The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-24
In UPPER BOHEMIA
HOSTESSES OF NEW YORK WHO
MADE AN ART OF EN-
TERTAINMENT
ECHO OF WIT AND SPARKLE

AAtAes-neceptIOn OF the Pot
Luck Club Interesting Affairs.
N'le Oh the most popular hostesse5 who
etn' rta'ned Bohemia for may vests IN
new York was Mrs Marion Fortescue
who presided over the festivities of Pot
Luck. a club that was founded about
twenty-five years ago for social eniov-
ment, recreation and intellectual pleasure
py representative men, who little dreamed
1Hey were to hold exalted post ons in
their country's service. Chester A. Ar
thur, afterwards vice president and later
president of the United States. threw
aside all dignity and became one of the
cooks at Pot Luck gathering. Smith
Ely, mayor of New York, and Robert
Roosevelt, who at Pot Luck was affac-
tlonateiy called Uncle Robert" and the
speaker were also members Among
the other founders were Smith Lane and
the song writer, Harrison Willard
The weekly receptions of Pot Luck
were held in the spacious drawing rooms
OF Mrs. Marion Fortescue. Besides the
annual banquet there were special even
lngs, When the gentlemen served as
COOKS and the guests appeared in fancy
dress IN honor of celebrities or artists
from abroad to whom Pot Luck offered
hospitality. On other occasions ''break-
fasts" would be given. Ellen Terry and
Minnie Hauk were among the foreigners
so honored, while one to Clara Morris
was especially memorable.
At the annual banquet every member
of Pot Luck sent a donation for the table
In various designs or materials, as we'll
as fruits and flowers, which would result
In an amazing and bewiIdering menu. The
potpourri Of musical, dramatic and lit.
erary selections, mostly impromptu. We're
as delicious and astonishing as the re-
freshments; every one had to do some-
th1ng-s1ng song, tell a story, make
speech, or give a recitation This delight
Iul association terminated by many Of
the cholce spirits passing away, and the
retirement Of Mrs Fortescue after her
marriage to Uncle Robert"
The great social leader of JTpper Bo-
hem1a, however, up to a few years ago.
was Mrs. John Bigelow whose husband
mad been minister to the court of 'N4po
leon Ill for eight years, and with whom
Mrs. B1gelow established herself in Paris.
where she met the celebrities of the
world When her husbands term of Of
opening her splendid house in Gramercy
Park, to entertain and be entertained.
She had returned from Europe with some
startling innovations, such as wearing
low bodiceS and using no bonnet at the
aters or evening parties, and as she was
the only woman who appeared in evening
dress-except at the grand opera-and
who visited people in orchestra seats or
boxes between the acts, her attire seemed
a Ia ftr10C
a splendid physique and was an eccentric
but pleasing hostess.
There are many queer stories told about
the eccentricities of Mrs BIgelow, the
most noted being in connection with Ma
poleon Ill, who sent admission to his
box one evening to Mrs. Bigelow and
her party. The remarkable woman sent
her servants to occupy the box, as she
had another engagement
Mrs. Bigelow's receptions were very
select. While she preferred Bohemia
she required character as well as tai
ent, and avoided shady people. The
stage was represented by Mr.. and Mrs
Edwin Booth, Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence
Barrett, Miss Jessie Milward and others
equally prominent. Among the singers
were Florence Rice-Knox, Harrison Mil
lard, Agatha Munier, Zelie de Lussan
and many others. Special receptions
times the eccentric hostess would hem
sheets or darn stockings at her ''Wednes-
days while entertaining a foreign noble
man of distinction.
Mrs. Rhoda Mack was another hostess
who threw her doors wide open and Of
fered splendid hospitality to men and
women Of genius. She was the daugh-
ter Of Judge White, who had been one Of
President Lincoln's cabinet and Judge
Of the supreme court Of New York,
partner of the eminent lawyer, Charles
OConor, and contemporary Of James
T. Brady and Richard O'Gorman.
Mrs. Mack had a theater in her house
where many an actor actress, singer and
musician made their first appearance or
mad their first hearing on American soil.
Mrs. Mack was assisted by her mother
and sister, Lucy White, in keeping open
house. Hospitality was almost a mania
with those amiable ladies. The top floor
of the spacious mansion on Fifth ave-
nue. was fitted up like dormitory.
where forty guests from near and far
might be put up" on special occasions
when great celebrity was to be the
guest of the evening. Another coterie
would be called together to honor a
prince Of the royal blood, a statesman.
diplomat warrior or poet This splendid
hospitality ended only with the death
OF the delicate hostess, whose heart was
all love and charity.
One of the first women to found a
salon IN New York was Nine. Flamant
who had magnificent suite of apart
ments in West Twenty third street, near
the Fifth Avenue hotel, where she re-
ceived all the celebrities who came to
this country. The charming hostess
made the tea and coffee in large urns
before the guests eyes. So crowded
We're those receptions that sometimes
there was not standing room, although
M Flamant was also a splendid host,
and. like his charming wife, music
mad.
Mrs. Frank Leslie is one of the few
representatives left of the famous host
esses who made the season in New
York so delightful, although not al
ways using discrimination as to her
guests During the life Of her husband
the genial pair entertained the Emperor
Dom Pedro Of Brazil and Don Carlos |
OF Spain, when on a visit to this coun- |
try But this amiable woman was |
most popular during her engagement TO
the Marquis de Leuville, which was an |
nounced with great eclat. Her salon |
at that time could not be surpassed.
even in the great art centers of Europe.
The marquis received with her, and was
an amiable and unaffected man. IF some |
what eccentric and picturesque In ap-
pearanCe. Mrs. Leslie still entertaina |
in her beautiful rooms at Sherry's
Mrs. A. M. Palmer entertains right row |
ally up to the present time, even though
reverses Of fortune have caused tenn
porary retrenchment, owing to the losses
sustained by her husband who had to
give w WalIack'S and the Garden tho