New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-24
SOCIETY IN LENT.
WARD McALLISTER'S COMMENTS.
DANCING Is THE MAIN THING DISPENSED WITH
DINNERS AND OTHER DIVERSIONS.

ward McAllister talks entertainingly on many sub
lcc but he is particularly interesting when the topic
Is society On that subject lie Is regarded by MS
H'ehds as oracle, for he has been identified WIN
the affairs Of society for a generation. 1t Is not al
ways easy to draw him into discussion, as lie Is
naturally rather reserved, but when he does become
interested what he says commands respectful atten-
toh He was asked day or two ago to describe he
diversions of society during the Lenten season-tha'
Is To define the subtle division between the pleasures
that precede and those which follow Ash wednesday
"Wel,7 said he all that might be summed up III
the one rough statement that society docs pretty hca
everything during Lent that 1t does prior 10 It, cA0oP
TO dance, were 1t not that it does not cover al .o
ground by a great deal. In former tunes 'he S'i''
observance of Lent confined TO Eplscopahahs VI
Catholics as an ecclesiastical FORM without REGARD 10
social conditions Then there were simple forms OF
observance common to all families Represented III
those two Churches II was family aHair as n'uoi'
as one Of the Church, but society had nothing " wv
with It, for practically the functions OF society
suspended absolutely from Ash Wednesday 10 EASIER
This was not an observance by society as soIuPi''
but as a convenience.
"In these days Lent furnishes a breathing space LOT
society. With the great increase OF family
in New-York has come the power and the dlsposuoh
to entertain largely Some of the Weather families
deem IL a duty to entertain in proportion 10 their
means, and doing 80 sets example that others uso
follow. The result is continued gayeV from quo o"o
OF the social to the other Therefore IL Is o
to be wondered at IL society welcomes Lent as pe1od
not Of fasting but Of resting Society does hov l''
during Lent; on the contrary most of It's teasths 10
done then When one thinks how many dinners arc
given In Lent it makes one believe almost that society
accepts the period as one in which everybody shouu
eat everybody elses dinners The last social season
was the gayest we have had for many years. Inc
AstOr and Vanderbilt families both entertained more
freely than hitherto and their example was Follower
by many others. II could be said with truth' 'lh'
that society was fairly lifted and carried by thoso t"o
families during the season recently ehueu IL 10
natural sequence to unusually gay season thaI t'o
should be great deal of dnnergving Just now lhesc
dinners are none the less elaborate because OF ther
being given in Lent People who can afford to give
dinners provde the best to be had. no matter what
the season is You can get an idea Of how prevalent
the dinnergving IS hom the mere statement thau do
many fashionable people partake OF them as prior "
Lent. participated in the dances. THIS as you VIII
see break, mn the whole body Of society into little
circles and the dinners must be exceedingly numerous
TO provide entertainment for everybody.
THE dinners given in New.YorlS during Lent will
compare favorably with those prsidcd for fashionabc
people In any capital Of the world and In the com
harrison We have if ANYTHING the advantage. In this
country we have a moro solid foundation for our most
substantial meals than Is 10 be found anywhere else
and certainly we have higher quality Of game than
Ic had In Europe. Then we have as hne culinary
skill they have abroad. 1t Is true we have had 10
Impor our chefs but we have them, and enjoy the
products OF their SKILL Isn't It little peculiar, don't
YOU think that Americans do not try TO become past
masters In the art Of cookinel Who ever heard OF
chef who was an Amercani There is a good field
open here for some Intelligent and entcrprsing young
men Of this country. TO be good cook is to be able
10 earn the best kind OF wages. Ii has been said that
society employs imported chefs because Of disregard
for our own Institutions. This Is not true by any
means They import their cooks because hore J.
none OF that kind made In this country.
lyon see most Of our wealthy people have lived
great deal abroad and they have become able To as
crmihite between the higher divisions OF cuisine evef
where in the world. II they procure the only talent
capable Of providing food according to their ideas
theytsre doing what any would do who has the
means Americans have become finely educated that
is those have who have travelled, on affairs OF the
table and a record Of the dinner giving In Ncw-for'
from Ash Wednesday 10 Easter. II II could be SET dow"
In minute detail would prove that Americans lead inc
people Of the continent In the quality OF these enter
talnments Tho art Of giving does not consist
merely Of providing elaborate feast elegantly served
although that may be called one of the two main di-
visions Of tho art The other is the selection OF the
guests with such skill to bring together at the
table divergent mind, and clngnal dispositions one
disposition " DESCENDANT tone could spoil dinner
Just a. thoroughly a. unpaatabc dish could DO It.
Really dinner giving art, and some Of tue uhher'
now being given are among the most charming enter
tanmcuts Of the year There Is no dancing during
Lent. II I, considered very bad form to dance be
tween Ash "wednesday and Faster except on Nj Carcme
In Europe some Of the greatest fancy dress ana mas
oucrade balls are given on vi Careme and yet over
there they observe Lent far rcliSouolv than we
do i'm thi, country. I think there will be TWO or
throc large fancy dres, masquerade balls In New
York on MI Carcmc this year, which VIII fall In March
To recompcn,e the young people for the abolition
u dancing during Lent. theatre parties are gwen Id
large numbers. / do Lot believe there ever was 4
season in which 50 many theatre parties were given 10
at present. They are most excellent form OF enter
talumeut from many points II view. one OF their
chief advantages IS that they begin and end early, thus
enabling those who participate In them 10 retire early
to rest. This applies also 10 the dinners ana on the
whole society Is the gamer by Its Lenten diversions
"Of late wears great many wealthy New YORK
families have fed 10 Southern climates with the al
vent Of Lent. which I'm other words. means the ap-
proach Of atrociously bad weather Of spring In
reality We have no spring in this climate VIC pass
from the lap of winter into the arms of summer
People who can get away to fairer cimc', aud they
are wise. There is large contingent whose members
go Florida for three months, beginning Win
the beginning Of Lent, while Others VINO DO not Ike
an voyage take run down into MEXICO NOT
a few 20 to the Bahamas the West indies. but the
greatest number Of all to the south Of Europe. our
ing the latter part Of February and March the
weather Is superb along the 0edterranean Coast and
in southern Italy generally. Tho month OF March III
Rome is the lovclcst of the year. and hundreds oil
Americans and Englishmen who have suffered through
a cold winter go there TO enjoy the balmy climate
Then in March and April tho weather Is best Oh inc
Riviera. the south Of France. and in SPAIN We
hapa NJ tlpV ia Va
in Europe during the spring months. Then Paris III
MAY! All, what memories one chcrlshes of the month
Of May In the French capital We have something
like IL here In june II the shines not too warmly
but that is the only month that gives US even
suggestion Of the lovely weather they have IN Europe
during Lent. IT is not matter for wonder IL our
wealthy people run away from the horrld climate OF
New York during Lent. Those who remain ENJOY
themselves rs best they cam leaving dancing OUT oi