Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-01-09
THE POLICE NOT ADMITTED
Unsuccessful Interference Ofthe Police
at McAlliSter'S Ball.
Commissioners Wanted to Limit the
Flow of Champagne.
Over Twelve Hundred Persons Sit al
the Supper Table.

New YORK. Jan. Sat 2 O'Clock this
morning a fifteen thousand dollar ball is
in progress 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 Soc
iety consists of only 400. Last April Nc
Allister was rendered very unhappy be-
cause Mr.. Fish ousted him from the man
agement of the great continental ball.
Then McAlliSter said he would get up a
ball of his own some time and demonstrate
what a really perfect ball would be, and
tonight affair is the demonstration. The
money was raised by subscriptions from
the Astors, Vanderbilts, Depews, Morgans,
Lorillards, Goelicts, 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 a food of policemen in the
supper room to prevent the use of wine
after l a.. m. Argument was brought to
bear, however, and as a result, the corpor-
alton counsel today notified the police that
the ball was a private affair, and that the
guests had a right to drink
wine all night if they want
ed to. Whereupon the police board
notified the force to keep hands off, and to
permit the eight hundred quarts of cam
payne which had been purchased to be
drund at leisure. Invitations were issued
to each of the subscribers, with permission
to invite seven friends, and consequently
the number entitled to be present was
1,73S. The opera house was decorated in
a most elaborate manner with rich hang
ings of silk and floral displays. 1t is the
handsomest decoration the Metropolitan
opera house has ever seen. All through
the corridors were trees of tropic
growth, shrubs of rare culture and bloom
ing flowers, while soft incandescent lights
were present everywhere, save in the dim
dark vault above the suspended canopy of
green. Perfumed fountains scented the
air, and music hoated from unexpected
sources, the orchestras being hidden. The
p~atronesses of the ball include Mrs. VIM.
Astor, Mrs, De Lancey Kane, Mrs. Elliott
Roosevelt, Mrs. Philip Schuyler and Mrs.
George Peabody Wetmore. They arrived
at 10 o'clock, and were received by Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt, Bryan K. Stevens and
Ward McAllister and were escorted to
the position where they should receive
guests. At IL o'clock the dancing floor
was astir with p~romenadors and soon
after dancing began with a quadrille d
honneur. Supper was served in a room
where twelve hundred might sit. The
lady p%atronesses were at one table
presided over by McAllister, who had
Mrs. William Aston on his right
Mrs. Grover Cleveland was seated at
McAllister's left. At the foot of the table
was Cornelius Wander bilt with Mrs. Eli
oft Roosevelt. Others at this table were
Count D'Arce, the German minister; Sec
rotary of the Navy Tracy, c. M. Depew
with Mrs. Parah Stevens, and Grover
Cleveland with Mrs. W. c.. Whitney.
After supper dancing was resumed, and
ended with the largest cotillion ever
danced in America. There were in it 15C
couples.