St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-02
DoLLARCRATs OF NEW YORK.
Society Among the Blue-B Blood People of
Hanu Millions,

Manu Millions,
New York Cor. of the Philadelphia Record.
am very thankful that my ambition does
not lie in the social direction. If am am
bilious for anything it is something more
tangible than to say that am on the visiting
list of some well-known leader of fashion.
Perhaps, if l had nothing else to do than to
think of things of this sort l might be as de-
sirous of social distinction as are great
many men and women whom / know. This
reflection is aroused by the current gossip in
society, which is that Mrs. Bradley-Martin
has accomplished the great end for which she
has been living, and has been in vited to the
Belmonts Society is agog over this bit OF
news, and Mrs. Bradley-Martin has reached
the goal of her ambition. Mrs. Belmont is
one OF the few leaders of society through
whose veins really blue blood flows. She
was Miss Perry, the daughter of Commo-
dore Perry, and she is related to all the
swells of the army and navy. When Mrs.
Belmont married Mr.. Belmont and came to
New York to live she saw that society was
made up largely Of people with more money
than blood, and she determined to set her
face against the intrusion Of millionaires.
So. it once becoming known that it was hard
to gain admission to the Belmont mansion,
all the women who sought for social distinc
ton bent their energies to accomplish that
end In the case of Mrs. Paran Stevens |
am told Mrs. Belmont has been firm, and
that wealthy woman, whose daughter is mar
ried to the scion of an English noble family,
and whose wedding was attended by the
Prince of Wales and no end of titles, has
never been invited to the halls of the Bel
monts. Outside of the Belmonts Mrs. Paran
Stevens is quite social power; but her soul
yearns for the one thing that is unaccom
plished, and though she conceals her vexa-
ton to a certain degree she still feels it, and
does express it on occasions.
1t is a reflection on New York society that
Mrs. Paran Stevens is one of its leaders; not
but that Mrs. Stevens is an excellent woman
in her way, but her way is not what one ex-
poets in a social leader. Personally, like
her, because she is thoroughly genuine and
speaks her mind. She does not always
speak her mind elegantly, but she assumes
no airs nor graces, and does not pose for
anything more than she is, which is wealthy
and ambitious woman. Mrs. Stevens at
tends largely to her own affairs, and looks
guage in dealing with the men she meets in
business is not always choice IS the effect of
her early education. She has a hot temper
and vigorous tongue, and she cannot
always control the one nor bride the other.
The Bradley Martins, who have just sue
ceeded in penetrating the Belmont strong
hold, are very wealthy people, or at least
Mrs. Bradley Martin is. do not think that
her husband had anything when he married
her, whatever ne may have to-day. But she
came to him with a bank account of s.. 000,-
000. She is the only child of a widowed
mother, and will have another $4,000, 600
when her mother dies. The Bradley-Mar-
tins, when they dropped into the New York
social world, thought the best way 10 attain
distinction was. not by giving the conven-
tional parties of society, but 10 give dinners;
and they have been giving two week
throughout the season, which are the most
famous dinners given in New York. They
have a chef, to whom they pay a fabulous
salary, and they lay themselves out to make
these dinner parties notable feature OF New
York social life, and they have succeeded.
But until they began their dinner-giving the
Bradley Martins were quite unknown, and
although Mrs. Bradley Martins father was
worth his SIC, 600, 900 he did not hold any
prominent social position.
know q very worthy woman in this city
whose husband is engaged in q manufactur-
ing business, and is making great deal of
money His wife is ambitious. She wants
to see her name beside that of Mrs. Astor,
Mrs Pierrcpont Morgan, Mrs. Cutting and
all tue other social swells. But how to ae-
complish thisi Her autecedents are thor
oughly respectable, but are not such as
would have brought her into the notice of
any OF these people. Her mind, however, is
set upon this one object, and she fights bril-
liautly and automatically 20 that end. She
thinks the matter out carefully, and sees
that there is little chance OF her meeting
these people in the ordinary course; so she
Joins charity societies. of which they are
members, and by the force of her money at
tracts attention. Committee meetings are
held at the houses Of the swell members, and
she gains foothold. The wedge once in.
then she pushes it gently but firmly. From
A handsome enough house on an uptown
street she has moved into $500, 600 man
sion on Fifth avenue. She turned a decora-
tor loose in her new house, and she now feels
that she can hold her own with the best of
them. But TO DO this she must still be dip
lomstic. Her husband, a dull, amiahle sort
Of man, with gift for making money, looks
on aud smiles proudly when he sees his
wife's name among the rich ani great; but
ne does not care much about their society
himself and would prefer any evening TO
SIT at home in his slippers and enjoy an
after-dinner cigar rather than 10 don dress
coat aad De dragged out 10 some social fes-
tivity where he viii be bored to death for two
or three hours. Sill, he enjoys seeing the
case With which MS wife carries herself in
this company, and takes what comfort he