Etiquette--New York (State)--New York--History
Rich people--New York (State)--New York--Biography
Wealth--Social aspects--New York (State)--New York--History--19th century
New York (N.Y.)--Social life and customs--19th century
"Cecilia Tichi invites us on a beautifully illustrated tour of the Gilded Age, transporting readers to New York at its most fashionable. A colorful tapestry of fun facts and true tales, What Would Mrs. Astor Do? presents a vivid portrait of this remarkable time of social metamorphosis, starring Caroline Astor, the ultimate gatekeeper"--
The splendors of the Gilded Age -- Mrs. Astor speaks -- Millionaires' Row -- Fifth Avenue mansions -- Decoration of houses -- Servants and their duties -- Convenience or contraption -- Electric light -- Elevators -- Telephone -- Competitive consumption -- Ladies mile -- Gentlemen's emporia -- Tea rooms and luncheons -- Best dressed -- The hat makes the man -- The walking stick : the essential gentleman's accessory -- Plume trade, or, Decorating with nature -- Color harmony -- For all occasions -- Well behaved -- Ward McAllister, autocrat of conduct -- How to navigate a public encounter -- Correspondence -- Cards, visits, and calls -- Parties and balls -- Gilded Age "Cinderella" -- Seen but not heard -- What they read -- Dinner is served -- The proper place setting -- New York's elegant restaurants -- Delmonico's -- Sherry's -- The lobster : from prison fare to haute cuisine -- A black tie dinner on horseback -- The grain and the grape -- Mrs. Astor's annual ball -- The social set -- To see and be seen -- Theater and opera -- Stage-door Johnny -- Central Park -- Club life -- Newport -- Slumming it : entertainment on the Lower East Side -- The sporting life -- Boating -- Polo -- Bathing -- Tennis -- Archery and croquet -- Golf -- Cycling -- Getting there -- Horse power -- Motor cars -- Private rail cars -- Steamships -- Yachts -- Money talks -- Gospels of wealth -- Wall Street -- Top-drawer schools -- Dollar princesses -- Newspaper wars -- The whiff of scandal -- Divorce and Mrs. Astor -- Inexcusable -- Deadly triangle : Nesbit, White, Thaw -- On the scene : boldface names in New York -- Diamond Jim Brady (1856-1917) -- Nellie Bly (1864-1922) -- Jack London (1876-1916) -- Lillian Russell (1860-1922) -- Buffalo Bill (1846-1917) -- Front-page girls -- Muckrakers -- Funerals.