The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-01

dances which, at that time existed, per-
sens who were practically not entitled
to that distinction. For some years
these functions fulfilled admirably the
purpose for which they had been or
ganized. The three dances given every
year were as perfect in appointments
and detail as they were representative
of most that was exclusive in the So
cial lie OF the city. But it became
evident several years ago that there
was not the same interest felt IN the
balls. The attendance was not so good,
and their spirit was much less enthu-
siastic than at the beginning OF their
existence. After a while entertainments
We're given without hesitation on the
Thursdays set aside for the assemblies.
Long before the Patriarchs came TO
an end, said a man who has known
New York society for many years,
subscribers began to find that the de-
mand for tickets was not so active as
IL had formerly been, so, in send1nS
out their cards toward the close of the
'Patriarchs' career, they were cofnpeh-
ed TO send them 10 persons likely to ac-
cept; otherwise the rooms would have
been empty. That necessarily made
the gathering less exclusive than for
merry. But in those days social cond1-
tons were different from what they are
today. In the first place, wealth was
not nearly so general, and the large for
tunes represented in New York today
were not nearly so numerous. Homes
were smaller and the way of life 50
much less elaborate that few houses
had bathrooms. Ten years ago the num-
Der of bathrooms in New York was
very much smaller than it is today. 1t
was impossible to make balls given in
public places as exclusive as those that
are given now in the great private
houses here that are supplied with ball
rooms. There are enough of these now
to ensure certain number of balls of
this kind every winter. AS the per-
sons who are asked to these are the
same as would be asked to such a gath
ering as the Assemblies. there is no
reason why the subscription dances
should be kept up. Society gets what
it wants in these private houses.
Another thing which should be
taken into consideration is the growth
in New York society. The sets of sub
scription dances that might be organ
lied now would scarcely be large
enough to hold the persons who are en-
titled to belong to them. L do not
mean by that merely persons of very
old families or of established po-
sition here, but | mean as well that
new and important branch of society
made UP of persons who have money
and can entertain and make their
houses attractive. They are the kind
for whom society is open today, and
they gradually are coming to form a
larger and more important part of it,.
A great many of these people have
come into notice within the past few
years, and a place has to be found for
them. There was no delay in doing
that when they We're we'll bred and
attractive and had money enough to
spend to amuse society. Persons would
prefer to go to private balls in fine
houses rather than to subscription balls
given at hotels or restaurants. The
women who managed these large sub
scription dances came to feel them
selves that it was unnecessary trouble,
so long as there We're private dances
enough given at handsome residences
20 supply as many as they cared to go
to during a season. So the result has
been that the assemblies have gone the
way of the Patriarchs. and are to be
known nc more. 1t is extremely doubt
ful if any such elaborate subscription
dances will ever be attempted again
in New York. Society is zoo large for
them; there are dances enough without
the money and trouble involved. and
the number of bathrooms in private
houses is growing larger every day
While society may grow larger in
numbers" was the reply the particu-
lar set which forms the nucleus of So
ciety grows large enough to be a set
in itself. After a. while these few come
to represent society in the most exclu-
SiVe sense. and we have the astounding
paradox of part that is larger than
the whole. But it is this part, with its
great wealth, its superb and elaborate
establishments, it's private bathrooms.
that represents society. 1t would rather
give its own dances than go to those
held in public places, and invitations to
those houses are valued far more than
cards to any subscription balls. So the
latter came to an end. and we shall
witness them in the future, probably,
as charitable affairs only"