There is one rule in life I invariably carry out--never to rely wholly on my own judgment, but to get the advice of others, weigh it well and satisfy myself of its correctness, and then act on it. I went in this city to those who could make the best analysis of men; who knew their past as well as their present, and could foresee their future. In this way, I made up an Executive Committee of three gentlemen, who daily met at my house, and we went to work in earnest to make a list of those we should ask to join in the undertaking. One of this Committee, a very bright, clever man, hit upon the name of Patriarchs for the Association, which was at once adopted, and then, after some discussion, we limited the number of Patriarchs to twenty-five, and that each Patriarch, for his subscription, should have the right of inviting to each ball four ladies and five gentlemen, including himself and family; that all distinguished strangers, up to fifty, should be asked; and then established the rules governing the giving of these balls--all of which, with some slight modifications, have been carried out to the letter to this day. The following gentlemen were then asked to become “Patriarchs,” and at once joined the little band: JOHN JACOB ASTOR, WILLIAM ASTOR, DE LANCEY KANE, WARD MCALLISTER, GEORGE HENRY WARREN, EUGENE A. LIVINGSTON, WILLIAM BUTLER DUNCAN, E. TEMPLETON SNELLING, LEWIS COLFORD JONES, JOHN W. HAMERSLEY, BENJAMIN S. WELLES, FREDERICK SHELDON, ROYAL PHELPS, EDWIN A. POST, A. GRACIE KING, LEWIS M. RUTHERFORD, ROBERT G. REMSEN, WM. C. SCHERMERHORN, FRANCIS R. RIVES, MATURIN LIVINGSTON, ALEX. VAN RENSSELAER, WALTER LANGDON, F. G. D’HAUTEVILLE, C. C. GOODHUE, WILLIAM R. TRAVERS.