The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-02

| or lato years several directories OF the
more prosperous or more socially distin-
guished part of the population Of New York
have been published annually for the bene-
| fit of business men who have occasion to use
| such selected lists. and for the convenience
| OF fashionable society In its various grades
and divisions.
The last edition OF the one of these direc-
tories which assumes to lie more perticu-
larly the directory OF the fashion OF the
town. has lately appeared. 1t contains up
ward Of nine Thousand family names and
residences. but the number Of individuals 1t
catalogues alphabetically is very much
greater. for both husbands and wives
and adult unmarried SONS and daughters
Of the houses are separately entered. The
individuality OF tho married women is
further respected by the publication Of their
maiden names also. Taking this directory
as correct and complete enumeration Of
the people In New York who are entitled to
the social distinction 1t assumes to mark.
their aggregate is probably somewhere
about fifteen Thousand. or about one In
hundred OF the total population.
Tho list Is made up obviously with the
catalogues OF the members OF the moro
prominent clubs rs its basis. though. Of
course. there are families and individuals
Of u social distinction so generally recog-
nizcd that o uch guide to their discovery
WINS rcquis..e. or these clubs about fifty
are enumerated. ard their members seem to
have been taken without much discrimina-
ton. and as a matter Of necessity. The
mere fact that man belongs to one or moro
Of these associations may not Of itself be
any sure indication Of the superiority Of his
social position. but for the purposes Of the
directory the lists Of their membership
undoubtedly furnished the only avail
able material outside of o circle of
fashion composed OF q few hundred people.
Besides, the assumption Is that mans
membership In such club indicates that
his social qualifications have stood the scru-
tiny of a more or less competent exnmin-
ing committees: though it may be true that
an indisputably clubahle man is not always
rich social acquisition elsewhere. and for
that very reason.
Among the $1,000 or more people selected
by this directory. however. are included
substantially all the families in New York
entitled to fashionable distinction because
Of their associations and manner OF life,
Gwen il a much greater number Of those reg
istered themselves lay no claims to such
classification. The circle of fashion Is
really very small in New York, IL we mean by
1t the people who devote themselves to
the business Of fashionable amusement
and entertainment as a prime object Of in
terest and ambition. Probably. all told. it
does not number as many hundreds Of men
and women rs there are thousands In this
directory. 1t includes. too. only o small
part OF the families Of great wealth. and
even the directory itself omits many mil
lionaires we'll known in financial circles.
but unknown in the clubs from which
its list OF names was chiefly obtained.
Wealth and fashion are by no means synon-
ymous and convertible terms in New York.
Fashion may need wealth as a foundation
and an impulse. but the possession Of wealth
may not imply adaptation to its demands
or willingness to sustain its onerous require
ments. It Is always and everywhere q mar
row circle Of people Of special tastes and
capacities.
This directory shows also that the people
OF wealth. fashion. refinement. and social
distinction are now scattered throughout
the town, whereas formerly. or less than
8cuCAuIlo oSos Iucy WClC COuBlCSuVCu III
narrow strip Of territory. Their residences
extend from Washington square to the
Central Park and along its boundaries. On
the newly built up district to the west Of
that Park. also. is a large colony OF rich
and well-to-do people who make up
a community which is substantially
by itself. The great distances between the
homes Of these more fortunate or more
fashionable families is compelling the for
nation Of substantially independent circles.
No lady can 60 through a visiting list which
extends over so many miles. aud hence the
mere growth of New York has tended to in
crease the social divisions and multiply the
social circles. with reference TO the mere
geographical distribution OF the mem
bcrs. Even the excluslveness OF fashion. of
which there is sometimes criticism. Is often
made necessary for convenience and SELF
protection simply.
Tho fifteen thousand people included in
this directory. moreover. arc only small
part Of tho refined cultivated. and even
prosperous inhabitants OF New York. This
little volume gives nothing approach
ing an indication even OF the wealth and
luxury Of the town. not TO speak OF Its
moral excellence and social WORTH