Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-04
NEW YORK LETTER.
rHH rALaors orTEE GREAT MrTRopo-
lrs-wEALTH RoLLrSG WEST.
Tia gsu Society TAeatrs and the Athletic
ciub--Earts Mistsks--A Case which
Suggests the Crewn Prince.
pcor7~spondenco Of the Richmond Dispstchl
- w. Ns.~o1, q 1908

The other day l met gentleman who
is an authority on q subject OF pecuhar
interest. "You see how many foreign
ers"he said, care coming over mere every
wear 10 marry our young American heir
essex You hear Of American million
aires buying the antique and historic
furniture and decorations of Europe.
Yon soc men Of wealth living here in
New York in a style that few of the no.
bility In Europe can emulate. What
does Il moan? II means that the DRIFT
of wealth is towards this country. Ii
means that the star not only of political
empire. but OF financial power westward
takes its way"
In Ireland, in England, and on the
continent the nobility are gong to tho
wall. The feudal system was like great
comet II disappeared centuries ago, bat
its luminous trail has stretched across the
intervening opochs TO the present time,
and even this is now dying out.
u. o. Mills, the wcll-knOvn million
aire. paid more than 800, 600 for the IN
terror decorations OF his New York pal
ace with its inlsid woods. mosaic work,
carved woods OF every description, cell
ings Of painted canvas, and hundred
other items of luxurious enumeration
which would have astonished Dogo OF
Venice or Lorenzo de Medici.
PALACES or NEw YORK.
Among the other notable mansions,
which indeed are ver.table palaces, are
those OF William X. Vanderbilt, Corne-
Illus Vanderbilt. John y. Rockefeller,
who made his fortune by driving every
BODY else ont Of the kerosene-oh bus-
ness Judge Henry Hilton, who owes
his fortune 70 the late A. T. Stewart
Mrs. William II. Vanderbilt, Robert and
Ogden Goeiet, descendants OF success-
fnl merchant; John Jacob Aston, VII
liam j. Aston, Henry Clews, whose
palace ranks fohrth among the dwellings,
Of New York millioDaires; Mayor
Abraham s. hewitt, who hives on Lex
;DgtOn avenue in house inherited from
the late Peter CooTeI, md which he has
converted into palace; Mrs. Il. =.
Stuart. the widow of the millionaire
sugar refner; Henry q. Maryland, end
Secretary OF the Navy Whitney, not 10
mention others.
sHR BECAME A DUCHESS.
And. bv the way. there Is little story
connected with tho house occupied by
Secretary Whitney which illustrates q
peculiar phase of New York life, Il was
formerly the residence OF Mrs. Frederick
". Stevens She is the daughter OF one
of the old auctioneots Of New York,
named Sampson, who died years ago,
leaving her on income OF f0ul hundred
thousand dollars o year. She married
Frederick Stevens, who was poor law
yer. and several children were born
TO them. They lived n comparative
happiness until IN cn unlucky no
nent she received a visit from
the Marquis de Talleyrand, a grandson
Of the celebiated political tricasier Of
the great Napoeon's day. The talk Of
society concerning the sentiments enter
tainoi by the aucboneers daughter for
the titled Frenchman need not be re-
peated. but the cossips did not fail to
remark that not long after the return
Of tho Marqnis de Tallcyrand to France
the auctioncer's daughter decide that
there was something in the climate OF
Europe, especially OF France, abso-
lutely essential to the preservation ot
her health. She went TO Europe, leaving
her husband here. and for several years,
il il stated, maintained relations with
the sweet-scented sprig OF French
nobility which need not he particular
lied. Then she came back 10 TINS
country, and in a wonderful court at
Newport obtained divorce from her
husband on the ground of "neglect and
inc mpatibllity OF temperament D." This
legal miracle accomplished she returned
TO Frnce and became tie vito OF the
MARQUIS De Taleyrand. The father OF
this model French guest to introduce
into American homes was too poor 70
properly maintain his ducal title, and he
therefore relinquished 1t in favor Of bis
son. who had been so successful IN
sharing rich and ambitious woman IN
the matrimonial waters, and now the auc-
tioneer's daughter IS Duchess OF
France. 10 be sure the title only goes
back to the First Napoleon, who manu-
featured titles in order TO fill up his par
venue court, but the lady Is nevertheless
Duchess.
SECRETARY wHITNEY's PALACE.
Her New York palace occupied four
lots at the corner Of Fifth avenue and
Fifty seventh street, where ordinary
gravel is about as valuable rs gold dust.
When she fiually TOOK up her abode III
Paris she offered the residence for sale,
and il was bought by o. Il. Payne, one
OF the STANDARD oil corporation, for six
hundred thousand dollars. He presented
il b. his sister, the wife Of the present
Secretary OF the Navy. And 1t may bo
added that on the birth Of Mrs. Whit
news first child lie presented 20 The mo-
ther, 10 be held in trust for the young
ster. the sum Of one million dollars.
Secretary Whi,rev's palatiai homo IN
New Yor'. is SAID to be furnished III
prince'y style.
The most luxuriousiv.furnishcd house
on tine continent, however, IS that g.
William Il. Vanderbilt, at The corner OF
Fifth avenue and Fifty-sec0nd street.
The houses Of the Astore, in respect TO
artistic decoration and refined luxury,
are distinctly inferior 70 those OF many
people Of far less wealth. \ few years
ago there were only two or three notable
dwellings in New York. They we're
doub.o mansions that is, houses with q
frontage OF AT least fifty feet, with a
depth of from one 90 two hundred feet -
and tho homes of tbe AstOrs figured
prominently among the palatial homes,
but now they arc behind the swift pace
OF the times Other milionaires are
ransacking Europe FOR tr'o-c-5roc.
American fnsnciers are despoihng the
feudsl palaces OF Europe for costly sou
VeRtTs Of vanished epOchs, - furnish the
more splendid palaces reared by Ameri-
cas- commercial greatness.
NEw YoKK's SOCIETY THEATRE.
The long-talked-of Society Theatre fol
the exclusive uso of sDat ura va,
opened the last day Of February. In
April last the attention Of Dr. John ),
White, of the Berkeley School; Hon.
Chauncey VI. Depow, Hon Joseph H.
Choate, and other prominent New York
on. interested i'm Cdrcational matters