The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-20
A study Of New York Society.

| n Stuuy VI NEW 1Ork society,"
The most intelligent. the acutest. and tn,
most discriminating study Of New Yorl
society which we have yet seen Is made by
Mr.. MAYO W. HAzELTINE in the last mum
Der OF the Nineteenth Century magazine o.
London. 1t is vivid picture Of the only
American society which has emerged from
the swathings Of local custom and preju
dice" and acquired something like the in.
dependence and catholicity" OF the life of q
great and veritable capital.
This social development Mr.. HAzEI.r1NE
describes as marked by two features which
OF comparatively recent years have begun
to distinguish New York more sharply than
ever from all other American cities. They
are tho multiplication OF colossal fortunes
and the evolution OF the great lady in the
European sense Of the term. Undoubt-
edly the first essential OF society
| OF splendor Is great wealth, and 1t
has been so always and everywhere. The
machinery Is costly. and now it Is costlier
than ever before. Its existence implies the
existence OF great fortunes. and as the
"conglomeration of royal. nay. imperial
incomes In New York is now unexampled
In the history OF any other metropolis at
any epoch. this prime essential OF bril-
liant. luxurious. and commanding society
Is now present here In full measure. The
appearance OF the great lady, OF fashion Is
also q sure indication Of the social develop
ment from which comes a society in the
sense in which we are using the term.
The magnitude OF this wealth Mr.. HAZEL
TINE suggests by saying that there are
six residents OF New York whose respective
. incomes are equal to the civil list OF the
Emperor OF Austria, and about a dozen
moro who can expend yearly. without en-
croaching on their principal. a sum at least
equal to the civil list Of Queen VICTORIA"
while 1.-THE number Of persons possessing
incomes Of S20O. 900 or more Is proportion
atelylarge." This Is speaking within bounds.
With the consequent rapid accumulation
Of capital these incomes are increasing
steadily and enormously. Their number
is also multiplying because Of the growth
OF smaller fortunes carefully husbanded by
possessors who are not attracted by social
display. or who have learned the art OF &C.
cumulating money but know nothing about
expanding it. These hidden fortunes are
many in New York. and that they are un-
known to the public is an evidence that they
are rolling up rapidly. II they were
generally discoverable. their possessors
would not be living on tho modest scale OF
expenditure which insures their advance
into tho rank Of the maCnates Of wealth
spoken Of by Mr.. HAzELTINE. That crcum-
stance, too is proof OF the truth OF his
observation that 1t Is not the possession OF
money which secures social recognition.
There must DO also the willingness. the
art. and tho ability to use and dispense
wealth for social entertainment and amuse-
ment. Wealth is necessary. but it must be-
wealth which shall DO contributory to the
splendor OF society. and which has gener.
ated and cultivated tho social art or ia ac-
cOmpanied by 1t. Tho question Is not chow
much no Is worth. but how much will he
give for the general social benefit, and how
gracefully and fifty can he mako the OK
penditure. ITO BIO rich. in fine, Is neces-
sary, but to be agreeable seems to be
quito as requisite" and also to be able to
use wealth so rs to satisfy the critical re-
quirements OF tho circle In which it is en-
ployed. or the great fortunes Of New York
only few. as matter Of fact. are |
within society as Mr. HAzEnrINK defines II. |
However vast the wealth. 1t Ia not admitted
unless 1t discovers the qualifications requi-
site for admission.
The evolution OF the great lady is conse.
quence OF the growth OF this imperial wealth
and the accompanying development of a
manner OF life and luxury Of service and
appointments which had not appeared in
New York until within recent years. IAN
essential condition OF the evolution OF the
great lady In the technical meaning OF the
same" We are told, sis tho humble fuuc-
donary known us lady's maid" and
before tho civil wnr There were not
a dozen lady's maids In tho whole LENGTH
and breadth OF tho free States" III other
words. the surroundings requisite for gran.
ieur did not exist until very recent years.
The richest domestic establishments were
modest and provincial In their appoint
nents. Real luxury was unknown. The
aw materials for its production were not at
land. The social taste was rude and crude.
'ocicty was not Rsthetically attractive.
md II was ignorant OF the means by which
O mako itself beautiful. Tho social artist
lad not been produced and developed With
he coming In OF wealth unprecedented,
as come the art OF expanding IL with taste
nd expert social Skill and the great lady
5 both product OF tho evolution and
he cause 81 1t. for tho leaders and
hou!dcrs Of society arc always women.
hey establish the standards and mike tho
Avs. There IL always an inner council NJ
'reat Indies whose good will means SUCCESS
y those who caro- for fashionable life, and