Arizona republican., 1891-12-11
SOCIETY AT NEW PORT.
How Our Leisure classes Enjoy the
 Good Things of Life.
MRS. ASTOR'S BEAUTIFUL PLACE,
The Scene of Social Revelry Closed
 for the Winter.
Ward McAllister and His DictatOrial Ways-0ther Butterflies of
 Fashion.
Special Cores pondence.

year at Newport has been brilliant one,
 and continued late autumn. Although Mrs. Astor has closed her house, Beech wood has been the scene of the hand somest social functions of this summers gay festivities at Newport, Mrs. Astor has given two great dinners, on which occasions the famous gold service was used-and also grand ball. These in honor of her son, John Jacob Astor, and his newly acquired wife.
 Beechwood's beauty consists in its lawns, especially those facing seaward On fete occasions these grounds have been brilliantly illuminated by introducing electric lights curiously from beneath, producing the effect of burning bushes" which were not consumed. The great trees, too, were garlanded in flowers and hung in French lanterns. Neither the exterior nor interior of Mrs. Astor's home are remarkable. The drawing room is done in delicate tint combined with gold, and old rare tapestries are let in for the mural decoration. The uphol, stery and hangings are in fade tints and of rich fabrics In the hallway are suits of old armor (rather un-American), a great canvas of fruits and flowers, and the stairway is outlined by many family portraits.
 Mrs. Astor's presence carries with it the distinction unanimously accorded her of being America's society queen. Her bow is one of remarkable grace, most courtly and elegant. Mrs. Astors dark eyes are the remembered features of her face. In dress she very much affects rare old point lace. Her jewels, of course, are far famed.
 Young Mrs. Astor is beautiful in per son; she has unusual height, small, regu- lar features and sweet, winning mouth. Her complexion is of exceptional purity, her eyes dark and soft, and the small twist of black hair shows few threads of silver, though she has just passed from out her teens. The young couple were the most sought of any Newport visitors.
 Mrs. Astor and Mrs. 1. Townsend Bur den were the only ladies in Newport whose service enabled them to dine twenty-four guests. Mrs. w. c. Whit ney can entertain the next highest num- Der, seating twelve at her board. am told that the wines used at dinners are largely dry wines, also that it is quite the thing for the men to bring in their pockets small silver fasks containing a couple of drinks of Scotch whisky. On being seated at table they lay the flasks on the cloth and the butler, understand ing, leaves a wineglass empty for each mans use.
 Mrs. Paran Stevens, everywhere con spicuous and distinguished, is in New port a social factor, recognized and de- termining She is now beyond the me ridian of life, but has reached that pe- riod only in the number of recorded birthdays. Mrs. Stevens has French Huguenot and New England ancestry, and is native to Lowell, Mass. As Miss Marietta Reed she attracted wide re- mark for unusual lOveliness of face and grace of person. Very early in life she welded Mir. Paran Stevens, then of Bos- ton, and later of the Fifth Avenue hotel, New York city. Of this last mentioned magnificent property Mir. Stevens was sole owner, and at his decease bequeath- ed to his widow an enormously rich es- tate.
 During Mrs. Stevens days of Boston residence her home was especially the rendezvous of officers of the British army stationed in Canada, and to that dominion Mrs. Stevens made visits which were always occasions of marked social distinctions. These associations fostered in her desire for an English residence, and in consequence Mrs. Stevens has lived very much abroad, where her quick perception, rare cleverness, infinite tact, united with the generous sympathy and pungent wit, made her a power even in the worlds metropolis. At the mar riage ceremony of her daughter to Colo nel Arthur Paget. eldest son of the late Lord Alfred Paget, which occurred in London, Mrs. Stevens entered on the arm of the Prince of Wales.
 Marietta Villa, Mrs. Stevens Newport home, joins that of James Gordon Ben nett, on Bellevue avenue, directly oppo- site the Casino. It is protected from any exposure by ample grounds and the shade of towering old trees Mrs. Stew ems acquiesces in the encroachments of the city about her home. She does not desire an eyrie on the cliffs, where the need of pound of pepper requires a horse, rider and possibly waiting dinner. She IS fond of contact, fond of life. She IS life and energy and anima- tion. She has spirit and movement that is enkindling. In conversation she commands apt similes, ready repartee and gives candid expression to opinions.
 Mrs. Stevens introduces new people. To be presented by her is passport yes, more, it at once confers position. Her great country house is constantly filled with guests, and all the time she is receiving and extending social atten- tions, yet she has leisure for courteous civility and encouraging kindness for all who approach her, whatever may be their errand. l cannot pardon the flip. pant and impertinent paragraphs that have been printed of Mrs. Stevens. They come from ignorance of her personality and are written from outside her gates.
 Mrs. Stevens feels this eager watching by the press for fault, foible or ec- centricity on which to hang a caustic criticism or sensational item. "Why a jealous spying upon ones private life," she asks, "only to the end of misrepre- sentation and cheapening itg' And truly, for every person who lacks pe- culiarity is numbered with the uninter- esting majority and does no longer count and Mra StavanS ia of tha mi