The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-23
The LaviShneSS and Extravaganza of the
Rich; the MakeShiftS and Econ
OmieS of the Poor.

but l sigh for the society of yesterday
Your smartness makes me homesick
It is exaggerating a bit. perhaps. TO
say that the fashionable dinners differ
in no regard from those in Paris and
London. They do differ In being more
elegant, mora ostentatious. at least those
dinners at when the newly rich and the
newly arrived are hosts. and they are
often vuIgarly extravagant. few
years ago a millionaire miner appeared
in town with the avowed intention Of
eiectrifying society and he succeeded
both in eIecuifying it and disgusting 1t
to such an extent that he disappeared
after his first mad season.
Gave Expensive Dinner.
Among other entertainments which this
knight of the pick and shovel gave was
dinner that is said to have cost sew
eral hundred dollars a plate. The great
room in which It took place was con-
verted into a flower garden. and the
whole world was rifled for delicacies TO
surprise and delight the palates of the
guests.
Flowers were sent from Florida, fruit
from California by special express. Elab-
crate shades were designed TO screen the
electric lights for this one occasion. An
orchestra, brought on from New YORK,
played classic selections behind a lattice
eof American Beauty roses.
Gold plate was used on the table and
the name cards were painted by clever
and well-known artists. With the dessert
small packages were handed to the guests
which contained JeWeled baubles for the
women. watches, rings, bracelets, and
purses, and for the men scarfpins set
with diamonds. watch fobs. rings, little
gifts that cost thousands Of dollars, and
after the distribution of these there was
still another surprise TO come.
Hanging from the ceiling and suspended
Just over the table was a great flower
balloon. lighted up with electric lights, so
exquisitely constructed that every one
had remarked upon H.
When dinner was nearly over. the bal
loon swung open at an unseen signal
from the host and shower OF hundreds
Of American Beauty roses fell over the
table. the guests, and the floor for which
there was a picturesque scramble.
A little later than the date Of this
dinner a ball was given by the wife of q
millionaire. the architect of his own
splendid fortune, who climbed from the
bottom of the ladder TO the topmost rung,
who amassed his great wealth through
frugality and hard work, and who, know
ing full well the value Of money and
despising ostentaton. Yet allows his wife
TO squander it at viii.
For her great fete this milIionairess
built an addition TO her house, which is
one OF the most spacious in town, a great
ballroom. large enough TO accommodate
an army Of people. which was equipped
with a heating plant. hung with dra-
peries and decorated with flowers g. only
the streets and palaces Of Rune are dec
GRATED for some great. gala occs sion.
Like a Flower Garden.
Fluted columns were placed at regular
intervals around the salon. the top Of
which were crowned with huge baskets
filed with branches Of roses with their
foliage, oleanders, and geranlums. These
baskets were connected by green gar
lands twined about and studded with
flowers. and in every available space were
mounds Of blossoms and clusters Of
bloom.
A great table decorated with flowers,
pyramids Of noUgat. glace, fruits. and
glistening with gold and crystal, was
spread at one end Of the room, from
which was served during the whole even
ing every possible delicacy, while rivers
Of champagne flowed and two orChestras,
in different parts of the house. nlayed
throughout the reception. Sardanapalus
could have learned some new lessons in
extravaganza from this banquet. and
Cleopatra's famous pearl would not have
rivaled it in cost.
The dinners this woman gave were
likewise marvellous affairs. Her favorite
service was mauve. for which the cloth
was Of satin Of this shade with a deep
border OF velvet. over this was spread a
point lace cover so exquisitely fine that
its proper place was in a museum, The
gold candelabra held perfumed mauve
candles shaded with silk orchids. the
huge gold bowl in the center Of the table
was filled with the same flowers, and