The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-01-05
sOcIETY's NEW GEAR.
Ward McAlIister's Mantle Has Fallen
on BayIfes.
From the New york Advertiser.

From the New York Advertiser.
For two months after the death Of
Mr.. Ward McAllister all the social sages
in town brought all their powers of divina-
ton to bear in trying to find a successor
for the sO-called car of polite society
The prohphets sifted society in their de-
sire to find the chosen one, but their ef-
forts were futile. The social sages We're
not able to find their man. There seemed
to be no one in all New York fashionable
socity who had the disposition or quail
ittcations to become the moving spirit
Ward McAlliSter had been for twenty
five years. There We're plenty of persons
who are professional adopts in arrangine
and managing fashionable dances and So
cial functions, but Ward McAllister seem
ed to be the only member of New York 3
social world who in general assumed to
manage the affairs of society.
The contracts for the balls of each win
ter season had been left entirely to him.
and it has been said that some Of the pa
triarchs knew less about the prelmin-
aries of their dances than their guests.
so exclusively had Mr.. McAllster the
control. AS probable successor of Mr..
McAllister as general manager of the
patriarchs, Messrs. Matthew Astor Wilks
Charles Lanier, Col. S. V. r. Cruger
James Abercrombie Burden, l. Townsend
Burden and John Alsop King were named
The prophets went wide of their marx
as none of them mentioned the man upon
whose shoulders has fallen the mantle Of
Mr. McAllister-Mr. Edmund l.. Baylies
The appointment of a sponsor for the
patriarchs from among their number was
not accompanied with an invitation or
ceremony The sponsor must first of all
be willing to serve, the duties are num-
erOus and arduous, and then he must have
proper appreciation of what constitutes
a dancing list for the patriarchs. All "ob-
jectionable persons" must be ruled out,
and it is the duty of the sponsor to judge
as to the eligibility of the guests. These
duties have fallen to a large extent upon
Mr. Baylies Most of the tickets left for
distribution by absent patriarchs were
sent by MIR. Baylies. Nearly all of the
patriarchS issued their own invitations
for the first dance on Monday evening,
and they did not send their lists of guests
to Mr.. Baylies, as they had to Mr.. Meal
lister on former occasions. Mr.. Baylies
did not give out any information about
the ball, as Mr.. McAllister has been ac-
customed to do. He of necessity con-
suited Mr.. Garnier,l Delmonicos indefa-
tigable manager, but he did not have a
personal interview with NJ. Ranhofer, the
chef, over the menu for the supper, as
Mr. McAllster had done for years. The
sponsor or honorary secretary of the pa
triarchs, is therefore a modification or
that held by the founder of the organiza-
ton. During his latter years the public
had claimed Mr. McAllister as it's own
He was written about; made the sub
ject of cartoons, and ridiculed on the
stage, and Mr.. Baylies, as the successor
of Ward McAllister, becomes almost a
public character.
Under the new regime of Mr.. Edmund
L. Baylies, backed by the ball commit
tee including Messrs. I. Townsend Bur-
den, James Abercrombie Burden, G. G..
Haven, August Belmont and the memora-
BILE Mr. Remsen the dances of TIE Patri-
archs will not be carried on Oh the basis
laid down by Mr.. McAllister. The word
exclusive will be more clearly defined in
the new vocabulary of the organization.
Mr. Baylies will make a fine manager.
He is one of the most successful lawyers
at the New York bar, and he is a man
of many accomplishments. His clubs are
the Knickerbocker and the University.
Mrs Baylies, who is accredited with beng
the best waltzer in polite society, comes
of the ancient and honorable family OF
ing and generous hostess Her drawing
rooms are much sought. Few women in
New York wear more exquisite gowns
than Mrs Baylies. She understands the
art of dressing, and although she always
wears the most chic gowns she is never
remembered for the dress she wears.
1t is to be hoped that none OF the cares
that beset Mr.. McAllister will fall to the
lot of Mr.. Baylies. More diplomacy is re-
oIired in making out the invitation list
for the most exclusive set in polite So
cietv than many statesmen can boast of.
Mr. MeAuister once said: Il little knew
what I was undertaking when 1 organ
lied these great dances. From the giving
If the first, at a private house, l had
no peace at home or abroad. i was as
sailed on all sides; became in a sense
dfnlomat: committed myself to nothing;
nromised much and performed as little
as possible. l saw at once the rock on
which we must split; that the pressure
would be so great to get in no one could
roo general and that in the end the
smart set would give up going TO them.
knew that when this occurred they were
doomed