New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-15
PRICE THREE CENTS.
SOCIETY GREETS THE HORSE
THE ANNUAL SHOW OPENED.
A BRILLIANT GATHERING AND SPLEN-
DID EXHIBITION.

FASHIONABLE PEOPLE GATHER ~ FORCE IN THE
GARDEN-soME or THOSE IN THE BONES
AWARDS MADE IN TIE VARIOUS
CLAssEs-THE PROGRAMME
FOR TO-DAY
once more the horse. He made his four
teenth annual appearance before the New-York
public last evening at the OF his many
trumphs, Madison Square Garden. The recep-
ton OF his performance was such to warrant
the belief that he will play to large and select
houses during the balance Of his six-day
gagement. The piece in which he appeared last
night was not one o: striking novelty. In fact.
1t strikingly reminiscent ot his previous
productions upon the same stage. but his
peated success again gives force 70 the relec-
tion that there are things besides new things.
The plot was the same old welcome one. just
a few changes at the hands Of the stage man
ager. perhaps, but not enough TO offend and
just enough to vary pleasingy the story
The play OF the horse is polite comedy. II
has TO villain. but for all Of its comedy IL has
plenty OF horse play This blending Of two ele-
ments so generally regarded as rreconcilabe is
one Of its strong points. Another strong point
is that in the support Of tn star actor appears
{ good part of the audience. Society has always
been cast for good paris in the comedy of the
horse. and this years production is 10 excep-
/ ton. So strong the parts played by society
that there have been critics who have seriously
questioned the supremacy Il the equine But
let that pass His name appears in big type on
the bills anyhow.
TYPICAL FIRST NIGHT.
The Horse Shows first night was a typical
Horse Show first night both in quality and in
bo, ba ,ft, .a Oft fho oh
servers and the observed In the early morning
hours the promenade was given over entirely to
the railbirds the really horSey who came then
the better to inspect the fine points Of the
animals at their exercise. In the afternoon
things began t. take something more nearly
Ike the Horse Show atmosphere. for. strange to
say. the real Horse Show atmosphere is not con-
tributed by the horsey. Far from it, Exhibitors
and their friends made up the bulk Of the after
noon attendance which was If anything. little
lighter than usual
Society proper however. represented In
/ the post-luncheon period. and many Of those
who entered the Garden spent part of their
time below stairs in the stables. which. how
ever will become much stronger in their at
fractions as the show proceeds and the blue.
led. yellow and white ribbons begin 10 ac-
cunulate by the stalls OF the various winners
| horses. which not rule. stabbed in tho
Garden. but the out town representatives will
get their There good horses outside
OF NewYork although the omnipresent Fatty
Bates declines TO let them stay there II ne can
help Il.
Time and again have pessmstic persons
arisen. when the annual Horse Show announce
ments were beginning to be made. to prophesy
the impending decline Of the Horse Show How
long will the show last said these unpleasant
persons. when fashionable folk begin 10 tire
OF II? Not while you can crack A whip. And
society has tired OF IT, You'll see. They al
ways DO tire OF things It's a fad, this Horse
Show Society uill drop f. soon" But II it IL
a fad society has kept right on encouraging
it until the Horse Show habit has become we'll
nigh as chronic with the fashionable world a.
with others
The same atmosphere hangs about the show
this year. Last night at o'clock when the
saddle horses came 10 make their initial
bows they cavorted 10 wellrigh empty boxes
and rows Of staring seats Not long after that
carriages began 10 drive up to the Madison ave.
entrance Of the Garden. Tine throng increased
nomentarily. and at O'Clock the line Of car
riages extended for blocks in each direction.
The air full OF the swish Of skirts their
wearcrs alightel and entered the big doors, the
clag Of the horCos' hoofs on the pavements the
cries OF coachmen and cab drivers. not always
too polite, they Iuarrelled with each other
over precedence and position The crowd was
increased 10 an uncomfortable extent by the
multitude that came not for the Horse Show.
but Mansfelds production Of "Cyrano de
Bergerac" under the same roof.
IT'S GLORY NOT GONE.
The evenings programme was half-competed
before the Horse Show could be said really 10
have got under full headWay. little before
~ o'clock however even the most fastidious
old-timer had to ackno~ ledge hat the glory had
not departed from the function that has for
years opened the social season IN New-York.
but was still doing a large business at its ac-
customed stand. Society present. There
was no doubt about it, II is this year showing
the same aversion it manifested last year to the
occupancy 81 the boxes There has been 50
much complaint about the rudeness with which
hundreds OF people have ogled those who sat
above them in the boxes that many people have
taken to contening themselves with prom
enade ana have then Obscured themselves from
the gaze Of the multitude efectually as pos
sible In the plain and unadorned and unob-
trusive arena boxes. This practice is being fol-
lowed this yea, to extent. but there is still
no lack Of sights for the sightseer.
During the big hour OF the show last night
the AFFAIR had much the appearance of re-
urion. Many people greeted friends and ac-
quaintances whom they had not seen since last
winter or this summer. In some Of the boxes
miniature receptions were held. and FOR a time
the performers in the tanbark ring got scant al
tcntion. There appeared to be four distinct
layers OF humanity in the big Garden. First
came The railbirds. They came early. secured
a mortgage the rail- got out their pro-
grammes and pencils and stayed there until the
last iump. Next % them came the ever moving