Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-04
CONCERNING SOCIETY
The Commotion Raised by the Publica-
ton of the Exclusive List.

Prom the Philadelphia telegraph
Something in the nature of what il is scarce
ly an exaggeration of language to call ire
mendous excitement. has been created in a
neighboring city OF New York by the publica-
ton of the names of some GOO persons az con-
stituting the society" Of that enlightened and
highly cultivated place. New York city is esti-
mated to have population of at least a million
and half. and certainly it looks like drawing
pretty fine line to declare that there isn't any
society" in such an aggregation of humanity
outside of some 600 persons. All the same,
though. the publication of the names of the
600 has raised tremendous cOmmotion among
the 1,499. 400 of their fellows who object and
very naturally We may say, to be rated as out
side barbaTians-or about the same as an
Athenian Eupatriad of the time Of Socrates was
accustomed TO rate whoever was not OF his clan.
The difference in the two situations, however
Is that the Athenian had something in himself
upon which he prided himself; whereas, as
near as we can make out, the claims OF the 600
New Workers to superiority over the ,499, 400
resides solely in the fact that they have
had enormous wealth in their families for at
least two generations, and are in the habit of
expending considerable of their wealth every
year III gorgeous entertainments.
Now, obviously, definition of society that
Is framed on such conditions as these is not
only unsatisfactory in itself, and in its applica
ton to American conditions but II would vastly
amuse old Athenan could one be resur
rected for the purpose of passing an opinion
upon the New York situation. The truth of
the matter is, that in New York city there is no
society IN the sense that an Athenian of the
great period of Athens would have used the
word, or one analogous to 1t, or III which the
word Is now used in London and other Euro
pean cities, or wherever, since the world be-
gan, social leaders have exercised their sway
because of other qualifications than their
wealth. In saying this we are, of course. not
at all denying the proposition that wealth is
the beginning of culture-that is to say, before
what can properly be described as culture
really begins, there must be accumulation
of wealth. and wealth must purchase for some
body the leisure which Is necessary for intel
lectual development and for the promotion of
the refining arts.
As a matter of fact, however, in New York
and in every large city there are very many
coteries each one of which might be described
In the restricted sense of the term-as it is
used. for example, in the New York paper
which publishes the 600 Manassas the ''soci-
ETY." of the place. 1t all depends on the point
of view. For example, there are many persons
who have no notion OF society" except in a
restricted sense, that is not related to elaborate
entertainments and various social ceremonials
of more or less importance. Then again. there
are persons who associate together on account
of literary, artistic and similar sympathy
and so We might go down through a consider
able list. And these several cOteries to a GER
tain extent and necessarily overlap each other.
Outside of those who employ their days and
nights on subjects relating to fine clothes
and balls and routs society" neither in New
York nor in any other civilized place, espe-
clally concerns itself with the pecuniary re-
resources of its members. except, indeed, so
far some pecuniary resources are necessary
In order that man woman shall present
the outward semblance of "A gentleman or "A
lady.
And We are confident that, as the years go
on IN this country. the kind of social distinc-
ton that is implied in the publication of list
OF 900 names in "a city of million and half
inhabitants will be less and less priced. and
that wealth will be even less than 1t is now re-
garded as a social criterion-and now il is very
much less such a criterion than many persons
imagine. During the last twenty-five years
enormous fortunes have been made very rapid
ly. and quite as a matter of course there has
been something in the nature of a social clash
between the new corners and those who have
been wealthy for two three generations.
But however much wealth may be concentrat-
ed IN a few hands. all the indications are that
THIS Is IN the future to be country of average
wealth for the average man. who shall be-and
IN the proper and not invidiou5 sense of the
term-a person of average culture L sense
that the average man III no other country is or
Il likely to be. AS il is now. in New York city
and in this city AMI in every city. it is the man
of culture who has difficulty about his social
relations, unless. indeed. he should be foolish |
enough to insist with himself that he cannot be |
happy unless he is admitted to intimate rela- |
tions with this or that particular set. the men,
bers of which, quite possibly, may not care
particularly about associating with him. on the |
most intimate terms. But under nearly every
conceivable circumstance, the educated man |
may, if he will, participate freely in all that
society in its restricted sense has to offer; |
whereas the applicant for social consideration
who has nothing but his wealth to offer as a
reason why he should be considered, would
have the door slammed in his face.