The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02


We have all heard Of the query. How much
is he worth 2" ascribed to the Kniokerbocker
metropolis while other questions less sordid
and practical are attributed to other cities. We
are hardly called upon to vindicate Manhattan
againat slur which ia now some hrty years
old. and yet, even on this score, something
might be urged In its defence. Where such
prosaic items as rent. gas servants wages. and
the nero necessares OF life are inordnately
deAr-where operas. equipages art galleries.
antique furniture and n somewhat sumptu-
Gus cuisine are accounted we'll nigh indspen-
sable the whole scheme OF living being
adjusted TO a certain scale OF opulence
and splondor-whether a candidates means
OF expenditure are adequate to his social pre-
tensions may properly enough be the first in
qury, provided, OF course. it be not also the
last. Just so the command OF evening dress lie
the preliminary condition OF admittance to a
ballroom. but the young gentleman who imaR-
ines his investiture OF that garment will insure
him unlimited success. is likely TO bs swiftly I'M
deceived. Those ambitious grain shippers and
aflluent packers OF pork who. laying tho afore-
said adage TO heart have forsaken Chicago
and Cincinnati and marched gayly to the
conquest OF this island are reported TO dis
cover to their infinite disgust the wide
difference In logic between n sine qua
non and a complete definition. The line
Of the upper Fifth avenue Is strewn with their
magnificent wrecks. and yet they might easily
have informed themselves whether tho vast ac-
cumuatlons OF certain native millionares had
secured to their unlcttered owners one flash Of
social favor, or whether anything except a for
tunate alliance could have placed their descend
ants in the position they may hold. To be rich.
In fine. Is necessary. but to be agreeable seems
to be quito rs requislte and what fund OF ac-
complishments and acquisitions. OF charming
gifts. physical and mental. must that man or
woman draw upon who would sway. though II
were only for one season. the sceptre OF YER
table mondel
While any city however. has already begun
to evolve the delightful thing known as good
society. the moment 1t accepts the principle that
those who demand social privileges must them
selves contribute In some positive way 10 others
pleasure. II by no means follows that all people
relish the same kind Of diversions. and. Of
course. a variety Of tastes would explain and
Justify the formation Of cliques. Yet numer-
Gus ns these may be. they would appear to
group themselves undor three broad categories.
according as the habit Of lavish expenditure. or
a lingering regard to family. or a certain lite
rary tincture happens to be the characteristic
feature. Probably the attentive and impartial
more prestige to what is stigmatized by its rivals
IA the ultra fashionable set. At all events those
foreign observers who have learned. It seems. to
think an American tour an essential element OF
a nobleman's education. are likely to see most
OF those salons to whose chatelaines belong the
proscenium boxes at the Academy OF Music.
whose equipages arc reckoned among the trl-
umphs OF minor art. and whose conservato ries
and winter gardens transform some kettle
drums into n species OF urban fete champetre
Next in order the conscientious expert would be
apt to rank the Knickerbocker coterie. invested
In these latter days with. fading lustre. and. II
must be Acknowledged. less familiar TO
tho explorers connected with the diplomatic
corps. On the other hand. the more staid.
but somewhat less SNOWY and captivating
danes who control this division Of the New York
world arc profoundly respected by their fellow
countrywomen. and are reputed. indeed. TO be
better known than any others tby reason Of past
aliancesl TO the oligarchs OF neighboring cities.
These exemplary persons are observed to keep
Lent with rigorous fidelity. and while they can
not be reproached with cschewng the theatre.
thoy support with especial ieryor Church Musi-
cal and Philharmonic concerts. and can usually
be relied on to sit through an oratorio. As we
have heard. 1t is their habit TO bring the charge
OF fastness against the more vvacious group
above referred to. who in turn cruelty avengo
themselves by pronouncing their critics slow.
By the side Of these two categories the social
connoisseur might venture to place though not.
we apprehend. without a flutter OF hesitation. a
cotorie sometimes described by the hybrid term
of the fashionable-literary. According to the
most authentic reports attainable on the sub
ect, we are not 10 suppose that the aesthetic ten
denotes pcrceptible in these drawing rooms are
a.
moro material Injuries OF life. or that. because
the MUSES. are vouchsafed an entree. they take
rank for one moment with the Graces. Neither
would tho masculine habitues OF these salons
be annoyed. seemingly 10 end themselves COM
pared with ChestorAeld although the soured
observer might have in mind the definition
which made of Stanhops only wit among lords
OF this. however. and the coordinate divisions
which make up society proper the really typ
zeal and cosmopolitan mark appears 10 be
the premise with which we started. name
| ly. that no positive claim OF decisive SUI
periorlty is set up by any Of these circles.
On the contrary. thoy discover on the proper
occasions a wholesome spirit Of mutual recog-
milton and respect. nor does any large private
| ball fail to summon detachments from them all.
New York society being at last constructed on
the sound basis Of adequate resources coupled
! Win WHINING pSIrpuhl gus 10 NINututlals
| Of membership we should expect TO find its
d6butantes quito rs we'll qualified to charm ms
their counterparts In European capitals. But
| Miss Irene Macgillcuddy in the course Of her
recollcctions points out some shortcomings In
the mental outfit ofthe bellies OF Manhattan, hint
ing that their bright aud nimble wits owe very
little 10 education and are decidedly cramped
in their field Of exercise. She afllrms that mos
young women Of good station are ludicrousll
incompetent TO discuss the topics which Interest
intelligent men. and she intlmates that thcil
naturally active intellects. gasping little in th'
heavy atmosphere Of gossip and twaddlc. con-
trve for themselves a species Of ventilation in
certain sprightly and stlmuntlve diversions
Now there is no ground 10 suppose that Amer
can girls differ very much in these respects
from young ladies in other countries; ant
would II be reasonable in any case 10 complain
OF deficiencies entailed by the conditions anC
paramount object OF feminine career7 /,
| the FaubourgS 81. German and in Belgravia quite
| as truly rs In Manhattan Island. the well-breC
damsel finds In wedlock the one rational, achiev
able end Of her existence. and such. with thu
leave Of the satirist, must We fear continue
to be the case until female suffrage shall