The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-30

Belmont will probably enjoy the struggle
into which she may be forced by her friends.
Mrs Ogden Mills will be among the most
AMBITIOUS or aspirants. She has been en-
pertaining very extensively, and has been
assisted by one of the ablest women in
society, Mrs. Livingston. Mrs. Mills, her
friends say, has not only the ambition to
succeed Mrs. Aston. but the ability to do so,
and they predict that if she should eventu-
ally succeed in taking the first place she will
remain in possession of it.
Mrs. George Peabody Wetmore will not
be far behind in the leadership contest. She
and her two daughters have large fortunes
and are known as splendid entertainers
They already hold prominent positions. 1t
would surprise no one if Mrs. Wetmore
should be the lucky aspirant.
Mrs Cornelius Vanderbilt may Law claim
to the place, in which event the interest in
the struggle will be greatly heightened.
Mrs. Vanderbilt has given many notable en-
tertainments. and during the last five yea S
has drawn around her one Of the strongest
factions in the whole social group. Should
she be accorded the post Of leader it would
mean the closing of the breach between the
old families and the new rich Mrs. VAN
dertilt's own position In New York society
is as strong as any ones, but there has been a
disposition on the part of some of the old
families to freeze out the new element which
has chung to her.
Another in the line of aspirants is Mrs
W. Bayard Cutting, who holds together a
powerful coterle. 1t would be hard to find
in any OF the social clique a man or womnn
who would say that Mrs. Cutting is not
eminently fitted to play the role of society S
queen. Beautiful, accomplished, rich and
skilled In the fine art Of entertaining, she
| possesses all the requisites that the votares
OF fashion demand of their leader But
Mrs. Cutting is too retiring to be ambitious
Yet II her hosts of adherents urge her to
try she may hold the seat of empire.
And then, according to the social sages.
there Is also Mrs William K. Vanderbilt,
| whose charms are always acknowledged
and never denied With abundant means
at her command, Mrs. w K, as she is
called, to distinguish her from Mrs. Cor
| nellus vanderbilt, who is the "Mrsn Of the
| Vanderbilt family, may make a strong
| fight for the leadership. The only obstacle
in her way, excepting the other candidates,
is the question whether it would be proper
| for her to enter the contest against the
acknowledged Mrs" Vanderbilt.
Then comes a group of possible aspirants,
as many as would fill a page in the elite
directory. But they cannot all win, and
the sages say that the queen will be chosen
| from among those whose names and qualifi-
cations have been here set forth. 1t is possible
that before the contest has progressed very
far Mrs. William Waldorf Aston will have
emerged from her mourning retirement
and will carry everything before her. 1t is
| interesting in this connection to know that
| William Waldorf Aston will give up his res
idence, the Landsdowne house, in London,
| and will return to1New York. He intends to
build here a mansion that for richness,
| splendor and taste will eclipse anything
heretofore attempted in the way of pala-
tial architecture in America. His house
will cost more and will be superior in every
possible way to the one Mrs. William
Aston will build. If Mrs. William Wal
dorf Astor accomphshes her ambition
to hold society's wand, Mrs. William Astor
may never be able to recover it, even if she
| aspires to do so at the end OF her retirement,
Meanwhile either Mrs. Belmont, Mrs. Mills
Mrs. Cutting or Mrs. Vanderbilt may an
ticipate both of the Mrs. Astors and capture
| the crown.
The queen of society" is a title rather
difficult to define. She is elected to the
place by popular acclaim. To win so much
favor she must give the grandest enter
| talnments of the season, must be sur
rounded by all of the best people,
must give dinners that are ire
proachahle and lots Of them, and must
keep herself in the most prominent place in
| all social functions. To do this takes a lot
of money, and the queen, therefore. must
be one of the richest as well as one of the
most charming Of women.
Mrs Bradley-Martin will not return to
New York next winter. She will spend the
season abroad. Mrs. W. G. Whitney, how
ever, will give a number of notable enter
tainments, and the hiatus caused by Mrs.
Bradley Martins absence will, therefore,
be filed. Miss Whitney and Miss Tiffany,
both beautiful girls, will be among the lead
ing debutentes of the next season.