The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-09-20

The Life In Some Respects Resembles a
Wonderland.

Wonderland.
To one who comes TO Newport at intervals and
exa.nines it good naturally it always appears
like a place designed by the author OF 'Alicein
WonderIandn Everything is according to the
rule of contrary. and the people go grayely
on their way without noticing the vast end
lauphable incongruities that ARE enough TO
make craven image smile, says the Boston
Transcript. First. it 10 society founded es-
with its palaces and swell turnouts, has
. rock bottom foundation of leather. hides.
sugar, tobacco and such. But never was trade
90 hated and loathed anywhere AZ At New
port There society has chosen to model
itself after that of great landed aristocracy,
when the only thing that the society people
here have not is land. Isn't it too funny tor
anything
Then they built great houses, modelled after
the manor houses of England and the chateaus
of France, which are expressly designed for
the entertainment of great numbers of guests
But such a thing as a house party is prsc-
tically unknown at Newport. Imagine the
Astors or the Vanderbits entertaining an
average party of twelve persons all through
the season! But no-the mind cannot grasp
the idea. Yet they go on building enormous
houses and living in one wing OF them Guests
at Newport, beyond two or three desirable
men and fashionable girl or a very swell
couple. would be utterly disjointlng and I'M
possible. One couldn't take ten persons to a
dinner or small dance, aud so guests are
fewer here than anywhere else on the civil
lied globe. 1t is true that one may utilize
ones acquaintance as guests, by way OF get
ting footing in society, and it is done very
often, but the fact remains that after ali the
entertaining done here there is but little hos
pitality. Life, indeed, is Il great spectacular
function at Newport; everything Is keyed up
20 the note OF beauty. and it would be vain
and foolish to expect anything eise And,
alas Newport society. the best Of 1T, Is deadly
dull.
The result of this luxurious material life is.
first, to prevent people from beginning TO
think and second. to prevent them from think
Ing if they once begin. Stray foreigners who
come to the United States with great antici-
pations Of American esprit among women and
American humor among men would never
fnd any of it here. The young men and
lnaidens are sham English. They are not in
touch with American life--nor with English
life. either for that matter They are immacu-
lately we'll dressed and perfectly we'll man.
nered. The men have. under all their veneer
iag, a certain manliness and courage such as
-.ne duke of Wellington said that puppies
usually have The women are at heart
wonanly. but they are the dullest Americans
that can be found A Newport dinner il ona
OF the most splendid and stupid functions IN
the world IL is exactly like dinners given
by the great moneyed class, rs represented
by the rich English merchant grand. solemn,
conscious each one anxious to impress his
neighbor with his social consequence. There
is no especial deprayity in thisit is merely
the way that society founded on money must
sorvaniRA ttself