Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-11

year agl Teas, which were so popular
for the wo or three seasons, have
now be rarity. They were in
stituted during the worrisome days OF
1873, as a measure of economy by which,
without spending much, my lady could
receive a few of her friends and enter.
tain them for very little money. Those
teas cost an average of about one hun
dred and fifty dollars apiece. There
were usually two or three walters, some
light dishes and tea or chocolate; great
deal of twaddle and make-believe enjoy
ment, 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 a
social way and now, at the beginning OF
the new year, there are more grand
balls arranged than at any time since
the colonial danes of old New York
learned TO dance.
talked yesterday with an authority
on social matters-one who has even
better opportunities for feeling the
pulse of Upper Tendon than Ward Nc
Alister himself.
1.-The secret of the matter" said he,
sis that our best people are richer than
before.
1.-The first of the great balls will be
that of Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt on
January 49, January is Away prolific
of big social events, but this and the
Astor ball to follow, on the Goth, will
overshadow everything else. Mrs. Cor
nelius Vanderblt's ballroom is one OF
the finest of its kind in the country, and
her entertainment will cost somewhere
in the neighborhood of $4,000 Mrs.
Astor still holds the scepter as the queen
of New York society, and it cannot be
wrestled from her until she lays it down
of her own accord. The rivalry has
been very strong at times, but Mrs.
Astor's commanding wealth, her splen-
did house with its unequalled ballroom
and rare picture gallery, added to the
genius she possesses as an entertainer,
have maintained her supremacy. As
every one knows, an invitation to one OF
her balls or dinners is the means OF open
ing all doors of society to the recipient
To secure such an invitation is the dear
est wish of hundreds af good families in
New York. For night under the great
lights in that splendid room, they would
surrender almost anything"
did ever any one compute the cost Of
single seasons festives in New York?'
| asked.
"Well, it would run well up in the
millions. Take an event like that OF
Mrs. Astor's ball, for instance. The
menu alone will cost not less than 50, 600
or 81. 600, being set for GOO o. 200 per-
sons: the flowers 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 Vanderbilt balls
will be very little. If any, less. Then
there are those of the Beekmans, Roose-
velts. WebbS. Livingstons, Sands, and
some hundred or more other families,
all of whom give fine entertainments IN
the season. They will run all The way
from S10,0 900 down to modest $4,000 or
"a, 900. These. of course, are only the
dances. | have said nothing or the
thousand and one dinners and lunch
cons, and receptions where collation. Is
spread, or of the small Dances whose
name is legion"
Are there no large balls conducted
on more economical scale in New
York;"
"Oh. yes: the PatrarchS and the 9TH
ers which Mr.. McAlliSter has in charge
are conducted with view TO economy.
Some of these are pretty cheap: they
nrobablv average from $4,000 to $1,000