The sun., 1890-01-05

mont social feature Of the week has boon the
influenza. or grip" as people have got to
translating the French name for it. 1t has not
only been the fashionable complaint, but 1t
has asserted it's control over social events In
manner moro emphatic than agreeable. No
end Of dinner parties have had to be re-
arranged in consequence OF its Vlsita-
tions. bellies and beaux have been Ia
bed when they wanted to be at balls and even
lovers have had to forego seeing one an
other, so long rs rod noses. weeping eyes, ana
ungraceful sneozings held possession OF them.
A peculiar feature OF the visitation has been Its
prevalence among domestic servants. Scarce
ly one has escaped in any household whore IL
has been at all, and 1t seems TO have clung to
them with singular pertinaciiy. Luckily, Its
severity il at last abatinR. and in week or
two more hostesses will cease to dread the ar
rival OF notes Just before dinner time telling
them that half their expected guests are un-
able to keep their engagements.
To say that Mr.. 6McAllsters New Years
ball fur exceeded the expectations OF those
who attended it. is saying great deal and yet
it ls tho simple truth. Mr.. McAlIister himself
probably did not expect 80 complete victory
over oil drawbacks and difficulties, and so
smooth working Of the complicated machin.
cry OF his entertainment. stranger finding
himself inside tho lobby of the Opera House on
Thursday evening without any previous in
formation. would have been likely to imagine
that he was entering some rich mans private
mansion. Powdered and liveried footmen were
to be seen on every side: ladies' and gentlemen
werc shown into dressing rooms replete with
elegant and luxurious appointments; names
were announced Mt the ballroom en-
trance by well-trainod lackeys, evidently
accustomed to the duty. and the visitors bow
was made to three beautiful women, robed In
enti L., lona u,I ltpr viii n In
Within. tho scene was like fairyland. and 1t
was difficult to 1x the eye or concentrate the
mind on any one object, as tho whole was so
bewilderinEly beautiful. No one could tell
what any one else wore 1t was in vain that
diamonds flashed on one side or beauty smiled
on the other Identity was lost individuality
of no account, each person being only part
of the great glittering. moving picture. 1t
signifled little whether 1t was Mrs. Astor or
Mrs. Bradley Martin who was passing all that
one saw was a coruscation Of gems. which
caused tho eyes to blink with even single
glance. A divinity in satin and sables, with
diamonds nesting in the fur which sets of
the whitenoss of arms and shoulders. may bo
Mrs. CruRer or Mrs. Roche. or perhaps Mrs.
Coleman Drayton. Before one can look
second time she Is gone, and so in an endless
procession Of youth beauty and jewels. the
Glittering panorama moves on.
All the dcbutantes, OF course. were there.
Miss Bruce-Price attracting a good deal Of ad-
miring notice. Miss Hope Goddard Miss Amy
Bend Miss Louise Shepard, and Miss Daisy
Pierson wore the freshest white frocks and
looked extremely well. Miss George Will
mcrdng, Miss Maude Robbins Miss Charlotte
Zerega. and Miss Salie HarEous we're in various
shades Of green, which seemed to suit the
blondes better than the brunes. Mrs. Laden
burg was eXquisitely costumed in white and
silver. and Mrs. Cleveland looked more than
usually we'll In white satin, with diamonds on
her neck and arms. The supper, at which the
company were seated at innumerable tables.
was very hilarious. especially at the table Of
state. where Mr. Chauncey NJ. Depew and
Mrs. Paran Stevens allowed no tagging OF
spirits on their own part or Of those seated near
them. Every one was sorry when the ball was
over. and even those who had taken part in
state functions abroad admitted that the
pageant had been we'll worth seeing.
New Years Day at Tuxedo was not partiou.
larly lively. Notwithstanding large attend
ance of society people who came down for Ithe
day with q vague idea that, against all dfsad-
vantages. Tuxedo must necessarily furnish
diversion and amusement But the absence Of
skating. tobogSaning. and Ice boating and
the presence Of low-lying clouds with a driz-
zlinG rain had a depressing effect. and people
hung about in the club house with absolutely
nothing to do. Perhaps the fact that large
portion Of tho guests had sped the parting
year and welcomed the new one with unlimited
champagne and egg nogg tended to mako 1t
rather slow for those who came In too late and
still too early for any exhiarating Influences,
as certainly It was a very weary and listless
crowd that gathered at the station for the af-
ternoon train. The cotillon on New Years Eve
was gay enough however. and SO was the
tI,n1T T@1,F
to her young friends.
Cards are out for the wedding Of Miss Louise
Leavitt and Mr.. Thomas Thacher Of Boston.
which will take place at 81. Thomass Church
on Thursday. Jan. 1G Miss Churchill and
Miss Leonard will ofllciate as bridesmaids
together with two young ladies from Boston.
relatives of the bridegroom.
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilts musical after.
noon was as successful and as much enjoyed
as the New Years ball. Sarasate and d'Albert
delighted the ears OF the audience. while their
eyes were gratlled by the architectural and
artistic beauties that surrounded them.
The two most important social functions OF
next week occur. unfortunately. both on the
same night The great Charity ball has been
for many weeks fixed for the 7th. and the first
subscription dance at Sherrys. under the d.
rection OF Mrs. w. w. Astor. Mrs Frederic
Bronson. and Mrs. August Belmont, Jr., hastho
same date. 1t is not likely that they will
clash, however. rs 1t will DO quite possible to
spend an hour at the Charity ball and still be
in time for the cotillon at Sherry's. whore only
the very young dancing set are bdden.
The Master OF tho Meadowbrook Hunt Mr..
Thomas Hitchcock, Jr. returned yesterday
from the eastern shore OF Virginia. whore he
went a week ago ON Mr.. Ralph Ellis's yacht
TO look for suitable winter hunting country.
He reports nothing found which would answer
the desired purpose. and he will now turn his
attention to Kentucky or Tennessee Mr. Ellis
has gone with his yacht further south and will
not return for some weeks yet.
The gayety OF the week has been clouded. not
only by the prevailing epidemic. but by con-
spicuous Affections. The death OF Mr.. Alex
ander Hamilton as we'll rs that OF Mrs.
James Otis have thrown large family con-