The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-11
G0THAM'S GREAT SEASON
BIG DINNERS AND BALLS THAT
WILL BE GIVEN THIS WINTER.

WILL BE GIVEN THIS WINTER
The Aston Grand Ball and What it
Will Costa Craze over Pink Takes
Upper Tendon by Storm-What it
Costs to introduce a Blushing De-
butante to Swell Society-A Deluge
of Festivities.
Copyright 1911
NEW YORK, Jan. 10.-Although New
York hasn't ventured on New Years ball
this year. being warned by the result Of
the unique affair engineered by Mr.. Meal
lister twelvelnonth ago, it has entered on
a season Of gayeties which promises to
eclipse all its forerunners In splendor and
extravaganza. Every one Of the
great balls announced for 1881
will involve greater outlay
than those of a year ago. 1eas, which
were go popular for the last two or I'd, ee
seasons. have now become a rarity. They
were instituted during the worrisome days
of 1873. as a measure of economy by which,
without spending much, MY lady could re-
ceive few of her friends and entertain
them for very little money. These teas
There were usually two or three
walters, some light dishes and tea or
chocolate; a great deal of twaddle and
make-believe enjoyment, some very fine
dresses and, in short, capital show at the
smallest possible money. But times have
changed all that. The last two or three
months of 1890 were exceptionally brilliant
in social way, aud now, at the beginning
of the new year, there are more grand balls
arranged tnan at any time 81 ce the colo
NAL danes of old New York learned to
dance.
l talked yesterday with an authority on
soci, mat;ers-one who has even better op-
portunities for feeling the pulse of Upper
Tendon than Ward McAllister himself.
=" he secret of the matter said he, sis
that our best people are richer than before
1890 may have been TO many a disastrous
year, with is failures and disturbances in
business, but these things have no effect
upon the bail giving community. Society
doesn't feel them at all. Most Of the people
in society have their large fortunes so in
vested that nothing short of all earthquake
or O rev luton can shake them. 1 assure
you ere is a very solid and substa tial
arstocracy here in New York, whatever
some may say to the contrary. IL is rapidly
becoming quite as exclusive as anything in
Europe. Yet, with ell its exclusiveness, it's
a blessing to the rest of mankind, since it
scatters its wealth 50 laVishly on all classes.
Last season it made Newport resplendent-
the grandest summer it ever saw; and this
year 1t has set out to give series of balls,
receptions and dinners on larger scale
than ever, and in almost every casa with a
full collation..
1.-The first of the great balls win be that
OF Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt on Jan. 10.
January is always prolific of big social
events but this and the Aston ball to fol.
low, on Jan. 70, will overshadoY every
thing else. Mrs. Cornelius Vanderblt's
ballroom is one of the finest Of its kind in
this country, and her entertainment will
cost some where in the neighbOrhoo Of So
900. Mrs Aston still holds the scepter as the
queen of New York society, and it cannot
be wrested from her until she lays 1t down
of her own accord. The rivalry has cen
very strong at times, but Mrs Astor's COM
manding wealth, her splendid house, with its
unequaled Eball room, aid rare picture gal
lery, added to the genius she POSSESSES as an
entertainer, have maintained her prem
acy. AS every one knows, an invitation TO
one of her balls or dinners is the means of
opening all other doors in society to the re-
cip!ent. TqSecure such an invitation is the
dearest wish of hundreds of good families in
New York. FIR a night under the great
surrender almost anything.
Then there are besides these the assem-
bly, balls in Madison Square garden, the
PatriaTc chs at Delmonico's ard q host OF
other events, ell in January. Mrs. Whit
ney, wife of the ex-Secretary of the Navy,
gives reception and dance Jan. "a, aud
Mrs. Willie K. Vanderbilt (who, by the
way, was hot rival of Mrs. Aston year
ago for the leadership, gives a reception
Jan. Is, followed by dancing, of course.
There are more people at the receptions
this season than heretofore. l his will
keep up till Lent begins, when a und of
moderate festivities, consisting of dinners
and luncheons, will follow, continuing till
Easter"
"Did anyone ever compute the cost of a
single seasons festivities in New York; l
asked.
"Well, it would run we'll up in the
millions. Take an event like that of Mrs.
AstorS ball, Tor instance. The menu alone
will cost not loss than 81, 900 or $4,000
being set for 800 or 700 pers ms; the Fl overs
will be as much more there will be two
bands of music, and these, with the wines
and decorations, altogether will easily reach
$4,000, or possibly $4,000, The Wander
bilt balls will be very little, if any, less
Then there are those of the Beekmans,
Roosevelts, WebDs, Livingstons, Sands, and
some hundred or more other families, all of
whom give fine entertainments in the sea-
son. They will run all tho way from Sl0,-
600 down TO modest 5000 or $4,000
These, Of course, are only the dances. /
have said nothing of the thousand and one
dinners and lunca cons, and the receptions
where collation. is spread, or Of the small
Dances whose name is legion.
"Are there 10 large balls conducted on
more economical scale in New York?'
"Oh, yes; the Patrlarchs and the Others
which Mr.. McAlister has in charge, arc
conducted with view to economy. Some
of these are pretty cheap. They probably
average from $4,000 to $4,000 each. Mr..
McAlllster has cgr ain amount of money,
and he gets these three or four balls out of
it during the season. That's his arrange
ment, you know. Private pc sons couldn't
do it at the same cost They would be
much more extravagant."
"The rage this season is to Re pink" said
caterer Pinard yesterday. sit has lately
become quite fad in society, you know, to
give pretty applications to a certain class Of
entertainments. Well, we are to have a
deluge of pink dinners, teas, luncheons and
balls. Bright pink will always be favor
lite, / suppose, because Of its effectiveness
but this year the town seems to have gone
crazy over it. For a pink dinner, like
many that will be given during the next
three months, the entire menu is to be kept
of that shade as far as possible Re0innino