Morris tribune., 1900-01-13
THEHoRsE SHOW.
The History of New Works Chief Society
Event.


The History of NETWORKS Chief Society
Event.
The original projectors of the Horse
Show buildad far better than they
knew when they first met and ar.
ranged for their first display in 1888.
The idea of the Horse show was frs;
developed in and among the then
comparatively small element In the
New York society world known as
"the hunting set" and whose chief
headquarters then as now were in
the saddle at Hampstead and Far
RockawaY.
The first five shows in the old, Car
den were very modest, affairs com.
pared with those OF the past six years,
and the figures both Of the attend
ance at these and of their receipts
look almost ridiculous beside those of
to-day. But each year saw a steady
. Improvement in tAe attendance and
consequently in the receipts. With
the opening Of the new Madison
Square Garden in 1890 the public be.
gan to realize that the show afforded
it an opportunity 10 inspect the much.
tatked-of and nue. discussed beau
ties and leaders Of New York society
ct close range and to study their cos.
tunes and gowns, with the result
that they rushed to the Garden. The
show had it's red-letter year in 1892,
although that Of last year was almost
equal in the figures Of attendance
and receipts.
As the years went by, the demand
for the best boxes became such that
the premiums paid at the auction
sales reached surprising figures. until
upward of $500 was cheerfully given
for the choice Of a prominent box for
the week. The ticket spectators saw
their opportunity in this craze ana
frequently managed to secure some Of
the best boxes. as we'll as the best
seats. One of these three or four
years ago held a box in a good posi-
ton at $1,000 for the week rof the
show. He offered 1t TO Mr.. william
Z. Vanderbilt, who refused to pay
such a price, but Immediately after
ward sold 1t to Captain De La Mar.
This is the highest recorded price
paid for box at the Horse Show.
Until three years ago New 'XOrk %
,ciety made the show 80 much Of Ito
own that 1t intrenched itself in all
the boxes and aspiring millioRGires
from other cities were not able to
break into the charmed circle, a.
though several attempts were made
to do so. Three years ago. however.
Philadelphia secured q box. and the
next year =. Rosten. Baltimore and
PittsburS were represented. Last Au.
tumn other cities held at ileaSt Q
third of the prominent boxes.
Considered solely as social fuRe-
ton, the Horse Show, nc1withstand-
ing the fact that it mas ceased 10 be
q .novely and that the interest df New
Yark soc:ey in 1t is somewhat wan
ing. is still undoubtedly the most i'm
portant event of the year in the 30
ciefy world, not only of New York,
but sof America. 1t is the Advent sea
SOn sOf the society year. and it's week
means the opening of the Winters
gayeties. The members of New York
society regulate. to a large extent.
their time Of returning to tn Air city
homes by it and date the events OF the
year from and by the show week.
For 1t ,tha matron and belle prepare
heir most elaborate gowns. and the
nan of fashion overhauls his ward |
'obe and gives extra instructions to
1iB valet.
AS may DE supposed. It Is tine event
II the year to the miliiners and dress.
nakere not sanly Of this country. but
llso to some extent Of London and
Paris. for many workshops in those
titles are busted every summer on,
riders from American women Tor
Horse Show gowns. As is natural,
therefore,. the show sets each year the /,
ashton in Winter gowns and even In l.
aen's clothes. and is the Mecca of
II the leading mtlliners and dress.
1akers Of the country who assemble
t the Garden during the week to
tudy their own and their fellows
reductions and to get points for the
Winters fashions.
At the show the Waters gayeties
re planned entertainments are or
anized. engagements announced. and
,andals whispered. 1t is the first
leeting day of the society clearing
ouse after the long Summer and Al
INN. and to large extent it sets
lie pace for the six months to follow.
The mornings of the show are fav- !
ed by the more enthusiastic mem. +
ers of the hunting set and by the :
lildren of society. About three q
clock the advance guard of the fash (
nable throng begins to arrive, and
: four the boxes and prominent seats
g filed with fashfeuably dressed oc
pants, and the public begins it's
unds Of study and Comment. At
: o'clock the human tlde begins to
b as dinner hour approaches, and !
eight it begins to flow back again.
Z $3.50 every night thu function g
its height. and at eleven the show
eyer. Then the fashionable restau.
pts ard cafes are filed until long A
.ef midnight yith the brilliantly