UNTOLD FRIENDSHIPS

A long life of hobsnobbery and hospitality is recalled with some candor by a gentleman whose friends' names are news in society and theatre. His boyhood was spent at Whiteaway in Islip and in New York, where he attended Miss Kearny's school and Met matinees with Morgan Belmont. With St. Marks, college and law school behind him, he served through the war in the ambulance corps. ""Pleasure Island"" at Islip and a 39th Street apartment were party seats, but as a fine host, Skye knew his colleagues from Elsa Maxwell to Elsie de Wolfe. His anecdotes and reminiscences include notes on the most glamorous people, among them ""Gertie"" Lawrence, on how to give a party, on names - Poincare, Gershwin, Mary Garden, Ethel Barrymore, August Belmont, etc., on theatre and horses, two passions. His own life story threads through the wealth of names telling us of his various careers, his illnesses and recoveries. There is a gallantry here that suits the glitter. For society column addicts.