Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-07-27
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS.
Some metropolitan First Families-How
They Started.
[special Correspondence.l


Some metropolitan First TamlIies-How
They Started.
Special Correspondence
New YORK. July 26.-The prosperity
Of the Lorillard family started in the sell
ing of snuff, and many other metropolitan
families, whose members are numbered
with Ward McAllister's 400, had as hum
bic beginnings, albeit, when English
dukes and lions Of real blue blood me
fitting around Newport and other fash
ionable places. they don't like to be re-
minded of it. Looking over the old
Knickerbocker records, we come across a
good many bits of ancient history, telling
how the sturdy merchants and mechanics
Of old times toiled early and late in order
to make their honest pennies and lay the
corner stone of the goodly fortunes on
which their boys and girls are living
today.
We find Philip Rhinelander selling
cups, saucers and teapots; Peter Goelet,
'the haberdasher, selling states, knit
ting needles and knee buckles; Nicholas
William Stuyvesant, THE draper and
'shopkeoper;" De Peyster dealing in hand
kerchiefs, Kkmannock caps, buckram,
sewing silk and buttons; Henry Brevoort
is associated with pins, needles. pewter
spoons, candle sticks, knives, forks and
tea kettles; the Roosevelts are identified
with sugar molasses, pewter plates, lamp
black hnseed oil and cheese; Peter Van
dervoort sold soap Anthony Blocker
made his cent per cent. in spirits; Thomas
Pearsall in "frise," as the old Quaker
spelled it "a species of cloth) and while
Philip Livingston increased his finances
by trading in heavy groceries, Lndlay
Murray scored q success with ribbons,
calicoes, chocolate, thread, needles, pins
and pepper.
All of these are now the honored names
Of Manhattan Island. and their present
owners constitute the best and most I'M
approachable aristocracy. Of which New
York can boast.
While on the subject Of ancestry, am
reminded Of family which, to Judge
from the number Of fllustrious scions it
elaims, must occupy a whole forest Of ge-
theological trees with It's record They
trace their descent from William the
Norman, jumping, Of course, the irregu-
larities that have occurred In the long
journey; but the wonder is how such n
lot of worn out racers with monstrous
pedigree can manage to exist ON such
moderate bank account. The family crest
Ks emblexonod on everything in the house
large enough to contain 1t, from the
poodle dogs collar TO the soup tureen, and
one might easily infer from the bearing
and conversation Of some Of the family
circle that the community owes them
debt of gratitude for having reflected
upon it for so many generations the glory
Of their name.
Il IS true that ancient members Of the
| family did represent our country in the
continental congress and assist in driving
out the redcoats. But some of the modern
links in the chain are anything but shin
| ing lights. One member of this noble
inc affects literature, and, like Joseph the
| Patriarch. is a mighty dreamer of dreams
| But his genius is not appreciated, although
he says Of himself, Il have the headache
like Pope, can procrastinate like Julius
Caesar and drink brandy and water like a
| true disciple of Epicurus." If a matri
monial mcsalliance occurs in this blue
| blooded family, the eIring one is promptly
dispatched to foreign parts, or plea Of
/ insanity interposed as a cause for divorce,
whilo the one most to be pitied is perhaps
offered a small annuity to renounce a
name which, after ALL more than one gen.
Grafton has already trailed in the dust.
Yet it Is in such boastful circles as these
that even wealth cannot always obtain an
entrance. A. II. Stewart once carried
home parcel to a Mrs. Sedley, who had
| purchased some goods at his store In the
morning. He ratified at the back gate as
he made the delivery and asked IL he
might see the lady. When she appeared
Stewart said Il observed, madame, that
you wore very beautiful shawl this
morning; would you mind letting me sec
it2' Mrs Sedley, although surprised at
the request. brought out her India shawl
and showed It to him. Stewart deter
| mined from that moment tomake the i'm.
| portation of these shawls a speciality.
When his business permitted no did so,
and thousands of these costly fabrics to
this day bear his mark. Before Stewart
died he had earned the name Of 1.-THE
Napoleon Of American Finance" Men
sought his adyice, respected his iudg
ment, and a president, it is said, rendered
him place in his cabinet. He left as
monuments Of his success two marble
stores on Broadway, palatial edifce on
Fifth avenue, great structure originally
intended for working women, but now 3
hotel, and built city on Long Island
besides owning colossal interests in vari
Gus enterprises throughout the country
AMl MISUNDERSTANDING tAAA 40 ' e-ob WN%eAtAA
modern society denied him place among
its creme de Ia creme, and his name /!
now but rarely heard save in association
with the mysteries Of the police depart
ment or the contests over his will.
It is not true, therefore, that mert
riches nowadays constitute q passport Il
the very best, or that because o mar
started in life like the forefathers Of tn,
Roosevelts, Beekmans, Stuyvesants O
Brevoorts, thread and needle merchant
his own manager and porter, and his wifi
the maid Of all work, they are therefor
entitled to take social rank with the gil
edged descendants Of tho peddlers ant
storekeepers of a century ago.
There Is a curious inconsistency in thi
adjustment Of affairs, in which time play
, an important part, but it exists every
where, and II we were entitled to such
; thing, the broader the bar sinister on tn
family escutcheon the stronger, il seems
is the family pride.
Il +, G. DE FeSTAIyR-
r Right to tho Point.
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