The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-03-19
G0THAM's SOCIETY RRvELs.


ID
Spokane Chronicle gives the follow-,
ing interesting account of an unique
social function recently given in
that city in which the exclusive
seventy-fve were participants:
From be-diamonded social dan
DIV to the lower animals is far cry.
But members ufatheexclusive set of
New York have made pronounced
hit by assuming characters that be-
long to this much removed order Of
being. The cat ball may be regarded
as function that has come to stay
in New York society. 1t is one of
the most unique and interesting
conceits that has yet made its APP
pearancs among the body Of people
whose chief pleasure is to think up
original plans for making time fly
faster.
The cat ball is composed, as its
title suggests, of felines. The cos
tuners of New York were recently
beseiged with applications for cos
TUNES that would enable the wearer
to assume the character of the cat.
The supply was not equal to the
demand, and it was therefore neces-
sary to call in the assistance of the
makers of fancy dominos. These re-
sponded to the appeal by supplying
q number of masks that fitted over
the head of the wearer, giving him
or her all the appearance of a tom
or tabby cat clothed in dress suit
or wearing Worth costume.
Thus appareled and disguised the
guests assembled on the night men,
toned in the invitation, and kept up
cat revel that was voted by all to
be the most successful affair that
has been given in New York society
this season. The identity of every
guest was we'll concealed. It was
impossible to distinguish in the cat
headed dancers an aged beau from
a beardless youth, and whose feat
ures were concealed behind the
smiling smirk of a smooth-faced
tabby cat no one could guess.
The affair was given al the house
of Mrs. Heber Bishop, No. 8S1 Fifth
avenue. On the floor were IT'S men,
bers of the smart set disguised as
cats. Everything was made to har-
monte with the general idea. The
more kittenish were the actions of
the women, the greater the interest
they excited among the jewellers. A
snarling display on the part of tom
met with applause, and any one who
could initiate the feline language
with sufficient skill to give life
like imitation of midnight concert
on a roof was sure to be surrounded
by a crowd of cheering maskers.
1t was known only to the initiated
that behind the bewhiskered coun-
tenance of white and black tom
cat reposed the smiling face of the
irrepressible Willie K. Vanderbilt.
Mrs. Ogden Mills, disguised as a
gray tabby, moved among the mask
ers with a grace that almost be-
trayed her. Mrs. Henry Sloane
appeared in the guise of a well-fed
coal black cat, and managed to keep
her identity a secret until late in
the evening, when the heat of the
room becoming too great for her she
was compelled to remove the cum.
brous headgear. Miss Evelyn Bur-
den made a most charming white
tabby with little spots of black here
and there, while Mr.. Abram Hewitt
ornamented with ferocious pair of
feline wbiskers, moved among the
maskers with a tread that was very
different from that of the soft walk
of the animal he represented.
There were cat families as we'll as
individual cats. Mr.. and Mrs.
Abram S. Hewitt, in the guise of
the parent cats, were followed by
the Misses Hewitt engagingly gotten
up as two kittens. Mr.. and Mrs.
James L. Breese were the center of
select party of mouse chasers,
while the tall form of John Jacob
Astor, unmistakable in spite of the
fact that where his face usually
appears there grinned the tigerish
head of large and spiteful looking
cat, was followed closely wherever
he went by the form of Worthington
Whitehouse, who had improved on
nature by browning himself with
the head of cat possessed of enor-
nous ears that gave him the appear
ance of being a cross between a cat
and a mule.
Had not Mrs. Henry Sloane worn
the diamonds that are Enthusiastically
hers she might have been effectually
disguised in her cat headgear, but
as it was she was greeted by name
from behind various masks in the
course Of the evening. Mrs. Stuy-
vesant Fish was also recognized
early in the revel on account of GER
tain characteristics that are pecu-
liarly hers, and was forced to ac-
knowledge her identity from behind
a mask that represented her to be
a white cat of languishing appear.
ance and delicate jowls.
When the revelry was at its height