The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-04

mas week that cid it.
Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish, the ultra-excul-
sive. went and two hundred of the -Four
Hundred followed her.
The story OF the struggle OF Mr.. and
Mrs. George Gould for social rank is a
comedy of remarkable interest
They spent their millions like water.
They bought the VigiIant and met the
Prince himself. 1t was ali in vain
He was the son of a famous financier.
She was beautiful, though once an act
ress. Why were they kept beyond the
sacred protals? The answer is not clear.
AT any rate they have entred now.
Perhaps it was the professional stage
that kept Mrs. George Jay Gould 50
long out of the Four Hundred. Certain
Iy it was the amateur that brought her
in.
The splendid amateur ~theatricals and
the attendant festivities given by the
Goulds at Lakewood, Christmas. marked
their definite entry into the innermost
circle of society
The story Of how Edith Kingdom. the
beautiful actress. became the wife of
George Gould is a romance The strug-
gle of Mr.. and Mrs Could to obtain
recognition by fashionable society is ID
comedy that is peculiarly American and
tin-de-siecle
That New York society, which is based
primarily on the possession of money,
should refuse admission 10 the son of
the most famous OF American financiers
seems absurd and paradoxical But such
things will happen and help-to make our
queerly composed society interesting.
There are many things in the social
history of Mr.. and Mrs, George j. Gould
that deserve the attention of the thought
fui as we'll as the frivolous
The scene of the final triumph of the
Goulds was their magnificent country
house, called Georgian Court, at Lake
wood, N. ]. 1t has recently been en-
larged and beautifaed at fabulous ex-
pense. Two hundred Of the our Hundred
accepted the Gould hospitality at Christ
mas. Society then commiuted Itself 1t
is an unwritten law that what society
accepts it must give. That is implied in
the very nature of society.
ned at just the right time. and the fates
must have kindly arranged that GeorS-
ian Court should be finished and ready
to accommodate hundreds of guests ex-
actly at this season.
Society was in a mood for country fes-
tivities, and the thought OF the Gould
entertainment and all the good things
in store just appealed to it's fancy
Therefore, they all hocked down to
Lakewood in the wake of Mrs. Stuyve-
SAINT Fish. and Elisha Dyer, Jr., in a
special train provided by George Gould
two hundred of the -Four Hundred. So
ciety went to the Goulds and took them
into its very bosom.
The Goulds provided many delightful
surprises for their guests. Private the
atcicals in which Mrs. Gould returned
once more TO the stage, were the CHIEF
attractions A beautiful little thatre
had been added to the superb country
house. and it remained as a permanent
feature both for future use and as a
memorial of the victory which she has
achieved in it,
Three frivolous little one act plays
were given, "The Twilight of the Gods"
THE Marble Arch and "A Pair OF Lu-
Mates" Mrs. Gould took part only in
that she had not lost the art which was
hers as beautiful Edith Kingdom. Of
Days Theatre. AS an actress. Mrs.
Gould need fear no rival in society. The
other casts were made up Of well known
amateur actresses and actors, Of whom
Miss Emily Key Hoffman. daughter of
Mrs George Hoffman. and Mr.. Evert
Jansen Wendell are The best known
This was given on December 2L
After the theatricals. there was a CO.
tllon. led by Mrs. Stuyvesant Fish and
! Elisha Dyer. Jr.. and as everybody
| knows. they represent society with big
! IS"
Among the wen known persons who
witnessed this entertainment and accept
ed the invitations 10 stay for a week al
terward at Georgian Court. were the
Marquis De Taueyrand- Perigord. Mrs
! Townsend Burden, Mr. and Mrs. Elisha
| Dyer. Jr. Mrs Oliver H. z Belmont,
/ Mrs Hermann Oelrichs. Mr. Henry Lehr.
| Mrs Orms Wilson. daughter OF Mrs
Astor: MIR Lispenard Stewart Mrs
| Adolph Ladenburg.aud others equally re-
| ncwned
! 1t should he clearly understood that
/ The GouldS not only gst into society. but
! they have given an entertainment which
/ VIII be remembered for many seasons.
! Fer time the Bradley-Msruin BAH was
| regarded as the greatest thing that ever
| happened Before this Jimmie Water
| burys society circus was historical Now
I 4
! Christmas show Everything was done
with a magRiicence that has rarely been
! equalled aud never surpassed in this
country. and yet everybody admits that
there was an abundance Of comfort and
| god fellowship, The theatricals were re-
peatei several times during the week
and during the days there vas hunting
for the men. and golf and other OUT
door sports for all
Mrs Gould's great entertainment Is
compared 10 ihat famous fancydress bali
OF long ago by means OF which Mrs w.
X Vanderbilt carried the whole vauder-
/ 3ilt family into society.
Just before the Georgian COURT revels
1 the GouldS had scored another success
which indicated clearly that they were
sotfS 70 otFaA ucNh tase SoC4A- DaIEleES-
! They were at the hrSt great ball Of the
season. the Fist Assembly held al the
1 Waldorf Astoria On the night OF De-
/ cember Il
Each OF the fifty pauanesses Of the As
sembly Balls IS permitted TO invite sew
| on ladies and five men Mrs Astor stands
the memorable dictstress Of these balls
All names must first pass her Individual
sanction. and il Is she who in secret
conference. advises the patrons in regard