The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-04-30
A GLIMPSE OF WARD MALLIsTER.
a Man Who Holds the Open Sesame to
Now Ynrk,s Exclusiua Sncia1u

| 1
is named Ward McAllister. The word So
ciety is here used in its strictest sense. For
years Mr.. McAllister has passed upon all
candidates who have sought admission into
the sacred precincts called society. He has
made and unmade hundreds of men and
women. He is a professional society man
who has said who shall and who shall not be
considered in the swim. His position came
to him without seeking. 1t is not an
appOlntive office, nor is it an elective office.
| McAllister is a man of good taste and gen
tie breeding, and fond of pleasure. Years
ago anybody could get foothold in society,
so they possessed money. No matter how
| vulgar and rude, if their path was gilded
| by gold, and because of the miscellaneous
| characters of receptions and dinners and
| balls, those persons who considered them
| selves a little better than their neighbors
| refused TO mix in the crowds that
| thronged ball rooms and fashionable
houses where receptions were held. Nc
| Allis5er attempted to remedy this. How
| well be succeeded may be judged from the
| fact that he recently stated, that New
York society in reality consisted of not
more than 400 persons" This statement
has brought a shower of denunciation upon
him, and everybody is asking 'who is
Ward McAllister, and what right has he to
set himself up as judge to pass upon the
| social slandery of men and womenF
McAllister is about 50 years of age. He
is q tall, broad-shouldered, well-built, fine
looking man. He walks with a springy gait
and usually hashi hands behind him. He
| wears an imperial and heavy iron gray
| moustache. He is a Southerner, and comes
from family of good social standing. His
grandfather was ChiefiJustice of the State
of Georgia for a number of years, and was
United States District Attorney under
Washington. HIS father was Judge
of the Circuit Court of the United
States, and his brother, Hall
McAllister, is one of the leading lawyers Of
the Pacific Coast to-day and probably has
an income of 100000 year. The family
is family of lawyers. Ward McAllister
was admitted to the bar in California in
1851, and then joined his brother in part
nership. The partnership lasted for two
years, and then he established himself in
New York. Mrs. McAllister is the daugh-
ter of a wealthy Georgian named Gibbons.
| She is a very estimable lady, but docs not
go in society, not caring much for the ex-
element. She lives on Sixteenth street
between Broadway and Fifth Avenue. 1t
| is a substantial house and is well furnished.
He has one daughter and two
sons. His daughter, Louise, is very
clever woman. Like her father she is fond
of society, and assists him in his organiza-
ton schemes. His eldest son, Ward Nc
Allister, Jr., is lawyer. He was Judge
in Alaska, but was removed by President
Cleveland upon charges which were pre-
ferred against him by the Presbyterian
ministers to Miss Cleveland Since then
the charges have been proven to be false.
There is talk of running him for Congress
from Alaska when it is organized as a Ter
ritory Ward McAlliSter is a good real
estate lawyer. He is not q rich man as
riches are counted nowadays, but Is COM
fortably well off, having an income of from
S15, 900 TO $500 year.
lie Is thoroughly conversant with New
York society, having made it a study and
sort of hobby for years. He knows every
body's history and all about everybody's
antecedents. He has been called the John
Kelly of New York. He organizes society
and does work which no one else cares to
do and takes a delight in doing it. This
gives him great deal of prominence. He
is an epicure, aud arrangss with Delmonico
and other caterers for very unique sup
perS. His own entertainments are very
elaborate and invitations to them are
much sought after He organized the
Patriarch's Ball, and soon AFTERWARDS the
Junior Patriarch's or f. G. ID. C--Family
| Circle Dancing Class.-The +. c. d. c. has
now ceased to exist, but through no fault of
Mr.. McAllister. Those persons who are
IlOW nun WlUu DelIlR 100 exclusive
| about six years ago said he was not ex-
elusive enough. They said any one could
| go to the Junior Patriarch's and they or
| gained the Cotillion and the Assembly
| The Cotillion was organized by Mrs Chap
man. daughter Of John Jay, and the MEM
bers adopted as their shibboleth early
Hours and No Flowers This has, however.
now become a dead letter, for the Cotillion
balls are as late as any, and the flowers
| worn at them are very elaborate
| The cotlllion was organized against the
McAlistor elm. McAllister has charge of
| the invitations to the Patriarch'S ball.
| Every member is entitled to five invita-
tons and invitations for his family for his
| 500 subscription. Each member sends to
| Mr.. McAllister list of those persons he
| wishes TO lave invitations for Mr.. Nc
| Allister goes over the list, and Ii he finds
| two requests for invitations for the same
man, he notifies one Of these persons who is
asking for the invitation of that fact He
has the power to refuse to give an invitation,
but if he saw that some very Objectionable
person was to be invited he would probably
notify the subscriber who was asking for
the invitation and have the request with
! drawn. Two years ago Mr.. Pierre Loril-
lard asked for an invitation for "A young
society actress. his young lady had made
herself exceedingly popular by her aptitude
! for amateur theatrica!s. McAllist r was
| WlulnE 10 give tne invitation, but some
society people objected and Mr.. Lorillard
withdrew her name At the ball this year
! Mr.. McAllister saw the lady on the floor.
He knew no invitation had been issued to
her, and he went 20 the man who takes the
tickets and asked:
"On whose invitation did Miss - come
inp
ION Mrs. Edward Cooper's," was the re-
ply.
Mr.. McAllister looked out the card. Mrs.
! Edward Cooper had asked for an invitation
for Miss Stauifer of New Orleans, the
young lady to whom :. j. 1ilden left $780,
coo. Miss Stauifer was unable to attend
and returned the invitation to Mrs. Cooper,
explaining the reason. Mrs. Cooper then
| innocently erased Mss Staufier's name and
substituted the name of the young actress
"Riches no longer constitute a sufficient
introduction into society" he said recently.
| "MllllOnaires are too common to receive
exact Difference. A fortune of a million Is
only respectable poverty, 50 we draw the
line on another basis. oh connections,
gentle breeding, perfection in ell the
requisite accomplishments, OF gentle
man, elegant leisure and an un-
stained private reputation count for more
than newly gotten wealth. You would be
surprised at the number Of men these re-
quirements strike out Of consideration. The
truth is, we are not nation OF Chester
fields and Bayards. Sidneys and Raleighs. -
FOSTER COATES.