The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1910-09-18
GAY TINES IN OLD new YORK
sow GORGEOI tFFiIRN CAVE
orr ~ THE 'SOS.
\ NansIerl'Ilt Hall which Idas Never Eleen
ErIipsedl- Dinner TAble Covered Win
GI6th oT Geld when the PhOROErAph
Made It's Debut in smart society.

! Harrison, who had the enfr'-e OF the lls'-i
house Mrs Harrison. herself "a southern
woman came here as bride few years
after ia" war
At that time not more than one or two
rnen M New York spent even as much as
ssnOO a wear. As in the South So IN
New York Mrs. Harrison says there
was mo- heartburninR about sets. sinco we
recognized but one But with the pros
! perity following the close Of tho war the
food Of lavish expenditure began "a
overflow
As a sort nf social br~akwater against
the threatening power Of colossal for
tune. she says IN the WOmdR's Home
companion. were instituted tn. Patri-
archs halls long the most select. well con
trived and intellgently managed semi
public entertainments We hav. known.
( \ committee of twenty-five gentlemen.
. calling themselves the PatriarChs. was
uamed. To each of whom was given the
/ right ~ invite tn each hall four women
and five men.
All distinguished strangers visiting
| N"w York were invited a. guests Of the
/ hall With good deal Of assistance
from Mrs. William u. Astor the ventuf"
was launched and h-cam. a tremendous
succe~-. The first meetings were held
a. Delmonico's. then AT the corner of
Finh avenue and Twenty sixth street
The next club for dancing was tn"
/ = e. u. e. or Family Circle Dancing
I Class. an embarrassing name. but a
very charming association Of younger
p'opl". The first season of these dances
they were held in private houses; Mr. De-
. a.
Mr. George Henry Warren. Mr.. Ward Nc
Allister. Mr. William Aston end Mr.. WILL
lam Butler Duncan being the hosts.
Later on came the balls, known as
the Assemblies. and gradually the others
faded ou, At all Of these entertainments
was seen tho hest showing OF Americas
fashionable world. and very brilliant af-
fairs they were No foreigner visiting
New York could AFFORD to he absent from
them
But soon began the upward movement
81 many enriched and ambitious citizens
whose wives and daughters saw no reason
why they should not take their places
Reside the gr~a' established entertainers
Gradually It was accomplished hut New
York has never lost it's respect for the old
Aristocracy.
About 1854 IL had an opportunity 70
view the most heautiful and finished
entertainment ever seen i'm it's annals
This was the famous Costume ball given
10y Mr. and Mrs William Nissan Wander
bilt IN honor Of their guest. Lady Mande-
Vile. formerly Miss Consuelo lznaRa Of
New Orleans. now the Dowager Duchess
~ Manchester There had h~.n several
fancy dress halls before n. all dazzling
in general effect hut here The. back ground
~ the interior Of a lovely little French
Renaissance palace. recently mad. 20
spring from the earth of prosaiC Fifth
avenue by the genius OF Richard Hunt.
made every grouping OF guests a won
dertul picture In every room and on the
winding stairway
As Ye entered the salon We were
received bv the hostess and her titled
guest sitting in large Rilded chairs. an
innovation somewhat criticised. but ex-
cussd on the ground Of helping TO create
a picture Both ladies were superbly
gown"d Mrs Vanderbilt as a Venetian
princess with y peacock 81 jewels IN
Ter hair Behind them IN a COurtierliks
attitude stood the Duo de GuiS. i'm
psT-pnated hy the host
4 also well remember Cornelius Van
d"rhIit a. a very handsom.. and stately
CourtI"r of LOUIS WI = time. his wifi,
a. Fl"CtrlCIty' fairly r,Intillating with
IltiuhtAtr. lffhAIl- the most n'sfnprs4 lFta
-iugl" hgtIr" among the women was Nj.
Lor'llard standing half way up the stairs
aftired according To Worth'~ des q a
peacock "a superb ComminglinR of
green and blue Iride-rent stufs with A
long tram covered with real p,aCock =
eyes. her corsage ablaze with jewels
All individuals were forgotten when
with a fanfare Of trumpe's -omewh here
up aloft IN the house the hunting dIIadriIls.
oi hobby horses mounted 10y men and
40 guEsNh sE.aVa
costumes % white satin came galloping
down the stairs and formed IN the bali
room Tor their dance. which was psr-
formed with much grace and spirit
This French novelty Of stick horses !
with apparently real heads, tho rest (
veiled nv trappinRs Of scarlet and gold 4
stretched over framework was "A daz.
zling success SCarCely less pretty war.
tn" Dresden China QladrIlle the Mother
Goose QIadrille' and the star OuadriIle
ia which ease each girl wore a star 81 real
in her hair
New York did not for months sion
talking ~ that hall and rightly. sirr.
81 it, -ucCe--pr- not even the much /
artistic value.
BY 1859 had begun rush IT succeed
ing ARG" entertainments. experiments
~ gift dinners and lInch.ons which
tested alik" N" ingenuity and prudigality
~ 'h' glV"rs and III" a-tonishnr.ut If th.,
guests n soon a. a new palace va.
finished ia FIfth avenue we looked To- .a,.
II ~ housewarming would Guido 'h.. last
"n" ~ masses ~ flowers and -plendnr
~ detail
rccall dinner given by "A lady
pr odigal IN Inventing novelties W. sat
wenty 40 round table covered first with
"a cloth of gold. then with a magnificent
web Vt antique lace and linen In th..
c"ntr" oi th" table was "A circle " h,.atb,.r
~ pots brought from scotland Tor he
'IcC. i-ipn over which leaned "A hare. lr.,.,,,,
bOugh having yellow birds U.-,,b "A
UPON u, amid mas- of superb pins roa.s
! b" -ervic" was II gold. the glass in
crust.d With gold
Every dish was a stIrpTis. every co,IY,..
accompanied 10y -om" little souvenir t,Il
our piles ~ loot r"-enhla-i pi-atn's
~tor" III" t"rraIin was from AugtI-tnn's
IN Phllad"lI hia, sent by lightning -,
press. and ut each plate was placed !.
small bottle Of costly old Madeira To-
add tO II
For an especially cholr" oma,e,t.I
Spuihe = cook wa brought fro,, mo