The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-02-27

~ W h4a-fl&E HlGfluSa social dandy 10
IN the lower animals is a far cry.
AN But members OF the exclusive
NNc)A set of New York have made a
pronounced hit by assuming
characters that belong 10 this much re-
moved order Of being. The cat ball may
be regarded IS ! function that has come
20 stay in New York society. /, Is one
OF the most unique and interesting con-
eeits that has yet made its appearance
among the body OF people whose chief
pleasure il is 10 think up original plans
for making time fly faster
The cat ball IS composed. as its title
suggests, OF felines. The costumers of
New York were recently besieged with
applications for costumes that would en-
able the wearer to assume the character
OF the cat. The supply was not equal to
the demand, and IL was therefore necess-
sary 10 call in the assistance OF the max
ers of fancy dominos. These responded
10 the appeal by supplying a number of
masks that fitted over the head OF the
wearer. giving him or her all the appear
ance of "a tom or tahby cat clothed in a
dress suit or wearing a Worth costume.
Thus appareled and disguised the guests
assembled on the night mentioned in the
invitation and kept up cat reVei that
was voted by all 10 he the most successful
affair that has been given in New York
society this season. The Identity of every
guest was Well concealed. 1t was impos-
sible 10 distinguish in the cat-headed
dancers an aged beau from a beardless
youth. and whose features We're concealed
behind the smiling smirk of a smooth
faced tabby cat no one could guess
The affair was given at the house of
Mrs. Heber Bishop. No. SS Fifth avenue.
On the floor were 115 members OF the
smart set disguised as cats. Everything
was made TO harmonze with the general
idea. The more kittenish were the actions
of the women. the greater the interest
they excited among the jewellers. \ snari-
ing display on the part of a tom met with
applause, and any one who could initiate
the feline language with sufficient skill
TO give a life-like imitation OF a midnight
concert on the roof was sure TO be sur
rounded by a crowd of cheering maskers.
1t was known only to the initiated that
behind the bewhiskered countenance of
white and black tom cat reposed the smil-
ing face of the irrepressihle Willie X.
Vanderbilt. Mrs. Ogden Mills. disguised
as q gray tabby. moved among the mask
ers with grace that almost betrayed her.
Mrs. Henry Sloane appeared in the guse
OF a well-fed black cat. and managed 10
keep her identity Il secret until late in
the evening when the heat of the room
becoming too great for her. she was conf
PEELED to remove the cumbrous headgear.
Miss Evelyn Burden made 4 most charm
ing white tabby with little spots Of black
here and there, while Mr.. Abram Hewitt,
ornamented with a ferociOs pair of fe-
line whiskers. moved among the maskers
with tread that was very different from
that of the soft walk of the animal he
represented.
There were cat families as well as indi-
vdual cats. Mr.. and Mrs. Abram ;. Hew-
lit In the guise OF the parent cats. We're
followed by the Misses Hewitt engagingly
gotten up as two kittens. Mr.. and Mrs.
James l.. Breese were the center Of a Sc
lect party OF mouse chasers. while the
tall form of John Jacob Aston. unmistak-
able i'm spite OF the fact that where his
face usually appears there grinned the
tigerish head of large and spi;eful look
ing gray cat was followed wherever he
went by the form OF Worthington White
house who had improved on nature by
GROWING himself with the head of cat
possessed of enormous ears that gave him