Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-01-03
M'ALLISTER's TRIUMPH.
He Engineers a Fifteen
Thousand Dollar Ball.
THE 400'S BIG BLOW OUT.
The Police Kept Their Hands Off
Because 1t Was a Strictly
Private Affair.
Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD.
New York, January "A SIS 200 ball
is in progress tonight at the Metropolitan
opera house, and the chief executive
spirit is Ward McAllister, he to whom is
credited the statement that New York's
best society consists of only 400. Last
April McAllister was rendered very un-
happy because Mr.. Fish ousted him
from the management of the great CEN
tennial ball. Then McAllister said he
would get up a ball of his own some
time and demonstrate what really per-
feet ball should be, and tonight's affair
is the demonstration. The money was
raised by subscriptions from the Astors,
vanderbilts, Depews, Morgans, Loril-
lards, Goelets, Hewitts, Coopers, Clews,
Corbins and many others of the 400.
McAllister's ideas were being worked
out smoothly, when suddenly there came
the horrible intimation that he would be
threatened with flood of policemen in
the supper-room to prevent the use of
wine after q. m. Argument was
brought to bear, however, and as a re-
suit the Corporation Counsel today noti-
fed the police that the ball was q private
affair, and the guests had right to
drink all night if they wanted to; where
upon the Police Board notified the force
to keep hands off and permit the 500
quarts of champagnes which had been
purchased to be drunk at leisure.
Invitations were issued to each sub.
scrber with the permission to invite
seven friends, consequently the number
entitled to be present was 1,728. The
opera house was decorated in the most
elaborate manner, with rich hangings of
silks and floral displays. 1t is the hand
soonest decoration the Metropolitan
opera house has ever seen. All through
the corridors and staircases were trees of
tropical growth, shrubs of rare culture
and blooming flowers, while soft incan-
descent lights were present everywhere,
save in the dim dark vault above a sus-
pended canopy of green. Perfumed
fountains scented the air, and music
floated from unexpected sources, the Or
cbestra being hidden.
The patronesses of the ball include
Mrs. William Astor, Mrs. Ds Lancey
lA1hO, u1ic. iIiilObV hOocOFClI, ulIc. L litlp
Schuyler and Mrs. George Peabody Wet
more. They arrived at 10 o'clock and
were received by Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Byram K. Stevens and Ward McAllister.
and escorted to the position where they
should receive the guests. At IL O'Clock
the dancing floor was astir with prone.
naders, and soon after the dancing be-
gan with the quadrille d'honneur.
The supper Was served in room
where 1 200 might sit The lady patron
esses were at one table, presided over by
Mr.. McAllister, who had Mrs. William
Astor on his right. Mrs. Grover Cleve-
land was seated at McAllister's left. At
the foot of the table was Cornelius
Vanderbilt, with Mrs. Elliott Roosevelt.
Others at this table were Count D'Arco,
German Minister; Secretary OF the Navy
Tracy; @. M. Depew, with Mrs. Paran
Stevens, and Grover Cleveland, with
Mrs. w. G. Whitney. After supper
dancing was resumed, and ended with
the largest cotillion ever danced in Amer
ica. There we're in it $50 couples.