The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-04-21

llNil1 OF Ftlu N'Allirl'ls ~ lfll'iii h't'
Grand nomcnciator Of the Four Hun
bred. now interest the people Of this city
Ia AN extent which even makes then
FORGET for the present the appointments
by President Harrison Mr. McAllisiei
has ashly attempted 20 solve two qucs
fious Of more than national import, viz.
Who is in society? and in so far as II is
maitcrof gcncalogy docs the descent run
m the male OF the female line, he m
-liucs Co thc latter on the ground that
tine social and ceremonial government
IS woman's prcF0eativo. lis fellow com
miiteemcn take different views, hence
these tears.
ltisof course known to an the Amer
lean people that the 20th and Both in
slant and tine l,t of May are 10 bo de
voted 20 grand centennial Observance
in This city. and that AN that part Of il
which concerns government officers, sol
diprs and the male Sex generally wa
easily provided for. But the grand ball
ON the evening of the Goth and the grand
banquet ON the evening Of the 3Oth are
social affairs; hence the iadics must be
satisfied. hence complications, hence
but need not set forth the ungallant in
ference.
AZ the start many committees were
named. % general committee on plan and
scope. subcommittee on everything
Else. and the chairman Of that ON enter
ainmcnts IS Ward McAllisier the only
nan in the world who knows all about
the -Four Hundred" who constitute $50
.iotv" in New York. llo leased the
Metropolitan Opera house for the two
affairs end provided for having 10 deco
rated ina style that is simply gorgeous
uc sold Opera house boxes "to the best
people only" set forth the list of those
who were TO come in free as invited
sua,tsand was proceeding toarrango fol
lho sale of the remaining tickets when
lois troubles began One of the commit
mwiscly detailed the proceedings C
IBIS wife, tine list was in tine papers within
tvmty-iom hours, and then racket
aro-, which almost made Mr. McAllister
wish ho had never been born.
All were agreed that the president, the
gicc president, cabinet officers, congress
mcn. foreign ambassadors and such peo
pl. should bc dead heads" but now tho
member Of the New York legislature in.
81 tei ou "a show, and after them tho city
aldermen and officials. 1t cannot be nee
c--ar, to tell well informed Americans
fnlt t1e ordinary New York politician
does not belong 60 the -Four Hundred
And ass admitting AN these left few Va.
clucic5 and the committeeman them.
selves are mot admittedirce this amount
cl TO proposition that the men who got
lhe thing up should pay for their own
entertainment and that Of tho dead
heads Tickets were SIS each. There
Uas "a series of revolutions in the com
miitcc and Mr. McAlister was pmcti
caily reduced To the positionof floor man
aecr only. This gave him quittanco OF
the mon, but T.. him into new whir
with the ladies. 10 ia not uncallaut &C.
say that this was getting out of tho fry
ing pan into the tire.
The great question was, who shall
dance? And especially. who shall bee in
the centennial quadriile, the opening
performance IN which the highest ma
uonal officials are 10 take parU Mr.. Nc
AlIsier planned q quadrile IN which the
ladies should De- descendants of the rev
dictionary leaders. lie did not design
in this quadrille should be-
as Doe said. "made ladder for social on
political ambition. He wanted il TO be
an incarnation of patriotic genealogy
and that in thc female line. OF course. .
many Of tho "ho tong as VIC say in
Paris. were left out-also many of the
rarious committeeman S wives. and very .
very many of the aldormcn'sand legisla. T
tors ladies 10 IS scarcely necessary e. /
aldthat There was 20 widespread, enthu F..
siasuc and most emphatic kick
st this point was made manifesto sad
lack in the American social structure +
What we need ia this country, and Is
pccially in this city, is q parliament OF
fashion. and society like that which Cali .
cula established IN Rome As 1t is there .
Is altogether too much mixing. 4 com .
mon man can make a million or two in .
leather or pickles or garbage or whisky. F
then go tO Orange, y. D., and buy a coun .
.ry seat and go into fairish society; in q
few years bee can relocate ia the city, a.
from Orange and have the entrce OF
-omeof ile best families. In many other .
respects the composition OF the -Four
is arbitrary.
Floor Manager McAllster was SO dis
ractcd by these complications that b.
to resign and let the Who'll,
thing 20 to wreck, and was barely per
iuaded 10 90 ON when another obstacle
Jr two appeared There are but 500
seats at the grand banquet, and 800 OF
hem are already appropriated 90 dead
heads. 80 the other 300 are To be- paid foi
1t SD each for the privilege OF seeing th,
great men cat Likewise, 10 was wins
lcred about that the chest people who
had bought boxes 10 see the dance would
luictly stay away and TT common folk
AXE their places How these danger
were avoided the public now knows NOT
bat the latest adgiccs are that fioo
Manager McAllister will stick 10 hi
post. lie periodically announces IN th,
papers that be will stand anything 1,
make thr ball success" lie Says it j.
his ambition ITO make this bail the most
notable event la American history h
his he should have the prayers Of all
GOOD Americans. This too brief recital
If the obstacles in his way Is given TO-
hc hope that such prayers may be super
Induced. j. ii. BEADLE
sir CHARLES RUSSELL.