Mohave County miner., 1892-05-28
New york's 400.
The Four Hundred OF to-day is not the
Four Hnndred of five wears avo

The Four Hundred Of to-day is not the
Four Hundred Of five years ago.
Let one Of them lose his money; how
quickly he drops out! Is he any better
because he has money? Is he any worse
because he has lost il? A thoughtful
glance 1t the men and women who are
before the public in social sense will
teach u lesson pregnant and most sug-
ssstive. They, in large majority, are
men Of no special headgear, and women
noticeable frivolous. II is within the
memory Of every intelligent observer
when the Vanderbilts were not asked in
what II known as society. Do yon sup
pose that John Jacob Astor, the original,
the good old peddier. the graduate from
. butchers shambles, shared the hospi-
tality Of the old Dutch Kn,ckerbockers
or Of Go.ham's best people? Still less
could he find acceptance in the giddy-
headed throng. and ii read Alright. says
10 Howard in the n Y. Recorder. vul-
gar as was his origin, mea2er as was his
education, incomplete as WAS his social
endowment. he had too much native
common sense to care for either the one
or the other. He knew what he was fit
for. lie was an excellent seryitor IN a
butchers shop. He was a competent
butcher; he developed early the trading
instinct, and his nose for progress was
unusually keen, as is evinced by the
marvellous purchases OF land made by
him IN times when such transactions
we're regarded as the very height OF folly.
But the Astor's Of to-day are actually
quarreling among themselves as 10 which
is the Mrs. Astor. II the good ladies'
who indulge IN this knew the mirth they
excite, il they could appreciate the hi,her
verge OF the comical side Of the situation,
they would, let II be hoped, in the inter.
est of American wOmanhood, nlush at
such utterly un-American, nonsensicai
airs and wouid-be graces.
Look at rugged Cornelius Vanderbilt,
the elder. Start with him on his fat
boat. Come up with HIM in that we'll
packed head OF his brainiically ran out
in varions direction, and always along
the right line TO wealth, to usefulness, to
helpfu.ness. See how he grew, and then
mark the procession following. See
what his son Wm. Ii. did and then come
with me and look ut his sons, the grand
sons Of the original Cornelius-C Cornelius
and William X. In society? l should
say 50. Why? II won't be said "Be-
cause they are Christian gentlemen. /"
There are several others of that kind in
New York. II wont be said Because !
they are railroad experts." There are
thousands OF such in the land. 1t won't |
be said Because they are gniet, modest, |
courteous, hospitable." Such. thank |
God, is the character Of millions OF
Why, then?
Obviously for the same reason that the !
Astors two generations ago we're admitted |
into what is technically known as society |
because they have ample means and !,
are able to hold their own in any race
where wealth is a factor.
But where You will find one such man |
as the late John Jacob As;or, where you
will find one such man as Cornelius Van
derbilt, you will find scores Of luukheads
whose aspirations are OF the McAllistes
stripe. Aplng the weaknesses OF foreign
lands. copying the excresences Of people /
who live under totally different condi.
tions, they have developed an obvious
desire to impress upon their fellows that |
they are really 400 very uncommon indi-
viduals.
And so they are, but not in the way
they imagine.
Tho (snm mar.ial Niuipu .,n, ., M, k,y.