“William H. Vanderbilt developed an unusual degree of sociability during the evening,” the New York Times reported the following day. “He is the owner of three boxes, two of which he occupied at different times. He also paid two or three visits to the boxes of his friends, and while passing through the lobby stopped frequently and talked with various acquaintances. He was apparently in excellent spirits,” though the paper then went on to add that “as he walked about it was plain to see that he is growing round-shouldered.” Billy had succeeded in buying an opera box not only for himself, but
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