CHAPTER XXVII
.
_I visit Washington as the guest of Attorney-General Brewster--A Dinner at the White House--Amusing arrangement of Guests--The Winthrop Statue--The memorable Winters of 1884-85--A Millionaire’s House-warming--A London Ball in New York--A Modern Amy Robsart--Transforming Delmonico’s entire place into a Ball-room--The New Year’s Ball at the Metropolitan Opera House--Last Words._
The following winter my friend Attorney-General Brewster invited me to Washington to pass a fortnight with him, and I then got a glimpse of modern life in that city. I enjoyed my visit, but found the people slower of action than we are in New York; for instance, it took my kind host fully a week to consider over and map out a dinner for me. Then, just as I was leaving, the President asked me to dine with him. I was informed that it was imperative that I should cancel other engagements and remain over to accept his invitation.
The arrangement of the guests at this dinner was to me amusing. Reaching the White House, I was separated from the ladies I brought, and could not in any way find them again to enter the drawing-room with them, but was ushered into it from a side door, and there joined the gentlemen, who stood in line on one side of the room, while from an opposite door the ladies entered the same room, and formed in line, as it were, opposite the men. When all were assembled, the President himself entered, bowed to his guests, and offered his arm to one of the ladies, and led the way in to dinner.
The view from the dining-room into the conservatories, displaying the finest collection of white azaleas I have ever seen, was most effective. The dinner was good, and well served; the President most gracious. Turning to me, he said, “Why, your friend Winthrop is not himself to-day. What is the matter with him?” I replied, “My dear Mr. President, he has been up to the Capitol, and seen his ancestor in white marble, and found his nose was shockingly dirty. This annoyed and mortified him.” The President replied, “Really, well, this is too bad! This matter shall at once have my attention. That nose shall be wiped to-morrow!”
The winters of 1884 and 1885 will long be remembered by New York society people, for three of the largest, handsomest, and most successful balls ever given in this city have made them memorable. The heir to probably the largest fortune ever left to one man in this country, then threw open the doors of his palatial residence and generously invited all who were in any way entitled to an invitation, to come and view his superb house, and join in the dance which was to inaugurate its completion.
As I went up the beautiful stairs and passed along the gallery, looking down on a hall such as few palaces contain, with a long train of handsomely dressed women passing me on their way down to the reception room, it put me in mind of a scene I well remembered at the Hôtel de Ville, in Paris, at a ball given by the Emperor Napoleon III. to the King of Sardinia. It looked royal, and was most impressive. Our host stood in the centre of his hall, giving to all a warm welcome. Passing him we entered his _grand salon_, where his wife received us. The room itself, Oriental, and as Eastern and luxurious in its own peculiar style as one could create it. From this _salon_, we entered a novel Japanese room, and then the fine dining-room of the house, with its marvelous ceiling, painted by one of the best modern French artists. The picture galleries were the ball and supper rooms. The cotillion was danced in the farthest of the two galleries, the ladies seated in double and triple lines on improvised seats, as if they were sitting on a long extended dais all around the room. The effect was dazzling and brilliant. All supped well, for when supper was announced little tables were placed like magic through the rooms; and New Yorkers had what they well knew how to appreciate--an elaborate, well-served repast; champagne in abundance, and of the best, and in perfect condition. In my opinion, it was one of the handsomest, most profuse, liberal, and brilliant balls ever given in this country.
The next great flutter in New York’s fashionable world was the announcement of a grand entertainment to be given, embracing all the features of a London ball, which, though a novelty here, had for years been done in London; that was to build an addition to one’s house, to be used but for one night, and to be made large enough to comfortably hold, with the house, one thousand or twelve hundred people. There was plenty of energy and talent to carry this out, and reproduce here what Londoners have always been so proud of--their ability to double the capacity of their city houses by utilizing their yards, covering them with a temporary structure, to be used as a supper or ball room. A young man of an old Long Island family had married a beautiful girl, a young woman such as Walter Scott would have taken to impersonate his character of Amy Robsart, who, besides this natural and _naïve_ style of beauty, possessed great administrative ability, and withal much taste, a great amount of energy, and a fortune large enough to carry through any enterprise she conceived. Both of them were devoted to society, and to each other. Passing their summers abroad, and seeing what vast conceptions society there undertook, and successfully carried out, they resolved to repeat here what they had seen on the other side of the water. In Marcotte they had a great ally, a man of wonderful taste and ability; planning out the work themselves, with his skillful hand to execute it, they certainly built up in a night, as it were, a superb banqueting hall, complete and elaborately finished as if a part of the house itself; a solid structure, with no appearance of its being temporary or run up for the occasion. Throwing two houses into one, and descending from them into this vast banqueting hall by a wide flight of stairs, you had, to all appearances, a grand palatial residence, whose rooms the largest crowd could roam through with freedom and perfect comfort. The houses themselves were so handsomely decorated in the period of Louis XIV., that it required cultivated taste to add floral decorations to such rooms; but it was done, and admirably done, and was a remarkable feature of this superb ball. Garlands of the delicate _La France_ roses were festooned on the walls, and over and around the doors and windows, producing a charming effect. There were two cotillions danced in separate rooms. The approach from the street to the houses was admirable; the pavement was inclosed the entire length of both, carpeted, and brilliantly lighted with innumerable jets of gas--a ball long to be remembered!
What then was there left for one to do in the way of entertaining to give society anything new and novel? This duty was then imposed on me. These pages bear evidence that I am blessed with memory, but imagination was then what I required to conceive and carry out some new enterprise in the way of a subscription New Year’s ball, to surpass anything I had ever before given.
The most difficult rooms to decorate are those at Delmonico’s; but this establishment is unequaled in London or Paris in that it gives under its roof incomparable balls, banquets, and dinners. So we resolved that talent, taste, and money should be expended in an effort to design and give there a superb ball. The house had the advantage of having a large square room, all that was required for a dance of three to four hundred people. On this occasion we were to have seven hundred, and for so large a number we had to provide two _salles de danse_. The upper supper room we turned into a conservatory. Its ceilings were low, but covering them with creeping plants, making around the entire room a dado of banks of flowers and the walls themselves decorated with plaques of roses, introducing the electric light and throwing its jets through all the foliage, we had an improvised bower of flowers and plants that tempted all to wander through, if not to linger in it in admiration of the artistic skill which produced such a result. One room we converted, with Vantine’s assistance, into a perfect Japanese interior. Once in it, we felt transported to that country. Here were served tea and Japanese confections, and over all shone the electric light with charming effect. The _salon_ known as the Red Room had its walls decorated with sheaves of wheat, in which nestled bunches of _Marechale Neil_ roses, the background of scarlet bringing these decorations out strikingly. This, with a new floor, was converted into a _salle de danse_. The large hall into which all these rooms opened was superb, for on all sides of it, from floor to ceiling, were hung the finest Gobelin tapestries of fabulous value. To obtain their use we had to telegraph to Paris, and were required to insure them for a large sum. Servants in light plush livery, pumps, and silk stockings, with powdered hair, stood on either side to direct the guests. Having the whole house, we supped in both restaurant and café, and as we had given an unlimited order had an elaborate and exquisite supper.
For a small ball of seven hundred people, I have always felt, and still feel, that this New Year’s Ball, as given at Delmonico’s, was in every sense of the word the handsomest, most complete, and most successful thing of the kind that I have ever attempted in New York City, and I find I am not alone in this opinion. It was as much a feast for the eye as the elaborate supper was for the palate, being complete in every detail, luxurious in adornment, as to its rooms--and epicurean in its feasting.
New York society had now become so large that it seemed necessary to solve at once what, to us, has long been a problem, i.e. where we could bring general society together in one large dancing-room; for though you may have a dozen rooms thrown open, you will always find that all rush to the room where there is dancing. Where then could we get a room where all could at one and the same time be on the floor? It occurred to me that the Metropolitan Opera House had, in its stage and auditorium, such a room, and if we could only divest it of its characteristics, it would be what we wanted.
Satisfying ourselves that we could accomplish this, we formed a Committee of Three and entered on this new enterprise. Artists, who have with ability painted small pictures, may venture on larger canvas. We had succeeded in giving balls of seven hundred and four hundred people. Why not have a similar success on a larger scale? Had our ideas been properly carried out, this ball would have been twice the success it was. The defects were evident, but when seen it was too late to remedy them. The artificial ceiling, cleverly planned to shut out the galleries, was not completed, the electric lights were not shaded as they should have been, and the music stands, ordered by the authorities to be elevated, were unsightly, and marred the brilliant effect we had studied to produce. All else received more praise than criticism.
The four most striking points of this ball were, first, the reception of over twelve hundred people as at a private house by three of our most brilliant and accomplished society ladies; again, what may be termed the _Quadrille d’Honneur_ of that ball, which was the different sets of the Sir Roger de Coverly, danced by the most distinguished ladies of this city, the “nobs” and the “swells” on this occasion uniting; the supping of over twelve hundred people at one time at small tables, and the cotillion ably led by one of our distinguished State Senators, a man in himself representing family, wealth, and political position.
The Sir Roger de Coverly was danced in the auditorium and on the stage, and before its completion a blast from the _cornet à piston_ was sounded by direction of the Management, when at once the three members of the Executive Committee sought the three lady patronesses who had so graciously received for them the guests of this large ball, and had the honor of taking them in to supper. A special table in the centre of the supper room, elaborately decorated with flowers, was arranged for them, and the handsome and courteous gentleman who so royally dispenses hospitality both at his house in town and at his ocean villa in Newport (the handsomest country residence in the United States), at once sought one of America’s loveliest, most beautiful, and most graceful daughters, a charming representative of an old Colonial family, and doubly a New Yorker, representing the historic families of Livingston and Ludlow. Another member of the Committee, a descendant of one of our oldest families, whose ancestor was a distinguished General in the Revolution, had the fortune to have on his arm a most superbly dressed woman, whose tiara of diamonds could well have graced a Queen’s brow--whose beauty I have before alluded to when comparing her to Amy Robsart. I had the honor of leading the way with our leader of society, whom Worth had adorned with a robe of such magnificence that it attracted and held the attention of the whole assembly. Her jewels were resplendent--in themselves a King’s ransom; and placing her on my right, at the supper table, I had on my left the beautiful woman who had won the hearts of the American nation.
Before leaving this ball, I must mete out due praise to the man who could so successfully care for so large a number of people at supper at one time, and give credit to the good and effective work done by the three hundred well-trained, liveried servants scattered through the house, understanding their work and performing it admirably. This ball was given as a New Year’s Ball on the 2d of January, 1890.
And now, in concluding this book, I beg to say that I have simply discussed society as I have found it, and only such entertainments of which I have been part and parcel.
THE PRESENT FASHION IN STATIONERY.
[Illustration: _In America the residence is always in the right corner._]
[Illustration: _In England, if any residence is engraved on a card, it is in the left corner._]
[Illustration: _In France, no lady’s residence is now put on a card._]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: P. P. C.: Pour prendre congé. Translated into English: To take leave.]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: _Going out of Mourning._]
[Illustration: _Lighter Mourning for Brothers and Sisters._]
[Illustration: _Mourning used in this country for Nearest Relatives._]
[Illustration: _Mourning._]
[Illustration: _Second Mourning._]
[Illustration: _Mourning--Husband and Wife._]
[Illustration: _Mourning--Children._]
[Illustration: _For Children._]
[Illustration: _For Brother and Sister._]
[Illustration: MOURNING CARDS.
_For Relatives._]
[Illustration: _For Husband and Wife. Father and Mother.
Mourning as deep as this is rarely used in this country. This is a French card._]
_NOTE._
The originals of the following form of invitations, etc., are on a double note sheet, size 6-7/8 by 9, folded once to 4-1/2 inches wide by 6-7/8 inches long. The material is a medium rough cream-laid linen paper, with water mark.
When address and crest are used on notes, they are done in a bright red; the crest being embossed.
Envelopes used are of same material as note sheet, of a size to take the note folded once in centre.
ADDRESS ENVELOPES IN EACH CASE TO
_Mrs._------------------------------
OR
_Mr. and Mrs._-----------------------
THE FORMER PREFERRED.
FORMS OF CARDS AND INVITATIONS NOW USED BY “THE SMART SET.”
AN INFORMAL ACCEPTANCE TO A DINNER.
_Dear Johnson_:
_It will give me pleasure to dine with you on Friday next at 8 o’clock. Pray present me most kindly to Mrs. Johnson, and believe me_,
_Faithfully yours, J. J. Murray._
_Union Club, Monday, 18 April._
AN INFORMAL REGRET TO A DINNER.
[Illustration]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Dear Mrs. Forsyth_:
_I am so very sorry I cannot have the pleasure of dining with you on the 12th to meet Mr. Waring, as I am going out of town on Wednesday to be absent a week._
_With kindest regards, believe me, Yrs. sincerely, S. T. Oliphant._
A FORMAL INVITATION.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain request the pleasure of Mr. & Mrs. Robinson’s company at dinner on Tuesday, September the eleventh, at eight o’clock._
_August 21st._
A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & Mrs Robinson have much pleasure in accepting Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain’s kind invitation to dinner on Tuesday, September the eleventh, at eight o’clock._
_August 22._
ANOTHER STYLE OF AN INFORMAL ACCEPTANCE TO A DINNER.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Dear Mr. Murray_:
_It will give me great pleasure to dine with you on Friday next, April 12th, at eight o’clock._
_Yours truly, J. J. Murray._
_Tuesday._
A FORMAL REGRET TO A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
_Fair View, Newport, R. I._
_Mrs. Marcy regrets that as she is leaving Newport on Monday, she is unable to accept Mr. and Mrs. Clinch’s kind invitation for the 16th._
_12th August._
AN INFORMAL INVITATION.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_My dear Mrs. Forster_:
_Will you and Mr. Forster give us the pleasure of your company at dinner, on Tuesday, September the eleventh, at half after seven o’clock._
_Sincerely yours, Caroline Russell._
_September third._
AN INFORMAL ACCEPTANCE.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_My dear Mrs. Russell_:
_Mr. Forster & I have much pleasure in accepting your kind invitation to dinner on Tuesday, September the eleventh, at half after seven o’clock._
_Believe me, sincerely yours, Frances Forster._
_September third._
AN INFORMAL REGRET.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_My dear Mr. Russell_:
_Mr. Forster and I regret extremely that a previous engagement prevents our accepting your very kind invitation for Tuesday, September the eleventh._
_Believe me, sincerely yours, Frances Forster._
_September third._
A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE TO A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & The Honble Mrs. Coleman have much pleasure in accepting Mr. & Mrs. Renshaw’s kind invitation for Friday, Aug. 16th, at 7.30._
_Fadden’s, Newport._
_Aug. 9th._
ANOTHER STYLE OF A FORMAL REGRET TO A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & Mrs. Williamson regret that owing to a previous engagement they are unable to accept Mr. & Mrs. Montgomery’s kind invitation to dinner for Saturday, eleventh of January, at eight o’clock._
_December 24th._
ANOTHER STYLE OF A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mrs. & Mrs. Robinson accept with pleasure Mr. & Mrs. Chamberlain’s kind invitation to dinner on Tuesday, September eleventh, at eight o’clock._
_August 22._
ANOTHER STYLE OF A FORMAL REGRET TO A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & Mrs. Blair regret that a previous engagement prevents them from accepting Mr. & Mrs. Robinson’s kind invitation to dinner on Friday, 12th August._
_29th July._
ANOTHER STYLE OF A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
[Illustration]
_Mr. & Mrs. Screven accept with pleasure Mr. & Mrs. Blair’s very kind invitation to dinner for Friday next at eight o’clock._
_April 8th._
ANOTHER STYLE OF FORMAL REGRET TO A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
[Illustration]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Mr. & Mrs. Davis regret extremely that a previous engagement prevents their accepting Mr. & Mrs. Wilson’s kind invitation to dinner for Monday, September 16th._
ANOTHER STYLE OF A FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
[Illustration]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Mr. E. Berkley accepts with pleasure Mr. & Mrs. White’s invitation to dinner on Monday, 16th September, at 8 o’clock._
_13 September._
A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
[Illustration]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Mr. & Mrs. Van Buren request the pleasure of Mr. & Mrs. Catlin’s company at dinner on Saturday, the 11th, at eight o’clock._
_Dec. 23rd._
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A DINNER.
_On an engraved card._
_To meet Mrs. _____
_Address note to Mrs. ____ or Mr. and Mrs. _____]
[Illustration: A FORMAL INVITATION TO A DINNER.
_This should be engraved on note paper._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A DINNER.
_On an engraved card. The best taste._]
[Illustration: ANOTHER STYLE OF AN INVITATION TO DINNER.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO AN AFTERNOON TEA.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A BREAKFAST.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A THEATRE PARTY.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A SMALL DANCE.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: AN INVITATION TO A MUSICALE.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: ANOTHER STYLE OF AN INVITATION TO A MUSICALE.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: A YOUNG LADY’S INVITATION TO A MUSICALE.
_On an engraved card._]
[Illustration: A FORM OF INVITATION TO A WEDDING.
_Engraved an note paper._]
[Illustration: ANOTHER FORM OF INVITATION TO A WEDDING.
_Engraved on note paper._]
[Illustration: ANOTHER FORM OF AN INVITATION TO A WEDDING.
_Engraved on note paper._]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO A WEDDING.
_Engraved._]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO A WEDDING RECEPTION.
_Engraved._]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO A WEDDING, WITH WEDDING BREAKFAST.]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO A WEDDING, WITH WEDDING BREAKFAST.
(_Cards._)]
[Illustration]
[Illustration: ANNOUNCEMENT OF A WEDDING.
_Engraved on note paper._]
[Illustration: ANNOUNCEMENT OF WEDDING.
_Engraved on note paper._]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO RECEPTION AND DANCE ON ENGLISH MAN-OF-WAR.]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO RECEPTION TO THE LORD CHIEF JUSTICE OF ENGLAND.]
[Illustration: INVITATION BY SECRETARY OF STATE TO AN EXCURSION ON WAR STEAMSHIPS.]
[Illustration: REGRETS OF MARQUIS OF LORNE, GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF CANADA, TO INVITATION TO PATRIARCHS’ BALL.]
[Illustration: INVITATION TO BACHELORS’ BALL, METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE, N. Y.]
[Illustration: INVITATION BY PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO A DINNER AT THE WHITE HOUSE.]
[Illustration: A PARIS MENU, 1890
DINER DU 4 JANVIER
_Hors-d’Œuvre_ _Consommé Renaissance_ _Turbot sauces Hollandaise et Nantua_ _Selle de Chézelles aux Épinards_ _Pain de Lièvre à la Française_ _Petites Timbales à la Palbem_ _Faisan truffé sauce Chasseur_ _Cardons à la Savoyarde_ _Glace Parisienne_ _Gâteau Viennois_
_This menu is printed on parchment--size, 5-1/4 × 7-1/8 inches--with border in silver._]
[Illustration: A PARIS MENU, 1890.
_The border of original is done in silver._]
[Illustration: A PARIS MENU, 1890.
Diner du 8 Fébrier
Consommé Royal Croustades Dieppoise Filet de Bœuf Renaissance Timbale de Suprêmes de Volailles Cuissot de Chevreuil sauce poivrade Salmis de Faisans at Perdrix Dinde à la Périgueux Foie gras à la Française Salade de Laitue Pointes d’Asperges veloutée Glace Maltaise Gâteaux Dessert
_Printed on a card 3-1/2 × 6-1/2, with mottled border in gold._]
[Illustration: A PARIS MENU.
_The original is printed on parchment, ornament done in gold._]
[Illustration: A PARIS MENU, 1890.
_Original done on white parchment, ornament in gold and black._]
[Illustration: A NEW YORK MENU.
_This card has bevelled and gold edges, the ornamentation being embossed in old gold._]
[Illustration: A NEWPORT MENU.
_Border done in gold._]
[Illustration: A NEWPORT MENU.
_Border done in gold, wines in red._]
[Illustration: UN MENU AUTHENTIQUE AU CHATEAU DE TUILERIES A L’EMPEREUR NAPOLEON III.]
[Illustration: MENU OF THE SWAN BANQUET.
_The original of this Menu is done in gold._]
[Illustration: MENU OF THE BANQUET GIVEN THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL BY FREDERICK DIODATI THOMPSON, FEBRUARY 3, 1883.
_Heavy white card all done in gold._]
FORMS OF INVITATIONS USED
BY MR. McALLISTER _NOTE._
The originals of the following forms of invitations, etc., are on a double note sheet, size 6-7/8 by 9, folded once to 4-1/2 inches wide by 6-7/8 inches long. The material is a medium rough cream-laid linen paper, with water mark.
When address and crest are used on notes, they are done in a bright red; the crest being embossed.
Envelopes used are of same material as note sheet, of a size to take the note folded once in centre.
ADDRESS ENVELOPES IN EACH CASE TO
_Mrs._ ____
OR
_Mr and Mrs._ ____
THE FORMER PREFERRED.
INFORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF INVITATION TO DINE.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Dear Robinson:_
_I accept with pleasure your kind invitation to dinner for Monday, April first, at eight o clock._
_Very truly yours,_
_Ward McAllister._
_March fifteenth._
INFORMAL REGRET OF INVITATION TO DINE.
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Dear Robinson:_
_I regret extremely that a previous engagement to dinner for Monday, April first, deprives me of the pleasure of accepting your kind invitation._
_Ward McAllister._
_March twenty-fifth._
ANOTHER FORM OF AN INFORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF INVITATION TO DINNER.
_Dear Robinson:_
_I have much pleasure in accepting your kind invitation to dinner for Monday, April first, at eight o’clock._
_Very truly yours,_
_Arthur Forster._
_March fifteenth._
[Illustration: FORMAL REGRET OF INVITATION TO THEATRE PARTY AND SUPPER.]
_____ Fifth Avenue._
_My dear Mr. McAllister:_
_I am very sorry that I have an engagement for that evening, and am deprived of the pleasure of seeing the Kendals and taking supper with you._
_Sincerely yours, Julia Meredith._
_Saturday, April second._
[Illustration: FORMAL ACCEPTANCE OF INVITATION TO OPERA AND OPERA BOX.]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_My dear Mrs. Erskine:_
_I accept with pleasure your kind invitation to join you at the Opera in your Box on Monday evening, first of April. Thanks for the ticket._
_Very truly yours, Ward McAllister._
_March twenty-ninth._
[Illustration: FORMAL INVITATION TO DINNER.]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Mr. Ward McAllister requests the pleasure of_
_Mr. James Carr’s_
_company at dinner on Monday, April first, at half after seven o’clock._
_March fifteenth._
[Illustration: INFORMAL INVITATION TO THEATRE AND SUPPER.]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_My dear Mrs. Meredith:_
_Will you go with us to the Theatre on Monday evening next to see “The Kendals,” and afterwards to supper at Delmonico’s._
_We will stop for you at a quarter before eight o’clock._
_Very truly yours, Ward McAllister._
_Friday, April first._
[Illustration: FORMAL REGRET OF INVITATION TO DINNER.]
16 WEST 86^{TH} STREET.
_Mr. Ward McAllister regrets extremely that a previous engagement deprives him of the pleasure of accepting_
_Mr. and Mrs. Erskine’s polite invitation to dinner for Thursday, March twenty-first._
_March seventh._
[Illustration: FORMAL INVITATION TO RECEPTION ON YACHT.]
End of Project Gutenberg's Society As I Have Found It, by Ward McAllister