The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-03
WARD M'ALLISTER.
Something About the Man who Works
for Others.
From the Epoch.

In Huntington's picture of "The Court Of
Lady Washington" there is q portrait Of
Mr.. McAllister's maternal grandmother,
Mrs. B. c. Cutler, arrayed in all the glory
Of powered hair, in which the bellies of
those days were wont to appear. This lady
lived to venerable old age, and would
sometimes regale her grandchildren with
tales of the Olden time. She was quite
proud Of the feet that Gen. Washington
s'walked quite across the room to speak to
me at a ball. my dears," and the grand
children, much impressed, duly remembered
this important event.
Mrs. Cutler was a daughter Of Hester
Marion, the sister of Gen. Francis Marion.
''the Swamp-Fox" of the revolution, who did
important service in the south during the
war. Her husband, Benjamin Clarke Cut
Ter, Mr.. McAllister's grandfather, was high
sheriff Of the county Of Norfolk, in Massa-
chusetts; he died many years before his
wife, who removed to New York after his
death. The Outlets were originally of
Dutch origin land their family tree runs
back for over 200 years. Among their de-
scendants are many prominent people in
Boston and elsewhere) and through them
Mr.. McAllister is able to claim kinship with
ex-Mayor Prince Of Boston; the Appleton
family of the same city, Mrs. Charles
Bonaparte, nee Day, who married member
of the Paterson-B onaparte family: the
Parkers and Dunns, to say nothing of his
ancestors, Bishop Parker of Massachusetts,,
and President Timothy Cutler of Yale Uni
versity. His uncle, the Rev. Benjamin C.
Cutler, was a well-known clergyman of
the Episcopal Chuch in Brooklyn. One of
his aunts married DR.. John W. Francis,
author Of ''Old New York" and prominent
physician in New York, while another mar
ried Samuel Ward, Of the banking house of
Prime, Ward & King. Mr.. McAlIister is,
therefore. cousin-german to the late Samuel
Ward, and to Mrs. Julia Ward Howe, as
well as to Mrs. Luther Terry of Rome, the
mother Of Marion Crawford, the novelist;
of Lady Fraser, wife of Sir Hugh Fraser,
British minister to Japan, and of the
Baroness Won Rabe, widow of Prussian
officer. He is also connected by marriage
with the Astors, Cnanlers and other we'll
known New York families.
Mr.. McAllister belongs, on his fathers
side, to southern family distinguished for
their legal ability. His grandfather, Mat
thew McAlister, was United States district
attorney for Georgia during Nashington's
administration. His father, Matthew Hall
McAllster, was the first appointed United
States circuit Judge Of California, the pre-
decessor of Justice Field, while his brother,
the late Hall McAllister, stood at the head
Of the bar on the Pacific Coast, the Nc
Ali ter family being among the "F. F.
VS." of San Francisco.
Mrs. M. II. McAlli,ter, mother Of the sub
ject Of this sketch. was a very beautiful
woman, full of energy, vivacity and social
talent. She showed plain traces of her
French descent-the Marions being French
Huguenobs, who were driven to this coun-
try in the last century by religious persecu-
JiOn. She was thought to bear a striking
likeness to the portraits Of Charlotte Cor
day, to whose family she was related. Her
son Ward strongly resembles his mother,
and, like her, shows evidence of having
Gallo blood in his veins. Indeed, the social
which distinguishes many other members of
his family also, is no doubt attributable to
his French descent.
Ward McAllister was born in Savannah,
Ca, and was named Samuel Ward, after
his uncle by marriage. He displayed at all
early age energy and executive ability, and
whatever he undertook he spared no pains 10
accomplish.
In those pays it was the custom at the
south to go to market at an early hour in
the morning, thus avoiding the heat of the
day, and securing the best venison, wild
turkey, poultry other dainties which
were to be had. Young Ward soon demon
strated his superiority over his brothers in
the knowledge Of what was best to eat, and
was still IN his teens when he made the dis
covery that pullets are more tender than
roosters, and steadfastly refused to buy any
of the latter fowls. He was willing to rise
at very early hour, in order to obtain for
his parents the very best that the market
afforded. Thus we see that he evinced at
an early age the talent for gastronomy, and
no fo1a Af aInio 81 II
things well-which have since made him so
successful in his chosen career. To these
must be added the social disposition-a free
gift from Dame nature, which is invaluable
to its posseSsors, and which can never be
purchased or acquired.
A celebrated be le once said that she held
in her hand the four trump cards of the
social game-youth, wealth, rank and
beauty. AS Americans, we should substi-
tute position for rank-but with this
change, Mr.. McAllister may also be said to
have held those same trumps. He was re-
markably handsome man in his youth, and
is still handsome man, of fine presence.
He was educated at Yale University, and in
1852 went to California, where he spent
some, returning, however, to the east where
he married few years later Miss Sarah
Gibbons, lady of wealth and social posi-
ton. and settled at Newport, r. l.
Here he instituted the famous picnics
which have been for twenty-five years one
of the recognized features of Newport
summer life. When the summer society of
this gay watering place was much smaller
than it is now, these occasions were among
the most noteworthy Of the season, and they
still enjoy a great prestige. despite the
colossal balls and monumental Dime re-
which now dwarf all ordinary entertain
ments at Newport.
Why were and are these picnics SO popu-
lar? Because Mr.. McAllister devoted such
infinite pains to their inception and carry
ing cut, and because he succeeded in evolv-
ing, from the crude and chaotic primeyal
picnic, to which every one brought what he
pleased, refined feast worthy of the gods.
Mr.. Ward McAllster has made a thor
ough study of gastronomy When he went
to Europe he was not satisfied with partak-
ing Of gorgeous banquets in the company
of distinguished people. He wanted to
know how these culinary effects were pro-
duced. He discovered many of the secrets
of the best French cookery. and from the
chef at the court at st. James learned many
points" as to tne Preparation of the food
for her most gracious majesty, Qneen Vic
toria, and the rest of the royal family.
Mr.. McAllister is, Of course, good judge
of wines. He can detect the different
brands of Madeira, and knows the effect
Of age In producing the subtle cobweb,
sealing wax aud dry favors, as c0ntrasted
With the toes weet and thick madeira Of a
modern vintage.
But while Mr.. McAlister is an epicure,
he is much besides. A man of leisure him
self, society has been to him fol. many years