Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1886-09-11

The old commodore nau no Socihi AihOt
ton. He had plenty OF money win WIich
10 crafty his unesthetic tastes ana, SO
Tong az he could drive fast horses In the
afternoon and play cards with congenial
cronies In the evening, he cared notnlng
for the pomps and van1ties oil society his
son, william H., was brought up onia
farm-his father for long time enter
tanning an extremely low opinion oil ms
financial capabilities (the only capaoiii-
ties for which he had any respectl -and
was forty years old or more wnen ne mao
chance 70 enter into metropolitan lie.
None OF the comm0dore'5 cnildren
made a matrimonial match to special So
cial advantage; and 1t was not TIL the
third generation that there cropped out
in the family a desire to secure distinc-
ton other than pecuniary. William HIS
second son, William X, married a wo-
man In society; and this marriage was the
entering wedge by means OF which the
Vanderbilt connection in general finally
succeeded in penetrating the Knicker-
booker Holy OF Holes. There are still
some Of the ancient regime who OCCASION
ally deride the plebeian origin OF the Van
derbilts--as indeed there are few who
yet sneer Gin strict privacy at the Astors
but the commodore's grandchildren
have got their feet planted so solidly upon
the top round of the social ladder that
they are not likely soon TO be dislodged
theTefrom--unless, indeed, they should
lose their money.
'Traden Is the almost insurmountable
obstacle TO reception among the knicker-
bockers; and vet Htradeh does not In this
respect comprehend all commercial oper-
atoms. Far from It. The man who sells
dry goods or groceries Is barred out; but
the man who sells stock or letters OF
credit il admissible. The person who
''runsn mandatory is disqualified; but
the person who "runsn railroad Is ELI
giOle. The "farmer" cannot get inside
the gate; but the "planter" Is not neces-
sarily shut out, Under the Knickerbocker
definition OF the word "trade" the only
exceptions of consequence to the
rule Of exclusion are those OF
the Lorillards, who rank among the
creme de Ia creme despite the fact that
they are engaged In the tobacco trade.
Their somewhat anomalous posi-
ton is accounted for, however,
by their intermarrlage with Knick-
erbockers, TO say nothing Of their
possession OF very large incomes, and of
their conspicuity in the fashionable turf
interest.
Mr.. Arthur Leary, son Of noted halter
OF the last generation, is shining light
in the New York social world. In the
early part OF his modish career snobs
used TO think II the height of wit to as
him: "Leary, where do you buy your
hats?" But he, being a sensible man,
was not disturbed by the covert insult
and would answer with perfect sang
frold 'At my fathers" And now Mr..
LearY has risen above the atmosphere of
1eers, Is brilliant figure at the balls of
the Patriarchs and the Junior Patrarchs
and all other great entertainments, and
divides the leadership of the german with
Col. Delaney Kane and Mr.. Lispenard
Stewart.
OF course the serenity OF the upper
circle Is being continually disturbed by
the struggles Of people outside Of it to
get within its magic bounds. These
struggling people are generally women
and the degree Of skill and energy they
often display to accomplish their end
would, II exhibited in other fields of life,
make fortune, secure senatorship, oil
win battle. All possible strings are
| pulled. There are those SO malicious as
10 insinuate that the zeal OF some rich
| patrons OF opera Is not wholly an out
growth OF admiration for Wagner, but has
rami1cations extending in social
direction. A remarkable instance
OF successful effort is presented
In the case of Mrs. Parar
Stevens of New York. Mr.. Stevens was
a prominent hotel-keeper, who accumu
lated millions in that business But his
golden catapults failed to breach the
walls OF the Knickerbocker citadel. He
died, and the stigma OF 'trade" being
thus removed from the family, his widow
prosecuted vigorous campaign against
the aristocratic stronghold. She is O
woman OF great force of character, and
'knows what's what as well as the
sharpest business man in Wall street
She met with strenuous opposition tc
her darling desire; but she had plenty
OF money, no end OF determination, !
| good deal OF tact, sister who
sang beautifully, and besides, she edu
Gated herself for the duties OF the station
to which she aspired and which she was
resolved TO attain. And not only did she
attain 1t, but she reached one of the yer,
highest seats in the social Sanhedrim
She married her daughter to q son of Gen
Lord Alfred Paget, clerk-marshal of tn,
department of the master OF the horse IL
her maiesty's household, and Ia member
of the family which Is headed by the
marquis OF Anglesey. She maintains es
adjustments in New York, Newport ant
Londoni aud no Lady Sneerwell dare
question her social ascendancy.
Some of the richest men In New York
are not inside the Knickerbocker ring
Jay Gould Is the most prominent OF thes,
outsiders. He might effect AN entranc,
II he desired, but he has no inclination.
In the direction Of society. Russell Sage
is another dweller beyond the threshold
And In the same list might be included
most of the leading members OF the Rev
DR.. Halls extraordinary wealthy congre
gation--the Harpers, the Bonners, ant
all OF the Hoes except one OF the younger
branches. SThese people, though living
In great luxury, are too piously sedate "a
seek to enjoy what they consider the friy.
olities OF the EXTREMIST fashion. DEF.
Buya windsor Folding He'd
OF Fakes 6 Co, Sold on the installment
plan.
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