New-York tribune., 1901-01-05
SOCIETY DAY BY DAY.
urrrIAM C. WHITNEY'S BALL IN HONOR
OF HIS NIECE.

m
.ne social history of New-Yorir. 1t was the BAH
.s,eh william C. Whitney gave at his beautiful
new home No. sn Fifth-ave.. in honor Of his niece
Mss Helen Barney, one Of the debutantes of this
ssason
Much curiosity had been evinced as TO the interior
% the Whitney house, which was remodelled and
saed TO- since it was the Robert L. Stuart mansion
n Is now example of the italian Renaissance
with its famous paintings, fits statuary, its tapes-
,-es its art treasures and its wonderful ballroom
a made a suitable place in which to give an en-
fsrtainment which would mark the beginning OF
new century. For days. decorators. florists and
other artisans have been at work arranging the
touse for the bau Of last evening. Stanford white
eeTrior of the house was an h
he first story. by wide awnings extending almost
iron gates or entrance near the ballroom window
ia East sixty-eighth-st. This lighted and
could enter the house either by the side street or
Iy the avenue.
There was. OF course. the usual crowd outside O,
ihs house. trying in vain 70 get peep at the guests
as they arrived in their carriages and standing in
IRE cold for hours. There was large and efficient
police force on hand. which kept them back and
which cleared the avenue % and the side streets, so
openings and deposit their occupants.
II was very late ball. There were a number ~
dinners. notably that OF Colonel and Mrs. John
Jacob Astor from which the guests went TO the
hall and Others remained at the opera until Jean
ReSZke
note: II was: therefore. nearly midnight before
The ball was in progress.
In order TO give more room the space between
the two great marble stairwsys in the entrance
vras boarded and a temporary platform was
erected which somewhat destroyed the effect OF
fhe grand hall, of the most beautiful in any
uriyate house in this country. The guests went
into this hall last evening, and leaving their
wraps in the dressing rooms. ascended by the Sec
nnd or rear marble stairway to the main hall
ne famous Charles / of Van Dyke is hung. along
with numerous % 0eer oIar 6en mnd IN h eco
rsfion Of this apartment is red and white. There
VIZ sfranee zee there were bowers of smilax, and here
an5 there bank of poinsert.iasi The temporary
main stairways was also banked in pink azalias
The guests after leaving the stairway and cross
,-s the hall entered the salon. where the host,
William c. whitney; his sister. Mrs. Charles
Barney and Miss Helen Barney received them.
They stccd near the door. Mrs. Barney wore gown
Of velvet and brocade. II had petticoat of silver
cIo.h embroidered in pink roses OF various shades.
ana the train was OF wine colored velvet Her
Jewels were pearls Miss Barney was IN wite 11 chr-
The dining room. used last evening for the other
paintings Of the sixteenth century. II has mag
nifcent chimney piece and in the fireplace are the
two famous bronze hredogs
And here. after the guests had greeted their host
and the debutante of the evening. they separated
apartments on this floor. The long corridor
paneIled with old carved wood led TO the ballroom
with its wonderful ceiling taken from chateau
near Rordeaux its tapestries and its fine archi-
.sc4rraI nronortions The floral decorations
sisted principally in a scheme of hanging baskets
irie lights which were covered with asparagus and
other green vines giving an exquisite @ tSne 10 os Ths
be covered with pink and White orchids , AT the tne
rsnT little electric bulbs and all through the
house there was mass OF sreehery feneVeu py
banks OF crimson po,nsettas
in this stately apartment general dancing was
the rule until supper, which was served at small
tables in the library. in the great corridors In the
dining room and in the large halls The six hun
dred guests able TO be seated at the same
time and there was no more friction confusion
.n serving the great number Of people than IL there
had been only dozen more
The following was the menu:
Bouillon Tasse
Polssins rrlrles a Ia diable.
Pate en- eroute
Glaces.
cafe
The cotiion begun after supper. There were
six favor figures and some Of them were most
original worthington Whitehouse led with Miss
Helen Barney. One OF the most original figures was
anThe Hunt" in which three papier macbe and
wooden horses named after Mr.. Whitney's racers,
BaIyhoo Bey. Prince Charles and kilmarnock'
uranced into the room f1dGen by snnah Jockeys
wearing the light blue and chocolate brown colors
az fte whitney stable The Jockeys distributed the
favors which consisted of hunting crops. for both
men and women tied with the Whitney coors.
There was balloon figure i'm which the men were
,ncased In red and white tissue paper balloons and
the women chose their partners from the colors or
The baIIons And, again. there was an immense fam
which was wheeled in on stand. and the men and
women were placed on each side OF the screen
when opened and chose their partners from the
colors Of the small fans which the men held up on
,te other side These figures. although seen mueh
abroad were novelties in this country, ana were
much enjoyed. The favors were extremely hand5
some They consisted Of liberty sat,n 9ewellso 9.
's snd 5eveIIed orders for the men; large electric
light lanterns Of various shades lra1eo ne & IN glt'
TafcFr1er's ratfIes for the men: bouquets OF ard-
fetal flowers with ribbon loops, TO De suspenoeu
sy sv,e men. flags OF an nations gilt poles for
eTer'v one: antique uissa1 bags made of red vel
is aio a ,er 1avIoons and tied with gold cord
sor the women: tabard horns Of NICKEL covered with
with the device OF 'Ieoi' them for the men, and
many other trites
Some very handsome costumes worn. Mrs.
Astor was in black velvet, with diamond orna-
nents Mrs. John Jacob Astor wore white tule
trimmed in gold and her diamonds. Mrs Fred
erick Nelson wore gown OF pale PINK VeiVet
with collar Of lace. She a diamond tiara
and catseye and turquoise earrings. Miss kath-
leen Nelson a white tuile satin frock, COW
sred with tue and trimmed with caIneh9s; M ME-
Bryce also in white satin covered win .ace,
ant wore her diamond and pearl ornaments. MISS
Bryce in pale blue satin trimmed with lace
The three Misses cryder gowned in white
lace white satin and trimmed with garlands
Of red geraniuns. Miss Rosamond Street was In
white satin, with net embroidered I'm silver and
cf1U I.srffe fn her