The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-02
SOME NEW hooks.
A Glimpse OF New York Society.


Not long ago an English gentleman who
had soiourned for season in Manhattan
Island transmitted tho fruit OF his social re-
searches to Bldciacoods Magazine His OBJ
servations wero embodied in the attractive
form OF story purporting to set forth The
Tender RecouectiOns oJ irene Moc1fUtc,tddv
Unlike some Of its English countorparts. this
little sketch attested authentic sources OF in
formation, Ms well rs a keener insight than Is
easily comprised from an aliens point OF view
One or two pleasant phases OF American life are
portrayed with creditable fidelity and spirit
though not by any means with the cdify-
Ing exactness and elaborate finish with
which Mr. Henry James. Jr., would have oxe-
cuted the same task. We need not say, too. that
the social structure. regulation and atmosphere
OF tho American metropolis constitute u themo
too broad. too complex. and In the judgment OF
many estmabe persons. too important 10 be
dealt with by tho side strokes Of q novelette,
We may avail ourselves. therefore. OF the
Bprlghtly tale above referred to. and with the
more proprcty that 1t has found a good many
readers on each side OF the Atlantic rs a sort Of
tcxt for more discursive and serious inquiry.
Suppose we examine. in All earnest. philo-
sophie temper, the question. what 1t is that ex-
perts call New York society-wherein that covet-
cd thing differs, on the one hand, from imperfect
Rnalogues In less fortunate places. and on the
other from imperfect approximations at home.
Whatever may be said for the distinctive So
cial attractions possessed by Boston. Phladcl-
phia. Washington-and 1t might Justly be ac-
counted an lmpertnence not to add certain
Western and Southern citcs-it is certain that
New York might abide with confidence the test
which settled the precedence OF Themistocles.
We cannot doubt tho most innexibe champion
OF Quaker or OF Puritan or OF Cavalier pre-
ominence would conccde good second" to
Manhattan society. Perhaps II was not always
30. but decades have passed since the meliorn-
ton OF New York's social amenities seems to DO
widely recognized az not whit less noteworthy
than its commercial growth. We may fairly
claim to have emerged from tho swathings Of
local custom and prejudice. to have thrust aside
tho dictatorship OF individuals or par
tcular families. and acquired something
like the independence and catholicity OF
London life. The cohesive. ultra-cxcusive ten
dency which marks society In some Atlantic
cities is. after all. only a sign Of homage. Could
we fnd. indeed asurer index OF social maturity
than the restless energy which. challng under
the limitations OF cramped compact body.
finds issue in multitude Of coteries diverse in
tastes and features. but compelling mutual
respect and maintaining a common standard OF
good broedingp Is II not precisely tho right
and the ability to exact reciprocal esteem which
stamps the clques of genuine metropolis?
We have heard that such state OF things Is by
no means encountered in Philadelphia or
Boston.
There exists. for instance. at the south
end OF the Puritan capital. a vast tract un-
known TO Beacon street. yet possessed OF
theatres. clubs. hotels. sumptuous dwelling
houses. and handsome parks. enlivened also in
due m\lsure by balls drums. dinner parties.
and otheN incentives TO polite Intercourse. Atthe
period OF the summer exodus the natives OF this
terra iRco0nad are said to throng the beaches
OF swampscot and Rye and they have been
known to stray westward as far as Sharon and
Saratoga. But drill and prune themselves with
what asSduity they NAV. the bearing OF these
respectable persons is alleged to discover a Gu
rious uneasiness and proneness 10 set-asser-
ton quite foreign to the familars Of Kings
Chapel and the Somerset Club. 1t would seem
the gentry OF Blackstone square and Shawmut
avenue are not arstocrats in their own country.
and 1t is but natural the consciousness Of that
fact should fret them. No doubt It is dsheart-
ening 10 undertake schemes Of conquest with
tho certainty that mere Ignorance OF your
name and status. brought out by inquiry in
certain quarters may sufhce to brand you as
impostors-it being notorious that any Bosto-
nian holding right Of entrec 10 good society is
known. by report at least. to every other.
are reported to be vigorously tabooed. and those
substantial mansions upon Arch street harbor.
we are told. no inmates entitled 10 consort with
the oligarchs OF Walnut and Spruce. Indeed.
the pious denizens of the former locality find 1t
easier they say. 10 enter Paradise than the
doors OF the Philadelphia Club; and they have TO
thank the upheaval OF a civil war and the tran
sient necessities Of the Union League fraternity
for a CLEAN OF social recognition. Sons and
burghers perplex the stranger on such neutral
ground as Atlantic City by extollng with an air
OF conviction the exclusive soirees Of their ma
tive town. while they contrive at the same time
10 avoid all allusion to his friends in Rtten-
house square. To avow for a moment MONACO
qualntance in that quarter would OF course be
fatal 10 their pretensions aud doubtless poor
parvenu's manGuvres are vastly entertaining.
Dwellers by the schuylkill. however. or for
that matter by tho Charles may as well acknowl-
edge once for all that the existence OF a small
knot OF people whom not to know argues your
self not worth knowing is rather n reproach
than otherwise, being phenomenon frequent
enough In villages. but rare indeed in any great
focus OF civilization. What may we suppose
would be the amusement OF an English gentle
man TO find his own rank and consequence seri-
ously questioned by IN American friend be-
cause he was unable to point out in Hyde Park
this or that particular peer Ny dear follow"
no would explain. there are in the West End
OF London no less then hundred sets
each equal. though scarcely superior | fancy
in attraction to my own. yet not one member Of
any other. in all human probability. shall ever
meet" So. too. in New York that species Of
universal cognizance by sight or hearsay which
you remark in small and rather stagnant circles
has OF late years become impossible. In fact Ii
IS an incident OF daily experience that men
priding themselves perhaps on a Knickerbocker
ancestry. or belonging. IA they conceive - the
one eDvled and verltable monde are thrown to-
Rether on a Pullman car or Cunard steamer
with some well-bred engaging person whose
speech and manners Enthusiastically bear the
stamp OF lrst-ratc society. and who proves to be
native Of Manhattan, living, it may be. within a
block OF their own doors.
Another striking feature Ia tho changed as
pect Of metropolitan life is the waning prestige
OF certain ancient families which indeed. long
ago abdcated their hereditary claim to leader
ship or control Here again appears a mark Of