The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-24
HER BALL TO COST $50. 900.
MRS. ARTIN's EFFORT
TO CAPTURE SOCIETY.

dor and ExtraVagal co-Diamo na
studded Favors for the German, SIC
Floral Favors for the Ladies, Wines
Costing So Bottle and $4,000 fol
Decorations-rhe Upper Ten Thrilled
With Delight over the Prospect
Copyright 1897
NEW YORK, Jan. 1s-Sociesy. for the
second time this season, is joying a shocx
that has set its nerves a tingling. 1t like:
to be tingled; for if there is anything that
society breads it is apathy. 1t was pleas
antly electrified whel Mr. Ward McAllister
suggested that it should open wide its golden
gates, and let in a flood Of outsiders
rather good people, you know"-to dane,
with the elect at the New Years bali.
Throwing the tradition of caste to the
winds, it danced its fill, and it rather liked
it, too.
But now it has sensation to talk about
that is worth a dozen New Years balls
rolled into one. One of its most exclusive
members has tempted it with a promise of
a ball such as, in its most imaginative mo-
ments, it never dreamed of. Mrs. Bradley
Marul, the wife of millionaire with an
income Of something approaching $500. 900
a year, has resolved to spend $4,000 on a
single ball That will, for SIZE, maguificence
and eer lavishness of outlay. outshine
any hing ever heard of in the line of pri-
vaJe entertainments on this side of the At
lantic
OF course, after the first paroxysm of
pleasure at he news, the sensation was one
of curiosity to know just what sort of n
hall Mrs Martin nrnnOenl n rrixr TLot
TO cos5 a modest fortune. Pretty soon il
leaked out that the affair was part of a
settled programme outlined By tnaU lady.
who has made up her mind to become fam
Gus in a 81 gle season. There are number
of costly entertainments planned for the
coming months, but none, it i safe to assert.
that will c. ST within oue-fifun of this
affair. 1t even took McAllister's breath
away when he heard Of it; although
his equanimity was SO newhat restored
when informed that he would be invited to
officlate as generalissimo. There was no
question Of the blue-blooded qualities of the
Bradley Martins. For many Years they
have been in he -Four HUI dred as active
and appreciative members, but in rather
quiet and unassumlng way They a g i'm
meusely rich Of course, Martin ''peren being
estimated at $10,000,0J0, largely in rail-
roads and government bonds. His wife,
too, is wealthy in her own right, and
her sole extravagance, till now, has
been in diamonds. She has tiara
that is said to be valued at $4,000. For
several years the family has lived abroad.
and people here recall the recent marriage
Of Sherman Bradley, the son, to q LondIn
actress half dozen years his Sc iior. THAI
event, probably, decided tnem to return
TO America. The present is the first season
they have passed here ii many years. NJ st
Of their time is spent in Southern EuroDe
and in Scott nd where Mr.. Bradley Martin
has fine estate and shooting box.
Mrs Bradley Martin is now wild to goto
the ont. In sigma izing Ter re-entree in
New York society by a $4,000 ball she
shrewdly calculated that il would furnish
the sensation of the season. Coming on the
heels of the McAllister ball, it would fairy
eclipse that ponderous and somewhat mixai
event, and would hardly be equaIled any
where. 1t would usher il a new era in
balls, and she would have the fame of |,
social pioneer, whose golden lamp lighted
the path to new pleasures for the leisure
class OF Americans. 1t was fame that
to a woman of society was we'll wort
for, even if it was to cost
$4,000. She could depend upon the ready
cooperation of almost every leadi lady
in society, and she mas, accordingly, ar
dAE6Q W nave, lOU lOuls OuO u uOL9u ASSIST
ants, who will act in the capacity of lady
just as Mrs. AsTor, Mrs. B. K.
s .evens, Mrs. Wetmore and MIS-. Philip
did at the New Years ball. To
Offset the novelties on that occasion, she
will have q minuet, a La Vatican, with a
whole park of beau .iful women, all stun
ningly dressed in the most charming of
fancy costumes, in the sets. Mrs Brad
ey-MarGln is cosmopolitan III
20
thing. she knows from observations that
Americans are the finest dancers in the
world, and she means to have the very
best of them for this Vatican dance, which
IS to be the picturesque feature of the
occasion. There will be slim, straight
young girls, lovely debuntantes, marriage
able maids, and plump and stately, though
still youthful and blooming matrons-all
gowned in the most fetching style, and
they will step through the stately measure
with the giided youth of the gay metropolis
as partners. Every art viii be used to
the delightful picture.
OF urse Pima is t. be the caterer for
inc Bradley Martin ball, as he has been for
al the great balls that have taken place in
New York for the last twenty years. He
is the only man who can be trusted to
arrange things on the sumptuJus scale in
volved in the expenditure of so much
money. 1 had chat with Mr.. Pinard yes
terday about it, being curious to know just
how so much money could be spent upon a
single ball without icing wasted.
1T is quite ssible to spend $4,000, or
even a grea er sum-" said ne, ION a single
ball. There is absolutely 10 limit to
possibilities of expense, il only one knows
how to go about it art stically. Now, in
the first place, it would be necessary to
secure the largest ball room obtainaole.
There is no p. ivate ball room in New York
big enough for an @ terIalnment of this
magnitude. The finest private ball room,
without exception, is that of Mrs. William
Astor. With the accompanying suite of
rooms-all Oh one fioor-iJ is the ideal place
for private ball. but would not accommo.
date one OF unusual dimensions. The suite
consists of parlors, hall, reception rooms
and ball ROOM IL was there that the
famous ball of 1888 was given, which was
Tie most wonderful affair, IL private way,
ever given up to that time.
Mrs. Marshall o. Roberts ball room is
an exceedingly fine one. 1t is the art gal
iery, and, ike the AStor ball room, is a
square apartment of princely dimensions.
Inc ceiling is between thirty-ive and forty
ieet nigh. And, by the way, it is very i'm
p2rtant that ball room should have a
hlgu ceiling. No matter how large room
Is, II the ceiling is low, or only moderately
nigh, it will look insignificant, and will
hardly admit Of proper ventilation. In the
Astor tall room the are no rooms over
ueaa, the suite being in separate iildlng.
otill another handsome ball-r ON is that
d MRS Whitney, which is in the form of
all OolOng. 1t is large and very hand