The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1907-07-24
The Fetes and Gowns at
Merry Newport.
GREAT OUTLAY FOR DRESSES
The DeplOrabIe Spirit of Wan
ton Waste and Growing
SelfishneSS.

]
over the country. 1t is easy to ex-
aggerate the cost of these. The news
papers assure us that Mrs. Herman
Olerich'S white ball" cost $4,000,
which is not true, although 1t doubt
! less did cost $4,000 The sober fact
seems to be that $4,000 or $4,000 is
no unusual price to pay for one of
these remarkable affairs. The dinner
say for 200 guests, at the caterers
charge of so each, comes to $4,000
without wine or cigars. Besides this
there is first supper at midnight, af-
| ter the special entertainment provided
and second supper at ) or in the
morning, after the dancing, which
easily brings the total for eating and
drinking up to $4,000. Add another
thousand dollars for flowers and
music. Add $4,000 more for cotil-
lion favors, watches, fans and arti-
cles of gold and silver. Then add ST.
| 600 more for a theater on the lawn,
built especially for the occasion and
| torn down the next morning-a spa
cious theater, be 1t said, and hand
somely decorated. Add several thou
sand more for. complete vaudeville
entertainment, with singers and dan
GERS, acrobats, jugglers-everything
brought on expressly from New York
or perhaps las happened once) the
entire company of New YUrl the
alter sent down and the theater closed.
When you have counted all that and
various minor things-s&y s5tC for
electric lighting effects on the
grounds YOU will see clearly enough
what becomes of ten or twelve or
even 5000 on such an occasion. And
Newport may have two or three enter
tainments like this in a single week!
One important item in connection
with these elaborate fetes is the cost
OF several hundred ball dresses or din
ner dresses made for the occasion, for
no woman feels like accepting such
generous hospitality in an old gown.
And this brings me to an interesting
talk had with a man at the head of
one of tie largest dressmakers estab-
lishments in the world with branches
in London, Paris, New York and nat
urally, Newport We were standing
] he inn a fDChlnnnhln
hour. 1t was the height of the sea-
son, and beautifully gowned women
were arriving every moment for the
music and tennis. There they were
before us in gay and conspicuous
groups, the mach talked of and envied
society leaders dressed to be looked
at and admired. And admiring,as be-
fitted, we proceeded to discuss them,
my companion speaking with the au-
thority of a creator and dispenser of
styles.
Taken collectively" he said, they
are the smartest gowned women in
the world"
But not individuality" asked.
Individually they sometimes lack
distinction and the note of personal
taste. They dress too much alike"
That's your affair, isn't it?' ]
suggested.
Well" he said. We do the best
we can. OF course, what you lack In
this country is court with court
functions, court dinners and court
balls. You never find the best dress
ed women in a republic"
I pondered this while, and then,
becoming practical, asked what 1t
costs one of these ladies whose duty
1t is to shine in Newport, for her
gowns.
"Ten thousand dollars a year." he
answered promptly, I'VE have clients
who spend $4,000 year but $1O,-
600 is enough. We have many who
spend $1,000 a year. II woman
spends only $4,000 year we do not
take her very seriously"
You mean $1,000 for gowns alone?"
"Of course
| And | was left to imagine what
might be the !ady's bill for hats, boots,
lingerie, etc, not to forget the SIN
uous automobile wells that were flut-
tering ali about us.
How many gowns does smart
woman need for the Newport season.
inquired.
He thought moment. Counting
everything, about twenty"
"And how much will they cost
apiece?"
THAT depends on the number, Of
handsome ones. You can't get a
really first-class gown from us for
less than thousand dollars"
protested that had heard of first
class gowns Tor less than that, but
he shook his head.