The age-herald., 1902-03-09
With New York Swens

New York, March 7.-I frankly confess I am proud of my friends. have been to the grandest affairs that could be martialed in old England, where dukes md duchesses earls and countesses and all the peerage were assembled to revolve around the throne, but, with pride, with Joy, can stated they were as rush lights to calcium when compared with our republican society at the Metropolitan Opera House the night Prince Henry was entertained. I have not gotten over 1t yet No one who witnessed the spectacle is likely soon to forget 1t. As one enthu- siastic spectator remarked: T don't be- lieve the Prince ever saw so many crown jewels before. and I doubt if anywhere in the world could such scene have been equalled." The decorations were. of course, beyond anything of the sort that has been attempted here, but the entire mise en scene was marvellously enhanced by the superb gowns that were worn, and whether the jewels were real or imita- tion made very little difference, they were 90 brilliant. If the gowns had ever beeu worn before they certainly didn't show it, and without exception it was the finest clothes show ever witnessed in the United States.
 There was a great deal of visiting be- tween the boxes, not only during the entr actes, but all the time, and a steady How of conversation which seemed excus- able under the circumst ances. All the smart set who were in the city were out in force, all the admirers of the smart set and great many people who never will be in the smart set, but who enjoyed the privilege of being taken by strangers as the leading representatives of American society.
 Of course the event of the season will be Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt's dinner. Sunday evening next, to Prince Henry. This was arranged before the Prince left Berlin. The Wilson's are clever. They seem to have impressed King Edward and Emperor William with the idea that they are the hit of the American social system. The Vanderbilt. Astor Goelet, Vanderbilt families swing around the Wilson's as stars around a sun. Is 1t not funny? I wish could forget that little country store down in old Kentucky with it's sign Orme & Wilson. We'll, Grace is a sweet little thing, and I shall dine with her Sunday night, even if l did protect the store with my troopers while her papa ran cotton north.
 
 Private card parties are the smartest entertainments at present and yet there is a great deal of entertaining going at the different winter resorts which are 90 crowded that there ;s considerable hard feeling as. to who has who's room; but then that insures the success of the place, and, after ell, one lives out of doors at all these places.
 The smart way of entertaining there is to ask lot of ones friends to go South, then pay all the expenses, which, it may be noted. will mount up to consider able sum. But this has been found an ex- cel,ent means of making ones social posi- fion absolutely impregnable.
 MT. and Mrs. Whitelaw Reid's annual trip to California and Dr. and Mrs. Sew ard Webbs annual trip to the far West are now in progress. while several shorter Journeys will start off next week for points nearer home. Mir. and Mrs. George vanderbilt are located fin their New York house, and are quietly entertaining their intimate friends. This young couple are. credited with only having intimate friends and not caring particularly for the world at large-are living a defigntfully inde- pendent existence. This is the first time since their marriage that they have stopped in New York for any length of lime, and their house looks absolutely Nvable. as tbey make point of really