South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-03-30
By Betty Van Benthuysen

4 takes nine taors to make a man, according
TO the tuneful person in Robin Hood. 1t takes
considerably more than nine dressmakers to
make a debutante. And 20 them must be added
such an army of modistes, caterers, retainers
ehaufIeurs and the whole long list of modern
tradesmen and servitors that one needs must in
dulge IN calculation TO say how many separate
individuals 10 requires to present formally TO so
eicty a young woman who is destined to play her
role In thS international drama, or tragedy, OF
millions
New York paid more than 81 100000 this sea-
son 20 stage the entry of the 1922 class Of
debutantes. And no one las attempted to calcu-
late the huge sums lavished IN preparing the deb
0ies for their formal bows.
Never before in the history OF the world has
so much money been spent 70 introduce young
women 10 those who already knew them. and to
provide a social spring board for the taking Of
the plunge into the sea that has for its series Of
INDIVIDUAL prizes husbands who may and may not
stand hitched to the family gate post
Five young women, heiresses TO mighty fort
unes, head the list Of nearly 200 debutantes. all
Of whom, with very few exceptions, belong TO the
element that is cassed very wealthy, even in
this day when men and nations think in billions
and a million is no longer dazzling.
For each OF them a series of comIno-o,t A.
fairs was arranged, and what was true for The
Big Five was, In a measure, true of all Of the
zoe. Only IN degree Of extravagance and ciDbers
behind the initial cost figure, did the ceremonial
FESTIVITIES 1'iLeE lle one from the other.
And who are these five young misses whose
first appearances on the social stage would have
compelled Croesus, with his tabled wealth to con
suit a friendly pawnbroker. They are:
Miss Barbara Whitney, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Harry Payne Whitney, backed by the great
wealth that her father inherited from the late
William G. Whitney, cabineteer in the Cleveland
regime, and master Of street railway millions
Miss Joan Whitney, daughter of Mr. and Mrs
Payne Whitney, kin by blood and fortune to the
frst-named debutante.
Miss Louisa Stedman Wilson, daughter Of
Mr.. and Mrs Richard T. Wilson, related to both
the Aston and Vanderbilt families
Miss Film Macbay. daughter Of Clarence H
Nackay, head of the Postal Telegraph Company.
and the heir 20 the vast estate of the late John
" Mackay who went west with the Forty-niners
and became immensely wealthy in the rugged
days when the foundations were laid for many
huge fortunes.
Miss Nuriel Vanderbilt daughter Of Mr.. and
Mrs. William K Vanderbilt backed by the New
York Central millions, and the other holdings
that have come down from old Commodore Van
derbi't
And behind this formidable array Of great
wealth. one finds Adele Sloane Hammond,
daughter IF Mr. and Mrs. John Henry Ham
mondi Miss Sheua Burden, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs James Abercrombie Burden; Miss
Mary Alice Barney, daughter Of mr.. and
Ms. j. Stewart Barney; Miss Carlotta Have
meyer, daughter Of Mr. and Mrs H. o. Have
meyer; Miss Jeanne Reynal, daughter Of Mr. and
Mrs. Eugene Sugny Reynal, and then the trailing
list Of notables whose fortunes viii be identified
with the social triumphs, the important affairs.
and. unfortunately, the ever-recurring divorces
Of the upper circle
Among them one finds:
Misses Kate Darlington, Helen Loew Rice,