Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-12-11


THE ASToR BOX.
side, and 80 the dninitiatcd outsider who
wants to get n coed. steady view of the
leader of New York society or 'thc
handsomcst woman In America, " or the
greatest hciress.' has nothing to do but
refer tn his programme, level his glass and
view her all he may care to between the
acts.
As for society itself. it likes to focus each
other quite as dctcrmincdly rs IL gets TO
cuscd from below and above. where elsa
but ut the opera can n male admirCr dec
orously scrutinize n woman. and that,
too. with n microscopic glass. which shows
alike the prctticst dimplc or finest wrinkle!
And what n vantage ground for the wom-
en- in the case Of cash other who can't
have one half fine n range or length Of
view In thr crowded bathrooms which fol-
low through the season All. the Metro
politan Opera House IS close quarters for
criticism and makes or hrvaks full many
n beauty rccord! It's the greatest art show
of the year. It's the greatest society show
rs well, and society does not quarrel with
the idea.
Take gala night at the opera. \ night
Is gala by reason of favorite singers,
Not great music. not always great art, 20
TO make Gala night. II the music only
be popular and the magic Of n few favoritc
names I've in the cast, society won't stop
to do much art criticism. The finest
operas. the best presentations with the
most equal of casts. society often ignOrsss
or votes n bore.
But when it turns out In force ON n gala
night, sprinkl,d. too, as il always Is. by the
handsomcst and most prominent women
from other cities, there il not n brrak in
fhfs snfnuHnr usrf n uf-hsa xGharts SsSxxKsfS
might be. from which jewels do not flash,
and "a everything Is pleasure and excite
ment the smiles and the jewels flash to-
gcthcr.
Straight opposite each other. the first
In box d 10 the right, the second in box
to tho left ON the first tier. sit the W. X.
Nanderhilts and the Astors. The elder
Mrs. Astor always lends n pr,stige tn the
circle Her gown Is dark velvet usually
this year. relieved 10y diamonds.
she Is getting old: she shows 1t ladly."
was the remark made by a veteran society
man ON the first night when the late
''queen of society entered her box. Her
troubles have told upon her. and. sthl
stately. she is not brilliant. as formerly.
Beside her. we'll To the front, sits young
Mrs. Jack. She makes n brilliant fig
ure of youth and splendor, not strictly
beauty. She is crowned with n diamond
tiara. her CorsagC is fairly ablazc with
diamonds, and she carries herself like n
youthful princess. Her attraction consists
in delicate oval outline with faultIeSs com
plexion. dusky black hair, drawn hack
temperatures, and n tall. sveltc. lissom
figure. All that may be said to the contrary.
she Is only pretty without special distinc-
tion of feature Just now getting out OF
mourning for her sistcr-inlaw. Mrs,
Roosevelt, the delicate mauvcs and laycn-
ders, whites and grays, With the perInissi-
BILE touch of court crimson, suit her
dainty style admirably. IL Is thoroughly
refined type.
Poor Miss Wanda rbiIt.
Very different is that of the much talked
of coming out heircss, Miss COnsuclO Van
dcrbilt who sits modestly beside her moth
or, Mrs. Willie n, and looks simply more
artlcss and kind hearted and timid than
any Of the hundred fine things which ar
dent newspaper scrihes insist upon max
ing her. She Is simply g"wncd. like any
quiet daughter of n quiet house, and looks
very much as though she would say IL she
could, I'm not equal to playing the part
for which the world is casting me. and
can't they let me be- she's written Of A.
| q beauty. Poor little girl. Puffrry SoCms
| TO opprcss her. for she has even fewer
| airs OF n beauty than she might legiti-
| matcly wear. Fresh culur. good dark eyes
and black hair. and prctty nearly all Is
said, except that she i dcckcd with q
charming simplicity.
One Of the most brilliant women in the
house from lady viewpoint Il Mrs. Hobart
| Chatfleld- Taylor Of Chicago. She l. young.
I a regular featured blond Of perfect color
Ing, with n slender. plant figure and dis
| tinctiy high bred air. \ really beautih
young woman Is she. with distinguished
| bearing and finished grace of manner. She
wears diamonds 10 ransom young prin-
cipality, and we'll do they become her
stately grace.
For another dazzling display OF dia-
| monds one looks To Mrs Basil Hall, who
Is always richly gowncd in admirable
| taste She is one of New Sork's genuine
music lovers. who has the artists OCCASION
| ally sing at her house and is their cordial
friend away from the stage.
Where are the other brilliant women,
| handsome and gorgeous both? They ne
| present Is legion There's Mrs Henry
| Clcws, n little arrogant in tyIsc, but beau
| tiful and imposing. Thcrr's prctry young
| Mrs Oliver Isrlin, ncc Hure Goddard.
with her handsome husband. who raced
the Vigilant. She Is sweet and gracious
with her beauty. Young Mrs. George
/ Gould, with the same enormous brown
eyes, which can flash 81 many things and
gained her the reputation of beauty when
| Edith Kingdom with Days company
looks well, with splendid vitality, and i:
icwclcd i'm n way hcfitting the Gould cot
itcrs.
1 And, apropos of this and one Of th'
features of n big night at the opera, II
| marks as to her luck In winning Gcorg'
Gould arc rassed audihly around th'
house. This Is one Of the unique facts n
an opera gathering. Society Is on parade
and not only the set outside, but its yer,
own members, don't hesitate 10 disscct it
srd Discuss 81. and praise, hiasns or en~i