New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-14
MRS. DE BATTLES TEA.
LARGE CROWD AT sHERRY's CONTRIB
UTEs MONEY FOR THE HOSPITAL
SHIP MAINE

Mrs Hugo De Battle, known on the stage and
formerly known in private life Mrs. Langtry
was the organizer of affair Sherrys yesterday
- -as called the chantant. That is French
for singing tea. The phrase does not refer to the
cheerful and homely sound of the singing of tea
kettle, but means simply that you drink tea, II
you are rich, and can hear singing. if you
lucky. 1t was considerable financial success
In the course of the proceedings Mrs De Battle
recited Rudyard Kiplings poem. THE Absent
Minded Beggar,' and there seemed to be an i'm
plication that the whole affair in some way for
the benefit of the absent-minded beggar but it
would have proved bad place for any absent
minded beggar to be- Even a rich man had to
keep his wits about him, for the affair did be-
gin till the close of banking hours and anybody
who had occasion to use money elsewhere before
morning in danger. 1t was altogether adj
visable for man, whenever he a
ing toward him. to look the other way, and even to
go the other way, if he had sea room. Programmes
sold at S. anything that anybody wanted
to pay; small boxes of bon-bons were so cents. or
anything that anybody wanted to pay; all drinks
the American bar retaied at 80 cents, any
thing that anybody wanted to pay, and the pacard
said: Tips are allowed and expected; flowers
sold for anything that anybody wanted to pay. The
prices of and the other things sold in the same
Those who came up in the elevator were con
fronted first by young man on aandsone race aad
at chest weights and took orders for them. Behind
him, in a set apart for the purpose, was the
net into which the unwary lured by the pros
pect of tea over opposite was the American bar,
already referred to. The Earl of Yarmouth and
some other young men served as walters. and
played the part well. The mixers of drinks were
professionals, luckily for those who gave up their
half dollars for them There had been suggestion
of barmaids, but the Women's Christian Temper
ance Union had made complaint to Chief Devery,
and Inspector Harley, with some detectives, went
TO the tea and got promise that nothing Of that
kind would be attempted.
The concert went on in the large ballroom, and
numerous entertainers of more less prominence
appeared. A good deal of their efforts lost,
however, account of the size of the crowd and
the noise on the outer edges of 1t.
The tea served by Mrs. De Battle, Miss Edna
May, Miss Maxine Elliott Mrs. FaVersham, Miss
Anna Held Miss Anna Robinson and others Mrs.
Weber Parker, of Mamaroneck, had pair of
Great Dane puppies, which she called dogs of war
and raff1ed off at the rate of SIS a chance. At the
close of the tea Mrs. Parker announced that fifty
chances had been sold
The crowd was a large one, and included many
represented, and among others present were Mrs.
Oliver Hartman. jr. Mrs. John R. Drexel. Mrs.
Hermann Oelrichs Mrs Jordan L. Mott jr Mrs.
Ferdinand Wilmerdng Sir Edward and Lady Cole
brooke Mrs. Charles Stuart Dodge, Mrs. Egerton
Winthrop, jr., Mrs. Victor Sorchan, Creighton
Webb, Mrs. H. Winthrop Gray, Mrs. Frederick
Edey, Mrs. H L. Burnett. Mrs Sydney Smith, f.
y. Taylor Mrs George De Forrest, Mr.. and Mrs.
A. D. Shaw, Mrs. Ct. Abbott Stevens Mrs. Sydney
Harris, Mr.. and Mrs Pendleton, Mrs. Walter Wat
son. jr, and W. Hude Nelson
Last evening receipts amounting to about $500
had been accounted for. and the returns were not
quite all in.