up Mrs. Martin had. It Is
said, 10 insure the whole block for the time
il stood there.
The annual charity ball. given under the
direction of the Nursery and Chllds liospi-
tai, will be held at the Metropolitan Opera
House on the evening of the 9TH Of Janu-
ary. The demand for tickets and boxes has
20 far exceeded all previous records.
DEBUTANTE's DANCES.
The popularity of debutante's dances is
on the increase. Regular balls are ever so
much more trouble. The house Is upset IN
any case for the reception, and a the ca
l $50. aud his afds arp On the prpml ~e~ there