The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-07
NHAr rs GOING ON IN soc1Err

Monday evening was the great night OF thu
season at the Metropolitan. A crowded and
brilliant house. with the women all In gala ar
ray for Mrs. Astor's ball and performance Of
Faust" such as one hears but rarely in nny
language or from any artists. made It an oc.
CASTOR to be remembered. Edouard dc Rcszks
covered himself with glory ms Mfphis'ophees
His fine appearance. his grace and ease OF
manner and movement, his superb acting.
and the ring Of his magnificent voice thrilled
the whole audience In a manner seldom expe.
rienced by New York opcragoers. An elderly
gentleman familiar with all tho host singers
on both continents said hs had boon present
at forty representations OF Faust" and had
never seen nor heard such a Msphistopieles
Miss Eamcs charmed by her sweet notes and
| excellent method. but those who recalled Nils.
sons Marguerite shook their heads dcprecst-
inRly Notwithstanding they appaudcd her.
As for the house. It might have been the
Queens Theatre on a birthday or drawing.
| room night, so superb were the costumes and
so binding the sparkle and sclntiation o,
tho jewels. Mra Bradley Martin. In Cor.
gcous combination OF white satin and pink
velvet with diagonal band made entirely OF
| precious stones extending from shoulder to
waist aud exactly matching her neck lace and
coronct. had Miss Rita Rogers in her box.
Miss Rogers. at distance. bears a strong re-.
semblance to Miss Adele Grant and was sew.
eral times mistaken for her across tho opera
house. She looked extremely we'll In white
elk and pink roses. and her simplicity OF attire
was healthful rest to the eye. Mrs Cornelius
Vanderbilt was In mauve velvet. with double
row OF brlliants around her neck and ia.
mond comb at the back Of the head. which
was n pleasant change from the familiar
crown On either side Of her were Mrs r. |.
Clarkson In yellow. and her sister. Miss Otis
in rich blue satin. while Mr. Otis doomed up
benignnntly in the background. The twin
sisters. Mrs. Mills and Mrs Bentinck dressed,
as Of old. exactly alike. and. with the same
similarity OF person and feature that marked
them in their childish days. were only dstin.
Guishable one from the other by the crown
and necklace worn by Mrs. Mills and which
her sisters jewel box evidently failed to sup.
ply. Mrs. Carley Havemeyer. in the softest
and paIest Of pearl gray satins. with pro.
fusion Of fImy lace draped over one shoulder.
was among the handsomest women present
and with hor was Miss Hope Goddard. who
was admirably pretty in blue. Mrs. James
=. Kernochan and Mrs. Elisha Dyer. Jr.. were
together. tho jewels Of the elder lady scarcely
eclipsing those Of the younger
To the Astor ball all these and many moro
smart gowns and sparkling gems wendell
their way about midnight and were soon
Mrs. Astor's picture gallery. And. by the way.
It Is a vexed question. and one Of no little i'm.
portance In a ball-givlng community such as
New York is fast getting to be, whether q pic.
ture gallery is the best place for dance. To
the critical eye 1t certainly Is not In the first
place. the lights. which In power and position
are adapted for the display Of the paintings on
the walls and not Of the living pictures on the
floor. are extremely trying to tho complexion.
It was remarked at Mrs. Sloane's and Mrs
Shcpard's dance that women scarcely past
their first youth looked wan and haggard: and
as for those who aided nature by an artificial
tint tho absolute failure OF illusion was
deplorable. The merciless electricity laid
bare every mystery. Then the forms and COL
| ors on the walls have an eccentric habit OF
dancing up and down to keep time with the mu-
sic, and the dreadful conglomeration Of land
scapes. figures. and animals sometimes has
very unpleasant effect upon sensitive nerves
and brains The surroundings Of ballroom
should be light graceful. and restful to the
eye. with q profuson OF mirrors. and gliding
ad libitum. Such are the great bathrooms In
European palaces where art galleries are
things not to DO desecrated by dancing.
| Mrs. Astor's mansion had its usual tasteful
decorations. and stranger walking through
its long suite Of lofty and spacious rooms be.
fore the guests assembled would have said
that nothing was left to be desired. But the
popularity Of the hostess made 1t great deal
too small. and at supper time both ladies and
gentlemen crowded the second floor and took
their refreshment in tho cloak rooms With
the present enormous size OF New York society
and the requirements OF its members. two or
three houses are essential to the complete
success OF dancing function. and those whose
bank accounts refuse to cover tho expenditure
m nat ha copfaDf 70 anforfafn khofr
through the medium Of subscription dances.
Tho engagements have been recently an.
nounced of Mrs. John A. KernochRn and Mr..
William Pollock. both summer residents and
large land owners Of Pittsfeld. Mass. OF Miss
Alice Greenough. debutante Of this winter.
and Mr.. Edward NJ. Townsend. Jr. OF Oyster
Bay. L. l.. and OF Miss Mabel Wheeler and Mr..
Stephen Train Of Boston.
The dinners during the week have not dimin-
ished In frequency or sumptuousness. Mrs.
Stuyvesant Fish. who has rare talent OF in
vention for dining table decoration. had a
curious arrangement at her last dinner Of pink
and black tulle. caught here and there with
clusters OF pink roses. which was as effective
rs 1t was original Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Cruger
covered her table with cloth Of gold. over which
we're scattered Jacqueminot roses. which pro-
duced warmth and glow OF coloring that was
strikingly suggestive OF julien Gordon. Mrs.
L Townsend Burden has a profusion OF gold
and silver repousse vases to hold the ex1 uisite
roses and lilacs with which she sdorns her
table. which. by the way. Is said to be
80 broad that the servants are Obliged to walk
over 1t In order to arrange the ornaments.
Many other banauets have been given. all
equally regardless OF expense. and when no
dances or balls follow them 1t is quite the rule
to have one or moro Of tho operate constella-
fion of stars or piano re1italS or possiblv 4