Last night’s season finale of HBO’s “The Gilded Age” featured The Breakers Music Room as the scene of a fancy ball. It also reminded us of a story. (If you haven’t yet watched the episode, consider this your spoiler alert.) Like the character Bertha Russell, Alva Vanderbilt was determined to break into the New York upper crust by throwing a lavish ball. To get Caroline Schermerhorn Astor, the queen of New York society, to attend required a little manipulation. Alva knew that Mrs. Astor’s daughter was eager to attend the ball and had been practicing the quadrille for weeks. Alva got word out that no invitation was forthcoming because Mrs. Astor had snubbed her by never paying a visit. The ploy worked, Mrs. Astor called on Mrs. Vanderbilt at her home, and the Astors received their invitation. When they attended the ball, Alva Vanderbilt’s triumph was complete. You don’t need an invitation to visit Alva’s Marble House – it is open daily. #NewportMansions #gildedagemansion #gildedageman...