The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-01

Arranged Like the Interior OF Tent
on the Lawn There-ReJane and Her
Company Seen in play Specially
Written for the Occasion Ballet From
the Opera House. supplemented nv
an Eighteenth Century Dance OF
Dcbutantes and Bacheiors-An the
Women In Court Costumes OF the Period
The Eighteenth Century Ball, given by
James Hazen Hyde at tho Sherry restan-
rant last night, altogether eolipsed IN pict-
uresque and entertaining qualities any en-
tertainment, public or private, that New
York has known in several years.
The best measure of the elaborateness
Of the decorations and Of the programme
arranged for the entertainment OF Mr..
Hyde guests was TO be found in the general
opinion among those accustomed to festivi-
ties Of such extreme elaboration that moth
ing heretofore knownto the social diversions
OF New Workers. except the ball OF the Brad
ley-Martins in 1897 was worthy to be men
toned in the same breath Certainly no
festivity OF the present season will approach
Mr.. Hyde's party in the chronicles of the
years more sristocratic diversions.
There were those who. after super
fetal survey Of the general preparations for
the ball. guessed that Mr.. Hyde's bills.
when all settled. would amount to more
than $1,000 This guess was entirely
gratuitous and was as little likely to be cor
Feet ae II wam<tzsszsEssxsni~M Hyde would
ever breathe, even to his most intimate ao-
quaintances, the actual expenditure made
by him for the diversion OF his friends
The general attitude OF the host OF last
night in entertaining those who came to
his ball was somewhat strilingy illustrated
by his attitude toward those who sought
to obtain the details of his plan for publ
cation 1T was true he was giving a ball
1t was true il was to be Il costume ball.
though not in so rigorous a sense as to
exclude any who felt that their dignity or
their corporal systems would not fittingly
set on eighteenth century costumes.
BALL WITH MANY TRIMMINGS.
1t was true, also, that he had employed
certain public performers. notably Nine.
Rejane. with some members OF her COM
pany as well as certain members Of the
Metropolitan Opera House ballet to add to
such enjoyment as his guests might pro-
duce within their own company. And 1t
was true that a gavotte was TO be danced
by a number Of the most beautiful ana
best known Of the seasons debutantes IN
that not altogether mysterious but always
distinguished company which is commonly
described as New York society.
These things, which were bound to find
their way into the public prints, NJ Hyde
saved his guests from annoyance by per-
hitting them 10 become known. A time
table. which told exactly when each event
thus forecast would occur. was furnished
10 the public.
But il was particularly enjoined upon
all those employed in carrying out the
hosts plans that nothing more should bo
sacrificed to the general public desire to
participate in private luxuriance No one
not hidden to the party was allowed 10 have
a look at tho decorations of the two floors
of Sherry's which were devoted to the fete
until after Mr.. Hyde's guests had exhausted
the beauties and the wonders Of the deoora-
tions.
Thus il was that, brilliant in every APP
pointment which could be purchased by
the great wealth of the man who gave the
ball, there was a setting OF spontaneous
brilinncy and of freedom from strident
notoriety seeking which was altogether
new to such occasions on this side of the
Atlantic.
1T WAS BACHELORS ENTERTAINMENT.
Mr.. James II. Hyde. who gave the ball,
is a bachelor. He is one of the wealthlest
men in the United States. but his life so far
has not been spent 40 much in demonstrate
ing his wealth as in various manifestations
Of somewhat more useful activities. He has
devoted himself oonspiouously to the pro-
motion of the study of French literature,
and particularly OF the French drama here
He has been described as the most Amer
icanized Frcnohman and the most French
American in the world He has been tho
patron of numberless efforts 70 bring about
a mutual understanding hetween students
of American and French literature. He IS
the president Of the Alliance FRANCHISE of
the United States. and also the founder Of
the famous Cercle FRANCHISE OF Harvard.
HOST IN A COACHING CLUB DRESS.
Outside OF these intellectual activities.
Mr.. Hyde has shown his material right to
his position in the financial world by at
tanning membership "a director in more
than thirty railroads and banks. He IA
also member of some twenty-five or more
clubs. His strictly social activities have
been shown, until last nights festivities.
InOri ny HIS dNiAN' nAEFpi NAN lh4 'ANifh-
ton in the affairs Of the New York Coach
ing Club. In the midst Of the strange
and wonderful approximations toward tho
eighteenth century ideals, Mr.. Hyde, It is
not undressing to know. wore the evening
dress OF the New York Coaching Club.
THE DECORATIONS.
The scenes of Mr. Hyde's entertainment
we're set on the second and third floors of
the Sherry restaurant. The third floor Is
the floor Of the great ballroom, which for
almost ten years has been used for many
OF tho city's public and partly public festivi-
ties but very little for nominally private
gatherings, such AS that Of last night
In this room the utmost ingenuity and
artistic taste OF Mr.. Whitney Warren, who
WAS employed by the host several months
ago TO arrange thu decorations for tho
ball had their highest opportunity.
The requirements we're that there should
be room for 400, more OF less. spectators
OF dtbutantes and bachelors gavotte
and the specially written R4jane play and
- E.If- Ill. ~ T..