The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-23
HONEY LIKE WATER.
BRADLEY MARTINS TO GIVE THE
GREATEST BALL ON RECORD.

VIII Eclipse the Famous Vanderbilt Funo-
tion Of 1sS3--Aimost the Whole Waldorf
Hotel VIII BE Used-Belmont War stiiI
Agftsting New York Society.
Plans have been completed for the
greatest private ball ever given in a
public place. 1t will be that of Mr.. and
Mrs. Bradley Martin the night of Feb.
10 at the Waldorf hotel in New York.
Mrs Bradley Martin will receive her
guests in the small ballroom. The dane
ing will be confined to the new big ball
room at the western end of the hotel
Though no choice Of cotillon leader
has yet been made, the impression is
that Lispenard Stewart will probably
be asked.
There is still an uncertainty as to the
coming over of the Earl and Count
ess Of Craven, the son-in-law and
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs Bradley Mar
tin. They will, II they come, arrive in
time for the ball. The floral decora-
tions. it is intimated. will exceed any
yet seen ON this side Of the water, and
there will be no such thing as price
limit.
Almost the whole Of the large hotel
is to be thrown open for the entertain
ment. This is no more than was to be
expected of Mr.. and Mrs. Martin, whose
hospitality is always Of the most lavish
description. That ball will be the most
splendid thing Of the kind New York
ever has seen, not excepting the famous
Vanderbilt ball of 1888. Advances have
been madesince that time, and, although
In detail the Waldorf may lack some Of
the splendor of the house at Fifty sec
ond street, yet in space and other essen
tials it affords far more favorable the
ater for such a show.
This season Is becoming particularly
famous for the elaborate private balls in
New York Each year, for several sea-
sons, certain coterie Of leaders in So
ciety has given small dances for the
members of that set, and the dances are
being continued this year In addition
balls have been given at the Astor and
Sloane mansions, and others will be given
by Commodore and Mrs. Elbridge T.
Gerry and Mr.. and Mrs. John Jacob
Astor
How bitterly the Belmont war is be-
ing waged may be judged from the fact
that man went to the various newspa-
per offices the other afternoon for the
express purpose of stating Mrs. Oliver
n. p. Belmont would not be present at
the entertainment given by Mrs. Ogden
Mills that night. Possibly if "the Lady
Alva" had known of this proceeding
she would have sent out a courier to
make the same announcement, for she
is no more anxious TO mingle with what
Is known as the Perry Belmont faction
than that faction is to have her. The
incident is part OF as pretty fight as
society has had for long time.
Mrs. Jack Astor is generally accredit-
ed with being part and parcel of the
circle within the circle that Mrs. Mills,
Mrs. Sloane and Perry Belmont have
formed The presence of Mrs. Oliver
Belmont at the elder Mrs. Astor's ball
is explained by the know it alls on the
ground Mrs Astor was so offended at
the attitude of the Vanderbilt family
toward young Neely's marriage to
Grace Wilson, her son-in-law's sister,
that she sent invitations to the woman
who divorced Willie X. Vanderbilt
But Mrs. Oliver Belmont has hosts
Of friends, and it looks as though she
were gaining ground. Her special cham
pion is Mrs. James p. Kernochan, an
ardent friend and formidable adversary.
1t is said she refused an introduction to
a young man because he had been SO in
discreet as to offer some petty criticism
of Mrs Belmont. New York Cor. Chi.
cago Tribune.