Arizona republican., 1892-05-08
[Snecinl Cnrrespondence.l


 mail brings a batch of letters to Ward McAllister, the leader of New York's celebrated Four Hundred, asking for advice on "How to become a society leader" Pretty nearly all of these let ters are from ambitious young gentle men in small towns who are desirous of forming Q Four Hundred of their own. Invariably they are of geod family, en- toying excellent social privileges, but, not knowing the ropes, they are unable to establish themselves at the head of the procession. Hence they turn to the great arbiter of American society for counsel, and in such numbers do their missives come that Mir. McAllister, 1T he attempted to answer them all, would be compelled to hire Q secretary to look af- ter this class of correspondence alone.
 Since he issued his famous ukase, di- viding the original Four Hundred into an timer circle" of 150, an "outer circle and a fringe" these communications have been particularly numerous. The incident served to revive general inter- est in the peculiar hold which the chief of the Four Hundred has on his follow CTS in the giddy whirl, and naturally re- quests for instruction as to the best means of climbing the ladder of social fame have increased. For the benefit of his numerous correspondents, none of whom could otherwise be instructed at his hands, Mir. McAlhster consented re- gently to an interview on the subject of how society and society leaders may best be built up.
 Ut is the easiest thing in the world, said he, flor a man, young or old, to become a society leader and to build up distinct society. But it requires great many uncommon qualities, and unless he possesses these he will be wiser if he leaves the task alone. He must possess push, the faculty of organization and administration, fine powers of diplo- macy, perfect tact, thorough. .Rnowl- edge of men and the capacity to make enemies with equanimity.
 "Certain people of wealth and influ- ence will be found in every community who are in every way ineligible for ad- mission into good society. These per sons are absolutely certain to visit all their resentment on the head of the man who is looked upon as the organizer of the set from which they have been ex- cluded, and naturally they will do all in their power to injure him. Therefore, the ability to bear the attacks of ene- mics is particularly essential to man who wants to assume society leadership Given this ability, and being in posses sion of the other qualities I have emu merated, the goal can be reached by fol- lowing a very simple line of procedure.
 In the first place, the aspirant wants to be particular in his dress. l don't mean that he shall be a dude or a dandy, but he wants to be always well dressed and cultivate especially habit of wear ing evening attire with ease and grace. There is nothing that tends so much to the pleasures of society as the dress coat. In America the people are far behind Europe in this matter. There it is real ized that nothing helps so much in throwing off the cares of business as evening approaches as the changing of ones clothes, the laying off of ones workday uniform as it were. No Eng lishman who pretends to be at all fash ionable will think of sitting down to dinner unless he is attired in his swsl- low tail, even when he dimes in his own house surrounded only by his family.
 "Of course this is not to be looked for here for some time to come yet, especial ly in small communities, but it will De found pleasant as well as polite to change ones coat for dinner at home and put on a fresh shirt. This will lead naturally to the dress coat as an ha- bitual easy evening attire, and the man who wants tG step out of the social ranks to the front will do well to set a good example to the persons whom he wishes to lead by wearing a dress coat on all suitable occasions The others will fol- low in much less time than seems pos sible, and the change in bearing and de- pertinent that will come over the com pany is certain to be most marked.
 But as matter of course the wear ing of a dress coat and the habit of dressing for dinner will not in itself make society leader. They are only incidents, though very essential. The main thing is to create the best elements of place into a distinct and, as far as permissible, an exclusive circle. This can be done without the possession or expenditure of wealth by the proper per son, by the organization of subscription entertainments--that is, entertainments where everybody pays his or her share of the expenses These entertainments may take wide range and are to be adapted to the season. Tn summer they can take the shape of picnics, excur- sions, outdoor luncheons and dances.
 "When fall and winter arrive, balls, dinners and other suitable affairs may be substituted. tis the duty of the per son who desires to be looked up to as a leader to start these entertainments and see that they are made permanent. Once the beginning is made they will run along of their own accord, almost without an effort, and become recog- nized social institutions of the place. To inaugurate them a list of the most desirable people should be carefully pre- pared. In this work it may be found necessary to exclude a great many peo- pie who have money, but are otherwise vulgar and unfit for intimate social re- lationS with careful ladies and gentle men. Unless this is done the attempt to form anything like an harmonious so- ciety set will prove a failure.
 "On the other hand large number of people who are poorer than their more