The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-11-22

ibis Is an G"rpro1lmaic eStlfiate Oh tue
cost OF Vanity Fair In New York-more
han 81, 600. 600.
Society places itself on show In Madison
Square Garden and expcnds d kings ran
som In doing It. This takes no account
either Of the immense amount Of money
that Is spent on the horses that are gath
cred from all parts Of the country for the
annual horse show competition, no modest
figure In itsolf.
Tho Duchess Of Marlborough on her first
appearance at tho show wore n costume
that had been made specially for the occa-
sion. The proprietress OF a fashionable
dressmaking establishment In Fifth av-
enue who saw it said that IL could not
have cost less than $500.
Her mother, Mrs. w. X. Vanderbilt,
who was present on the opening night,
wore n gown Of old rose velvet and satin,
trimmed with Lace, M with bonnet to
match. Like that OF her daughter, IL was a
creation for horse show purposes only, and
was onc OF several which she had made,
for although she appeared on several occa-
sions subsequently she was always in a
different costume. Five hundred dollars
Is a low estimate for such garments in
these end Of the century days OF dressmak-
ing.
In the table above, which was prepared
by q well known modesto, a recognized
authority on such matters, the figures are
most conservative. When IL is estimated
that ten women expended a., 900 each In
their special preparations for tho show, IL
IL probable that there were really double
that number, and that some Of them, seek
ing exceptional brilliancy in Vanity Fair,
were not content with the expenditure Of
less than twice that AMOUNT.
Less than 1900 women are included in
the table, no account being taken OF the
other thousands whose expenditures for
the horse show. though specific, were COM
paratively trivial. With these taken in
also the total might have been increased
by from SEQ, 600 TO $50, 900.
Masculine frills are OF course not so ex-
pensive as those of the women, but their
cost forms 10 u%nimportant part in the ex-
pensc OF Vanity Fair. The tailor and the
halter would have good cause for regret IL
the annual horse show were TO be discon-
tinued. While the women spent upward
Of $500, 900 in preparations for the show
the men were content with a quarter of
that expenditure.
Charlie Bates, best known as Fatty"
wore an average of three suits q day, and
there were many more like him. Willie
Doerr imported whole trunkfuls of clothes
especially made for the occasion.
Horse show trousors are differant in
many respects from those of ordinary life
and have TO be provided. Horse show hats
are as different from the ordinary style as
are the tiles of our granddaddies. Bates
hats were made from a special block, and
after the first day there was q rush of the
knowing ones TO get something as near
like them as possible.
The Broadway florists estimate that they
sold flowers for the horse show alone TO
the amount of more than $40, 900. The
women of Vanity Fair will use only those
that are the most expensive, and dollars do
not go worry far In purchasing rare blooms.
Ten thousand dollars for special cab and
carriage hire is said by the man in charge
at the Garden To be a moderate estimate.
Visitors came from all parts of the eetf,-
try, II as they had to vie with New
York's wealthiest set tho cost of their
transportation and their maintenance mt
the most expensive hotels cannot be esti-
mated Mt less tban $50, 900 for the week.
Five thousand of those that attended the
horse show, 1t Is said, came from out of
town, some from nearby places, Others
from Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore,
Washington and as far west as Chicago.
The box Office receipts are estimated at
$50, 900, of which upward of 800, 900 will
be clear profit.
For dinners and luncheons the hotels
and restaurants received not less than
500, 600 during tho six days of the show,
and 800, 900 Is thought TO he n modest es-
innate for incidentals. As a sample Of
this IL Is known hat the cigar stand mt
the Hotel Waldorf tool in 5000 In a single
evening during the week.-New York