The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-30

is now the magnet that attracts
4 v society. At the horse show the
women wore their best bibs and fuckers
at the opera the opportunity is accorded
to show as much of ones self as evening
dress permits. Judging from the bodices
I have seen 1t all depends on the mould
ing of the shoulders or on the complacen'
cy of the individual. Mddle-aged wo-
men who have reached the filling out
period" approach the danger line with
a recklessness that is appalling; in fact
to be candid, many overstep the lines of
propriety, If not decency. The younger
matrons are little more circumspect
but notice that even they are liberal In
exposing themselves If they lack modes
ty the others have attained by extrava-
gance a degree of indecency which
should be checked by the authorities. The
indications are all favorable for a bril-
liant season. I mean by this socially
speaking. Musically the outlook is not
so good. The absence of Jean de Reszke,
Nine Media and Calve will make a per-
ceptible difference. The old favorites,
Scheff and Edouard de Reszke were
warmly welcomed For the first time In
years all the more prominent families
with the single exception of the Robert
Goelets, are out of mourning at the be-
ginning of the opera season. And there
will be few, IL any absentees from the
list of the older holders of the parterre
boxes. The Vanderbilts, Astors, Gerrys,
Iselins, Burdens, Milses and Havens will
all be present, and there will be compar-
atively few new faces in the social
heaven" as 1t Is wittily called, is one
of the last remaining strongholds of old
New York society. Its bulwarks are I'M
scaleable, even to the millionaire,
save now and then through some unpre-
ventable breach, caused by death, loss
of fortune or deep mourning, and even
when such breaches occur, admittance
is generally first given through them to
the people known and of the element to
which the holders of the social fort be-
long If the figures that have been Of
fered in vain for even a parterre box on
one night a week by western and other
new millionaires could be published, they
would astonish the community. The
grand tier and stall boxes adjoining them
on the second row are not as fashiona-
BILE or as much in demand by people of
established position who cannot obtain
entrance to the parterre through lack of
means or absence of vacancies as GER
tain parquet seats. In fact. 1t looks as
If certain portion of the parquet this
and succeeding seasons, from the names
of subscribers, would be almost as fash
ionable as the parterre boxes. The list
of holders of grand tier and stall boxes
is really an amusing and interesting
study. In 1t will be found the names or
only some five or six prominent society
people and of a few noted music lovers,
while the remainder is made up of names
new to New York and others of men and
women engaged in lines of business to
which advertising is advantageous. The
list thus presents a curious tumble Of
society and business.
Mr. and Mrs. William Rhlnelander
celebrated Thanksgiving day at Sher-
rvs. The Rhinelanders have been rich
for half a century and for three genera
lions. To say they have been thrifty
folk" is to put In social parlance a trait
which would in other circles be styled
CLOSE" If not mean. Mr.. William
Rhinelander as a student In Columbia
college established a reputation for
thrift and frugality which subse-
quent developments have never i'm
peached His father, also, had a well
deserved reputation for squeezing an
eagle or national coin so that In would
shrek. A debtor of his was an under
talSer. His assets were collins. These
Rhinelander seized for debt and to save
storage put them In the attic of his resi-
dence on Washington square Although
this is an age of palace building Mr..
William Rhinelander has not allowed
himself to be an occupant of more than
an ordinary sized house. 1t is not be-
cause he does not believe In real estate,
for he is one of the heaviest real es-