Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-28
HIGH LIFE IN NEW YORK.
How the Society Machine Of Gotham is
Run.

New York Correspondence Cincinnati Enquirer
A gentleman to whom I talked the other day
gave me q funny insight into metropolitan so
ciety life | happened to ask him who was the
head OF the rich, fashionable society of New
York just now. ''Weli," said he New York
society ought to be ashamed of itself for the way
it is being led by the nose by assumption and
"impudence. 1t behaves as if it had no self-es-
teen, and could be run by any chap who comes
along who will put himself at the head of it.
The present society boss is man named Ward
McAilister. who comes from somewhere south
Very little is known about him. EXCEPT that he
lives down about 22nd street. in the
| nelghborhoOd OF Sixth avenue. mile away
from the rich and leading element of New York
He is a big, inflated man. with dark, curling
hair. He has no known business and cuts no
figure in financial, artistic or professional life.
somewhere about the close of the war he drop
ped down on New York and proceeded to organ
lze its social barbarans the first family plan.
The first thing he did was to get I'D sort Of
sociable, to be held at Delmonicos every fort
night, under the name of the Patriarchs' ball.
rms name rather carries out the idea of the old
families and leaders of our society There are
i've OF these dancing balls every winter.
"McAlllster Keeps book, and is absolute
over it, putting down whom he wishes and leay-
ing of whom he will. About 60 persons are in
tertainment. Each of these receives five
tickets AS the thing has been going on for *
years he has considerable hold on our fashion
able sOciety-which, however. has never asserted
Itself for one moment, but lets the imported
boss select whom he considers the proper thing
They submit to more afict Ons than the same
number OF rich people anywhere in the world.
Those who reciprOcate by inviting the Mogu to
their houses get the invitations. About two
years ago he concluded, as that old generation
was thinning out another scheme must be rot
up to get in the younger generation. so he or
ganizcd what is commonly called the F. G.. D.
g., meaning the Family Circle Dancing Class. 1t
also meets at DelmOnicO's every fortnight five
times in the season. the subscription price being
500. So, practically. this man. whom nohodv
knows except in connection with these balls
manages the principal entertainments in New
York tOr ten weeks of the fashionable season
the Patriarchs' ball coming in between the r.
Z. d. =. balls. 1t is boss government of the
most ridiculous sort. Some Of our folks are Gee
ing through it, however, and as they have de-
termined not to reciprOcate are ceasng to be
Patrlarchs, &c. When they come to understand
the way they are used they will thin out still
more" ~
This conversation struck me as very funny
and l asked if the southern element pIayei
much part III New York. "Well." said he. s:the
last card they have left to play is this social
card. Some time ago another chap from
Georsia-who had been commercial drummer.
Oack-attlc lawyer or something OF that kind
put himself at the head of the Roburt Burns an
nua dinner. He charged S15 plate. and invited
Wh0msOever he wished, acting as the resduary
legatee OF Robert Burns himself and sole custo-
dian OF his memory OH the Western Hemisphere.
The man had no money, no status-nOthinp bnt
sheer impudence. But he always went about as
II he was backed by an Invisible social world of
wealth. talent and style. He would 90 to Henry
Ward Beecher, Joseph Choate, Admiral Farra-
gut, and invite them to the Burns dinner. They
did, not know who gave it. but the mans cheek
and address made them afraid to INQUIRE. The
dinner would cost four or five dollars a plate
and the surplus would keep our friend from
Georgia for the remainder OF the year. He is
the only man ever known in our community
who could subsist three hundred and siyty-fiye
days on single meal. Notwithstanding the
high price charged, no wine was eyer set on the
table except one quart of common claret for two
adjoining guests, They were supposed to get
the worth OF their money in the public speaking
which this fellow assembled gratuitOusly, like a
theatrical manager who invites the stars of the
profession to give a great entertainment in
memory OF George Washington or Napoleon
bonaparte, they playing for nothing and he tax
ing the ticket money. Our Georgian friend. on
these occasions. would sit back. lead the ap-
piause OF the speeches, communicate his rad
lance to the disappointed assemblage, which.
meantime. was puckertng over the sour wine.
Ana SO 1t went on for series of years till some
common donkey was dull enough to say: WHO
IN the devil Is this man from Georgia who has
not enough respect for Robert Burns to give us
something Ut for Burns to drink" The moment
tnat question was asked the Burns dinner dis
solved and our friend who got it up is probably
getting ready to start balm opposition to the