The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-12-31

A vernal Christmas. such rs seldom ~
he lot OF jewellers in these attitudes. wa

| was In spite OF the reproaches mat ". y
heaped upon it by skating, slcighlng, and to-
boRqaninq enthusiasts. Those who love blue
skies and soft brsezes, and who have looked
| over the Bay OF Naples with the fairy Isles
| ~ Isohia floating in the distance. and tho
smoke-capped summit OF Nesuvius towering
| in the back ground" could thoroughly enjoy q
trip TO Jersey or Long Island last Monday, even
though the islands and the volcano were both
| left out OF the picture. Neither italy nor Bor-
muda could show fairer view than the bay
| OF New York under these unusual conditions
| Of temperature. and the crowds OF people that
elected to spend their holiday in the country
| instead Of crowding theatres and peep shows
| in town showed plainly that there we're many
| who appreciated Il. II did certainly seem
| rather odd to be playing lawn tonnls and
| golf in the open air In costumes not very
much heavier than are worn In summer. In
stead Of crashing down on toboRgans or SKIM
ming over the Ice on skates.
An English lady who spent the holiday
season here last year. and, as che said, had
her breath frozen on her lips every time
she yentured out OF doors, remarked as she
| strolled down Broadway on Christmas eve and
gazed through the open doors OF confec-
TONERS shops, where women stood ten
deep, reRaling themselves with ice-cream
soda water mo wonder" she remarked.
that you are people OF such diversified re-
whlms. and fancies; so restless and mercurisl,
go interesting by reason OF your active brains.
and the r-changin ing thoughts that are born
Of them. Monotony 10 q word that should DO
left out Of your dictionaries. II has no place In
your lives or in your experienced"
The prospects are not very much better for
New Year diversions. as more mud than snow
il reporte1 Oh Berkshire roads. and the we'd
ding party at Lenox tomorrow are hardly
al 70 anio tha nj driving 70
in sleigha Neither will there be ice-bost con-
tssts at Tuxedo or on the Hudson. and the
typical New Year cheer Of whiskey punches
and egaroa will hardly be as much In ro-
quest as iocs and le1nonades.
The Rayctles OF the week have not been ex-
citing. Christmas trees, family parties. and
small dinner dances at Mrs frederic Gala
tins and Mrs Arson Phelps stVkes's. with one
wedding and Mrs. Paran stevens's musicale
on Thursday. are nearly all there are to mem
ton. nuptial mass at the wedding Of Mr..
Louis Joseph Sands and Miss Faye on We'd
nesday delighted tho vast congregation as
sembled at st Francis Xavier's Church to Wit
ness the marriage. There has hardly bcen as
prstty a wedding In New York this winter.
the glitter OF the ceremonial and the ease
with which tho bridal party lent themselves
to the frequent changes OF position. notwith-
standing the lcngth Of tho service. having
created quito new interest
On Tuesday afternoon Mr.. James Lawrence
Breese gave the first Of his receptions. which
are to he continued through the winter at his
Photographic studio In Twenty-third street.
Mr.. Breese has adopted photography asa pro-
fession. and has some very artistic reproduce
tions Of celebrated paintings on the walls OF
the two handsome rooms devoted to his art. He
has also many OF New York's most beautiful wo-
men In his collection. among them Mrs. Pres
colt Lawrence. Mrs. Carley Havemeyer. Mira.
Roche. Miss Amy Bend. and Miss Cora Ran
dolph. The new process. however. which IL
known as carbontype, and which produces the
In various shades Of blue, 10
found to be more effective for tho reproduce
ton OF oil paintings than for likenessea
On Tuesday Nine. Cslv9 was the guest OF
honor at Mr.. Breese's tea and was introduced !
TO many Of the ladies' present. The pnmat
donna looked very chic In Q costume OF dark
velvet and satin. with o very fetching little 4
bonnet on her head. After Nine. Calv5 general
interest centred In Mrs. William Lawrence
Breese and her ianoe. Mr. Henry Vincent Hig-
gins. whose engagement has heen recently an
nounced. Mrs Breess looked extremely pretty
and received the congratulations OF her friends
most gracefully. Her fiance Is an English bar
rister. and Is perhaps best known as the hus-
band OF Lady Hilda Higgins. who was the
daughter OF an Earl and the granddaughter OF
a Marquis. Lady Hlda paid several visits to
this country. and was well known both here
and In Newport Her death occurred In Paris
about year since.
Two of the most celebrated amateur VOCAL
lists OF twenty years ago are now In this ooun-
try-Miss Fanny Reed and Mrs. Ronalds Miss
Reed delighted small audience at her sisters
house on Thursday afternoon and sang with
all her old sweetness and expression. NJ.
Plancon also gave some delightful French
songs. and Mr.. Blspham OF Philadelphia sang
irish ballads with great effect The entertain
m ent was in honor OF Nine. Bischonsheim OF
Paris. and 1t was to be regretted that so few
Of Mrs Steyens's friends were invited.
The city was half depopulAtsd yesterday By
The general departures for country parties.
Besides the Lenox contingent whose name
was legion. Tuxedo. New London. and the
country clubs have swallowed up q great
many. At Tuxedo. tonight. there will be the I
usual New Years eve jolllfcAtion. and the
'retty club house will wear its brightessi
mile to welcome members and their friends.
hrs. Ronalds. who has heen an absentee for ]
% many years. has left her pretty home In |
'adogan place. London. where her soiroes
nd musieales are among tho smartest of the
eason. to visit her sons at heir Tuxedo home
nd Will probably take part In all the festivities
largo party from among the Paquot colony
ave gone to the Casino at New London to
Ielcome the New Year Several cottages have
cen opened anu there Will be dinners.
ances' and every variety Of sport that the OK
alations whizzlng in the air" may decree.
Tho first important function OF the New
ear will DO the Charity ball on Wednesday,
10 3D. The very name suggests In these
ard times the duty OF the rich to do what
icy can by the purchase OF boxes and ticksta
nd By their personal presence at the ball. to
AXE It as completely successful as II has
zen In previous years. Last January large
AN was Melted for the helpless babies. aud
lis year 1t should not fall behind in view
the increased demands upon the institu-
on for the shelter OF infants whose mothers
% unable TO provide for them. The ball will
opened by Mr.. Edward Cooper. and the
Club will turn out IN force.
Ono OF the largest receptions OF the season
III be that given BY Mrs. J. HAmpden Robb
1t Thursday. Mrs Robb has been yery
UGH out OF the gay world OF late years but