The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-07-29

people, in tho city Tho larger part OF these
fortunate families probably dwell in brown
stonc-front houses, and have comfortable
and even handsome incomes. They arc the
people who can get trusted at shops, who
wear good clothes, and who occupy the most
eligible pcws in churches. At this season OF
the year very many of them are out Of town,
enjoying the delights Of the mountains or
seaside. Even if tho elite fathers must stay
in the city in order to earn their living or
manage their estates, their wives and chill
drcn are away disporting themselves in the
green fields, or on the sandy beaches washed
by the green sea waves. Pass through the
elite quarter, rs indicated in this directory,
and you sec that most Of the houses have
closed blinds and that at nightfall the SCR
wants of the establishments, Illustrating in
idlcncss, are standing in the areas diligently
observing the passcrs by, or pleasantly in
tcrvicwing the policemen. The absence OF
these families has marked effect on the
trade of the metropolis. for they are the
very people who spend the most money, who
are the best patrons OF the butchers and
grocers and dry goods dealers. III II were
not that so many strangers visit New York
In the summer to sec the sights and buy the
things they want or which please their
fancy, and that about 100000 people who are
not Of the elite remain in town during the
warm season, working and eating rs usual,
the metropolis would be q drcary place at
this season for all those who have the ncccs-
sarics and luxuries OF life to sell. Thus we
observe that there is a compensation in the
fact that all the inhabitants Of New York
do not belong TO the elite.
During the last few years the elite have
almost universally suffered from the hard
times, though compared with the hardships
Of the poor, their losses have been triiing.
From the failure Of railroads and other
stock corporations TO pay dividends, or TO
meet the interest on their bonds, the rich
people OF New York have missed n large
share Of their incomes. This falling off
amounts to many millions annually. Add
to it the loss of income due to the decline OF
rents and the failure Of mortgagors to pay
their interest and we get vast total sum
which has been subtracted from the avail
able money Of these people. Men who
fondly imagined themselves worth million
five years ago, now add up the value Of their
securities and other property, and sadly
discover that the sum is only half mil
lion. Yet, painful as this shrinkagc may be
TO them, ii is really o. no practical account
SO far as their comfort OF living is con-
ccrncd, for they need part with nothing
they desire to make life happy, diminished
though their incomes may be- But among
these thousands OF families many may be
found who are really worse Off than those
who are put among the poor They are try
ing to keep up appearances, are living be-
yond their means, stand in daily dread of
their creditors, and are playing the part of
social frauds The men who do not belong
TO the elite, but who can pay their bills are
vastly better Off than they, and far more
deserving Of respect.
II would bc easy TO say hard things about
the elite of New York, and doubtless the
men now on strike think i'll Of them but
without them, without their wealth and
their multiiarous wants and fancics, the
condition Of all those who work for their
living would suffer II change replete with
Inconvenience, at least for the present
They are not the enemies of the la
horcr but the people who give him work
to which to lay his hands and, take them all
in all, they are no happier than the inhabi-
tan,s OF the humber tcnemcnts Of the town.
II. however, we wished to pick out who are
the really best people Of New York, we
should not conilnc ourselves to those mem
toned in this Elite Directory. We should
rather select them from among the number
Of those men and women in the metropolis
who deal most justly and live most up
rightly, whether they be poor or rich.