The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-03
on Thursday, February 18th.
at Sherry's, at eight o'clock.

on Thursday, February 14th.
at Sherrys, at eight O'Clock.
Cotillion. West sd street.
This is the formal introduction to So
ciety of Americas richest bachelor
James Henry Slmith-who inherited $780,
900, 900 from his uncle, George Smith, a
little over year ago. Mr.. Smith has
planned $4,000 dinner-dance, to which
one hundred and fifty of New York's in
nermost society circles have been bid
den. Sherry has been ordered to spare
no expense. Invitations were sent out
yesterday.
Since he has come into his inheritance.
Mr.. Smith has been the most sought-af-
Ter man in New York socially. OF reserv-
ed, almost austere disposition, he never
cared to knock at societys portals be-
fore, though comfortably well-off and a
member of the Union, Racquet and
Downtown clubs. His nickname, silent
Smith," suited him to a IT.
But this winter the new multi-million-
aire suddenly decided to enter the So
cial life of New York, and the 400 at
once gave him every opportunity to do
it. 1t is said that for one evening this
winter Mr.. Smith received seventy invi-
cations to dinner.
AS a preliminary to entertaining, Mr.
occupied for years at No. l West Thir-
tieth street and rented house at No. 6
West Fifty-second street, next door to the
Vanderbilt mansions. There he has en-
tertaned modestly, but charmingly.
But his coming dinner, which is to be
dedicated to st. Valentine will be on d
much more lavish scale. Mrs. Stuyve-
SAINT Fish and Mrs. Cornelius Wander
bilt, Jr., are attending to all the details
for him, and they have promised Mr..
Smith that the affair will be the most
perfectly appointed that society has ever
seen.
A scheme of decoration wholly out of
the ordinary has been devised by these
ladies. Instead of the conventional flow
ers and palms. Sherrys big ball room
will be decked with the rarest and most
beautiful tapestries in America. Some are
owned by Mr., Smith, others will be lent
for the occasion by friends, and more will
be rented for the evening from dealers
IN antiques. These tapestries will hang
in every available place.
The great table around which the $50
guests will sit is to be set in the middle
Of the main ball room. Orchids, volets
and American Beauties will be used for
the table decorations.
At II p m. the dinner will be at an
end. Then the guests will be Joined by
Some fifty more young men of the dane
ing set and Mr.. Smith will lead the way
downstairs 90 the smaller room, where
! the cotillon will be danced.
Mrs. Fish and young Mrs. Vanderbilt
have arranged everything in honor OF st.
Valentine, whose day 1t is. The favors
for the dance will cost $1,000 alone. There
are to be silver hearts and golden ar
rows and cupids and corsage bouquets of
violets and other costly mementos of the
evening. For the dinner there are to be
separate favors-jewelled scarf pins for
the men and jewelled silken bags for the
women.
This splendid function will include two
separate and distinct collations-the din
ner first and a supper afterward during
the progress of the dance. Sherry has
been given carte blanche for both, while
Mr.. Smith himself has paid personal at
tentlon to the wines.
How dinner may cost 500 plate.