The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-09-13

tanzas they found that society hadn't
cause MI Lehr had jumped into the
breach
"A new Ward McAllister" whispered
everybody.
1t was really go.
Mrs. Aston invited Mr.. Lehr to live at
her house and add any new names TO
her list that he saw fit The result was
that the smart set was largely augmented
in a single night.
Next Mr.. Lehr achieved what no other
social leader has ever dared attempt
he engineered two notable social functions
in six hovrs.
One was Mrs Stuyvessnt Fish's dinner;
the other was Mrs. Ogden Mifls's ball
He had host OF clever men, good look
ing, well dressed, perfect dancers. there
to help out Never were there two more
successful affairs on a single night
Mrs. Aston was delighted. OF course,
that assured Harry Lehr premier place.
ought to increase the number and strengt
He essayea Newport and became master
Of every important social function. He
adjusted vexatious social questions with
-~N-~-@%%e~SN
trary matron Of years bygone succumbed
to his tactful address.
Then came that historical dispute be-
tween Mrs. stuyvesant Fish and Mrs.
Hermann Oelrichs 1t was hard TO get
up any really successful function with
these two leaders so openly divided.
When Mr.. Lehr healed the breach and
made them friends again society openly
praised him.
This summer at Newport Mr.. Lehr has,
of course, been hidden to all the great
anairs-thst is. 70 houses where every
body who is anybody is invited. But he
has not had his share of the smaller
and more delightful functions-the true
test of Newport success. He has led
but one prominent cotillon. and then he
divided the honors with Elisha Dyer, Jr.
You won't see Er. Lehr driving with
the rich matrons these days. OF course.
he is still a welcome guest at many
houses. But even Mrs Aston has for
gotten to name Mr.. Lehr as among her
diners.
Mr.. Lehr has never been very popular
among the men in society. There Is
even talk that they have engineered his
matrons who are standing by him to the
end
Query: If Harry Lehr had remained
single would he have gone backward
socially?
Society wonders who is going to take
Mr.. Lshr's place. Few have been able to
do what he has done No man IN SOCIETY
can revise a dinner list as he, and no
man alone Hnaided can make out the
names Of those who should be invited TO
a grand ball and those who should not.
He has introduced many remarkable
things to amuse the socially bored at
Newport 1t was Mr.. Lehr who origi
mated the hrst monkey dinner and car
ried it TO a triumphant conclusion II
wes he who convulsed Newport by walk.
ing down Bellevue avenue with rag doll.
He invented the wrist bag for men, He
has designed many gowns for fashions
leaders He was ringmaster at Mrs
Oelrich's private circus. He introduced
the punching bags at the pavilion which
graces Bailey's Beach. He was the first
to take a parrot out automobiling, thus
giving Newport something else to talk
about.
His friends declare that without him
the Newport social season would be hope
less Clubmen say it will be better, be-
cause more men will take hand. Mr.
Lehr is not a member of any New York
clubs-his friends say because he has
not asked to be elected. Neither Is he
a member Of the Newport Reading room.
that cosmopolitan gathering place where
any man. properly introduced. can gain
admittance-
will Harry Lehr run things next win
ter or just be among those present.
ask those who are interested socially
and are not worrying about their own
particular position at the opera or the
assemblies.