Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-02-13
New YOrk's 400,
Joe Howard in the New York Recorder

Joe Howard in the New York Recorder
We have no rulers hereby the grace Of
God" 1t is entirely by the favor of the peo-
pie. We have no permanent oligarchy, we have
no fixed condition in which man, woman or
child must remain from birth to death, but
many OF US long for just that sort of thing. 1t
would crafty the silly billies and the Miss
Nancys and the present race Of wealthians very
much if ,ahey could be perpetualIy known as
the -Four Hundred" for instance. Now, that
Is hornely illustration aud it must Of ne
cessity appeal to every intelligent reader. But
the -Four Hundred of today is not the -Four
Hundred of five years ago.
Let one OF them lose his money; how quickly
he drops out!
IL he any better because he has money? Is
he any worse because he has lost it2 A thought
full glance at the men and women who are be-
fore the public in the social sense will teach a
lesson pregnant and most suggestive. They,
In large.majority, are men of no special head
gear, asd women noticeably frivolous. 1t is
within the memory of every intelligent observer
when the Vanderbilts were not asked in what is
known as society. Do you suppose that John
Jacob Astor, the original, the good old ped
dier the graduate from a butchers shambies,
shared the hospitality of the old Dutch Knick-
erbockers or Of Gothams best people? Still
less could he find acceptance in the
giddy-headed throng. and II l read Alright
vulgar rs WAS his origin. meager as was his
education, incomplete as was his social endow-
ment. he had too much native common sense
to care for either the one or the other. He
knew what he was fit for. He was an excellent
servitor in butchers shop. He was q COM
petent butcher; he developed early the trading
instinct, and his nose for progress was unus-
uaily keen, as is evinced by the marvellous pur-
chases OF land made by him in times when
such transactions were regarded as the very
height Of folly. But the Astors Of today are
actually quarreling among themselves as to
which is the Mrs. Aston. II the good ladies
who indulge in this knew the mirth they ex-
cite, II they could appreciate the hither verge
Of the comical side of the situation, they
would, let it be hoped, in the interest of honest
American womanhood. blush at such utterly
un-American, nonsensical airs and would be
graces.
Look at rugged Cornelius Vanderbilt the
elder.
Start with him on his fat boat Come up with
him as that well-packed head Of his braini6c-
ally ran out in various directions, and always
along the right line to wealth, to usefulness, to
the professional following. See what his son
William ID. did and then come with me and look
at his sons, the grandsons of the original Cor
nelius-Cornelius aud William K.
In society?
should sayso.
Why?
1t won't be said Because they are Christian
gentlemen" There are several others Of that
kind in New York. 1t won't be said Because
they are railroad experts" There are thou
sands OF such in the land. 1t won't be said
because they are quiet, modest, courteous,
hospitable." Such, thank God, il the charac-
ter OF millions OF Americans
Why, then?
Obviously for the same reason that the Astors
two generations ago were admitted into what
ID technically known Is society--because they
have ample means and are able to hold their
own in any race where wealth 10 q factor.
But where you will find one such man az the
late John Jacob Aston, where you will find one
such man as Cornelius Vanderbilt, you will find
scores OF lunkheads whose aspirations are OF
the McAllister stripe. Aping the weaknesses OF
foreign lands, copying the excrescences of peo-
pie who live under totally different conditions,
they have developed an obvious desire to i'm
press upon their fellows that they are really
400 very uncommon individuals.
And SO they are.
But not in the way they imaRiuA