The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-06-08
WARD M'ALLISTER'S BOOK.
1T WILL CoNSIDER fSD DEFEND NEW
YORK SOCIETY.

fields OF literature and next lall VIII make MS
bow before a New York public In tho character
Of an author. His manuscript is completed' and
by tho ilrst OF next moath will he in the hands
of his publishers. The book will lie placed on
The news stands, according to the present pro-
Hramme, about Sent. l.
Its title il ~ yet unsettled, and It's plan has
not yet Teen disclosed. But IL Will be- upon
the general subject Of New York society, and
will be chiefly oil u historical nature.
Mr. McAlli,ter will not deal in personalities.
and will mention very fow names OF people
now living OH this side OF the Atlantic Ills
aim has been to show that there is such an
Institution as society in this city; that 1t has
boon the outgrowth ofperrectly natural causes.
and lat II has blossomed into a real existence
only through rough experiences and in the
face OF untold difficulties. He has also mlde
plain the fundamental pe1uiiarities vt society
in the American i.s<,roDolis In distinction from
society in England and other Inonarchical
countries. Moreover, The discerning reader
In search OF Information upon points OF ell
auotte will gain many valuable hints between
the lines Of Mr.. McAliister's pages.
The book Is not The outcome OF
any ambition on tho part OF the
author to bs numbered among literary
folks Mr. McAllister declares very positively
that he has no literary skill: that he rretends
TO have none, and that he has no yea'nlngs for
the laurels o, authorship. lie took ~ print
because Ito had something to say ab0-'' SUD-
;ect which h0 had made specially Tor torty
years and to write a book was the only way OF
saying It, What he had to say he has said IN
tho shortest AMI most pointed language he
could command and has paid not the slightest
attention TO literary style. Inc entire LOOK
was written within six weeks. 1t contains be-
tween 81 900 an 50 900 words and will make
volume of some size
Il am not at liberty to disclose tho scope
and contents Of my look said Mr. McAllister
the other day 10 aSUN renorer. for 1t is not
my property. have sod 1t out and out to
publishing firm. AMI have NJ longer anything
10 do with it, Several ale -ed accounts OF what
the book treats Of which have been printed In
certain periodicals. arc wholly fal'e aud un-
warranted. ! have steadfnsty refused TO dis
cuss tho book with everybody. and no one has
seen the manuscript except myself. tho pub
lishers and one or two personal friends The
published interviews with me about IL are I'M
warranted. 1t is wholly untrue. for instance.
that have discussed persons or families iree-
ly by name. have only discussed society I'M
personally and largely rom the STANDPOINT oil
philosophical historian dealing with cause
and lines Of DEVELOPMENT. anu not with oaiu
rectals Of events.
How did you come to write the book at this
particular timo ?" was asked Have you
been contemplating il long,"
such books as mine" said Mr. McAilister.
"are common enough in England about Ing
lish society. society here has not yet been
ready for such work l have seem though.
for a long time, that the. period was rapidly
approaching which would demand Il. I'M
cannot say that have ever contemplated he
authorshin OF book myself, h iny TsM nI "a;
written from the inner circle OF socirt,. 30 to
AA.ltp fhA rom
radintes. 1t would do more harm than
good /. written, from All outside stand.
Sas within inn soc!eiys boundaries. IS Tor ny
having undertaken Il myself. TO tell you the
notice This spring it became known that
certain persons ha1 planned such work ard
we're to ps such that e
seldeisnce and In the Interests OF ,S SeGhIe n
Was-let nue. see-some time after March u. l
got Through vi With it In about Six weeAs OF prot
""Pid you find that authorship came hard -
oh no. but then you know was OF az.
ct anything OF that sort would probably have
made some very hard and very long drawn out
SH SFt os ri ri %" an s'S knew
what these were, Il was simply matter OF nut
1 aoek t 81 pP pd tSGfh tho wRSo Fl
in my mind, and then lat down anu Tr9te9 the
book according t" prGE,ammG;; M No. 1ia 9Gt
It's inni cory right here at THIS dess. / wrote
in tho MORNINGS. SIent about three hours
day at ii. he rest OF the day Gevoteh I" my
but myself AMI thr publisher ,But ], submitted
another one whose nnmn. both "a u capitalist
and society leader. Is widely Known"
Well, don't pretend to make any criticism
e Y ssY nt I'M hays ad "Fng
the novelty Of my position IN so unusual
feid a. an1h2rshir. one Of ,hcm tod me thai
would make uroionnA sensation. have no
iden myself about its making sepsa;ion. but
g eut interest 10 all KNOWN. New Yorkers. 1t
Will doub les. also b interesting to limited
humber 81 neople IN other great cities where
But, nsNt 10 New York city. the hook will
Is V "Irm d If Us' /" Ser-ua S EnsR p"oe
side Ii!oy don't =, how We can have society
hero. The great DINE enres in HE national
institute n- of he two 'ountries s'nua in the
way # their under, and.nE ", How. they
young 10 boast OF any purely national lIneagss
Of real antIlsitr, have any real -ocicy? Now;
churncter ,'1gH exit in this country ana CEN /
lres in this city Ihat lis worth not meas
urui hy II" same s'andnrdS tnut the Eng sh
h"y"h orted does not !myAir IT. true neri,.
/ hold thal American soc!cy Founded upon
d " s%n ra ann me nmnt has
reached uo'nt OF real existence. he ing
lslI 10 IL VIII he l|,lcreSttu IN tulS, Know
e ave lou cOn~lncred the alta, ks of the
many Americans who hold that so-caI.ed So
eLety l.tc is un'enunli an ard un;;Amorirnn'
70 iIai Il i-a mutation " the society GER
tan moaarchi"h countries ."
Amer can society, reped Mr.. McAllis'cr
has onS nscdad II defender against the at
tack. OF the American public, AZ wei IN against
the uOuht- Of our ,oriety in other and older
lnud, lhA' defence must, Of cOur.e. como
from leaing source OF social influence. 80
one la he'0io IhI- dared 10 face the r;di,'u'e
and critlgIonH n"rg ss,lIily attendant upou such
an enort society people, - pcclnIIy those who
regulate = cie,y, ale indfe ent or retiring |
hnxe considered tho qGeSIi.n you RAISE. and
VIII show, hnn" thai sew lorH society
l. American The traucers Of sCcirty also
say lhH, american suceiy IL ruled wholly ny
money ans tina II ~ pIac lcAiIy he property
Of few money kinks. | take up hi- nont
also, aud hone t. SHOW that, from the nature of
things: this ~ not true. Il you will thiuk over
our miliInares. sci made. You will find few
still in tho Whiri OF business who arc promi-
psntly idenli"el win s,clety. Americans are
hot-bIooh"d energetic hustlcrS. as the phrase
goes. Tho. are tremendously ambitious,
and having re, thor hearts upon tho
70 fiySE, to society, Amertcans diier
epoct. amt upon This difference trmpe ament