The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-23
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

librettist, to whom the soprano has been
engaged for several years. So many dates
for this ceremony have been fixed and
then abandoned. that Mime. Calves friends
had long ceased to expect that the wedding
would ever take place. Her last letters,
however. brought the assur ance that there
was no longer the slightest uncertainty on
the subject. And the date OF the happy
event had been definitely fixed in the near
future.
But there must have been some change
In her plans. NJ Cain has indeed been
married during the past few weeks and to a
singer But he did not marry Nine. Calve
soprano at the Opera Comique. TO whom
NJ. Cain has been reported engaged several
times In the last year. So when Nine
Calve returns to this country she will still
be able to fuss as OF old with her managers
over the necessity OF announcing her. the
only unmarried singer In the company, as
Mime. just because 1t Ia the custom
Alfred Duane Ptll, who has just been Or
dained to the ministry, is probably the
richest clergyman In the Episcopal Church.
Mr.. p, II inherited a large fortune from his
parents. Other relatives left him money
and his shrewd operations In real est at e
have greatly increased the amount Of his
wealth He has frequently been a COM
petitor Of some Of the sharpest real estate
speculatcrs in the city during the last
few years and has invariably come out Of
these encounters with profit He was one
was to accrue ultimately TO property in
upper Fifth avenue and he bought the
handsome Pickhardt house on that
thoroughfare just above Seventy second
street At a fraction OF it's present value
Mr.. Pc Ii is an ent husiastic admirer Of silver
nd ~ al nd t., nl;a h
work are said to const iiute one Of the finest
private collections Of this kind In existence.
He was graduated from Columbia with
the class of 81 and to this day there are
| accounts OF his piety in chapel that are a
reproach to his fellow students for all time.
Mr.. Pell, who has been for many years a
liberal and jealous Episcora'ian. will not
undertake active clerical work. bur Of
fciate only when he feels inclined. He
has never had any regular occupation
other than caring for his large estate. He
was never clubman
Another new club with an old principle
is soon to be opened uptown. Its object
will be to provide meeting place for men
| whose work or inclination is likely to keep
them up late at night. Other sympat hes
will supposedly exist among the members,
none OF whom is expected to be in he club
house before the evening and. at that, rat her
late evening hours, Previous efforts in
the same direction have been made, but
have rarely met with success for reasons
which nobody quite understood. The
purpose that such club would serve has
long been understood, and there was never
any difficulty In getting the number Of
members necessary to the founding of
such organizations. Trouble shove itself
usually when the administ alton of the
club was In question. IL the word had not
OSt q tUh
best describe the character OF the new or
ganization. which has now passed beyond
he state OF project and become a reality
It's somewhat unpretentious doors will
soon be opened 20 the members and its
struggle for life will begin. IL will indeed
be a struggle just as the existence Of every
new club Is at the outset. Any new club
which can now be brought to a success.
full permanence in New York must meet
especially we'll some pressing social need
or be managed with great adroitness by
its promoters
New York has few customs associated
with Christmas outside Of those that take
place within doors. Strangers might search
in vain In the streets for any sight, apart
from the crowds. TO suggest that this was
the holiday season. Old New Workers,
however. know that there is at least one
custom that has survived in some families
for years and shows TODAY no sign Of
losing its hold on the descendants Of those
persons who have practised il for so many
years. On the day before Christmas the
carriages belonging TO the oldest OF the
New York families may be seen driving
through the streets filled with parcels that
are delivered by one member OF the family
to the various persons for whom they are
Intended. This is custom that has pre-
vailed for generations in many OF the fami-
nrvl0a 10,
history OF New York. OF course, some OF
their descendants have not chung TO the
custom. as 1t required the Possession Of
horses and carriages to be carried out in
full. But those who are still able to. OBJ
serve strictly the old rule OF delivering
their gifts In person and from their own
carriages on Christmas eve.
Insurance against loss now takes 40 many
forms that no new phase Of it Ia surprising
One English company even insured against
loss a manager who had invested large
amount In theatrical production and was
80 unusually nervous about the success Of
the enterprise that he made an arrange
ment with the insurers by which he was to
receive a certain sum which would cover
the expense OF the production in case the
receipts did not reach a set amount at the
end Of fixed period. But no such COM
plicated form OF theatrical insurance az
VUat mas Vet Df>7n neaTU OI mere. Inc last
interesting instance Of this kind Of ins,ir.
ance is reported from Philadelphia, which
Is the headquarters of a firm Of managers
controlling the services Of one Of the most
popular comic opera comedians i'm this
country. The enterprise for which they
employ him depends Of course, on his
personality. and any harm that befell him
would entail serious financial loss on his
managers. So they have just insured his
life for &so.OOO.
In one Of the sn,srtest of the dressmaker
shops a beautiful gown was exhibited the
other day. One Of the women who had
long been q patron Of the establishment
stopped to admire it. Beautiful, isn't ~"
said the custodian. THE cost is 5000 Why
don't you order one like it?"
you know ! never paid you 5000 for
gown in my life.' the customer answered
THAT il far beyond my regular limit"
But you don't understand me- insisted
the woman In charge. The gown wouldn't
cost you that much It's made for a GUS
toner In the West But you could have one
like it for-say-t2s0 That's the New
York price"
Yet some New Workers. believe that they
pay higher prices than any one else in the
world.
One of those who have suffered through
the herding Of New York families in apart
ment houses Is the postman. When every
man had his own front door and mail box
the .postman was friend Of the family and