Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-17
MORE ABOUT THE $50.
Ward McAllister Throws New Light
on the Cut In
NEW YORK'S SOCIAL BATTALION.
How He Squares the Aristocratic Circle
and Sizes Up
PEOPLE In AND OUT OF THE SET

| NEW YORK, Feb 16.-Last week TIL
DISPATCH announced that the 400 herr
had been cut down to 150 Ward McAllis
ter talked about the reduction glibly, ant
once again consents to review the mo-
mentous question. Here is his latest deliv
| erance on the subject:
''The 400 still remains, do you see, dom
you know, understand? But this 150' rep
resents the most brilliant and the mos
charming people OF the whole lot in gen
| eral society. The '150' have been lifted out
of the 400 do you see? Strange, too
isn't it, that the Prince of Wales set mum
Der just $50? Society is very snobbish, dc
you see, don't you know, understand? And
this is a millionaires' movement. Yes
this is a millionaires' movement. It's
just like the Millionaires' Club, do you
know.
''The Metropolitan Club is the millionaires
club. But the $50, like the Metropolitan
alone, so they have to bring in some of the
folks with charming manners and birth, dc
you see?
Money Not Everything.
''Money isn't everything, don't you know.
They have to get the people who are fit
that's the word-the people who are fit. I
don't believe in this e1clusiveness of society.
I'm Democrat. / try to broaden society.
But your be surprised if told you of very
eminent man who told me he didn't care a
damn for general society. He kicked up a
devil of a row when asked him to subscribe
to the New Years ball. Yes, sir; he said he
didn't care damn, and he kicked up devil
of row. Why look at Joe Choate? He is
one of the most brilliant men in the coun-
try, but he is not in the exclusive set.
"Those are the kind of men who ought to
be in society," But they haven't time to de-
vote to society. Choate told me he was too
much engrossed with his profession, do you
see, don't you know, understand? Well, as
I said, we should not be SO snobbish. But
the nouyeau richie made snobs of society. The
people of birth and manners don't object to
the admission of person who is pleasant
and agreeable and cultured. It's the new
millionaire who wishes to keep others out
after he has got in himself
'Yes, it's all wrong for us to have coats,
of arms and that sort of thing, don't you
know. It's all wrong. It's contrary to the
Constitution and spirit Of this country. And
I'll tell you something you never heard be-
fore None of the Americans ever got into
the inner set of Vienna. They number 100.
too. But all our diplomats and fne people
who have gone to Vienna have not got into
the '15O' of Vienna. And very few of our
people have ever got into the 300 OF Paris
Yes, very few, understand? Now as | told
YOU, do you catch the point? this 100 OF
New York is lifted out of the 400.
Choate Should Be in 1t.
"Choate and men like that oug hit to be in
it. Disraeil, the Earl of Beaconsfeld, don't
YOU know, do you catch the point? was in
the swim of London. He was a great
dandy, if you don't know it. He never
went out without boutonniere, do you
catch the point? Yes, Depew is more the
ideal of what a society man of the salon
should be. But he's too long-winded. And
there's where breeding comes in again, do
you see, don't you know, understand?
''They wouldn't stand Depew at a dinner
in London. Yes, he's too long-winded.
Good breeding and manners ordain that we
must be willing to listen to others. Do you
catch the point?
'Now, then, there's another point about
Mrs Cleveland When she was about to
leaue the White House people said to me
she would continue to be the first lady of
the land But said she would be Just like
any other lady after leaving the White
House. She was very pleasant and had good
manners, and could have come into the
Four Hundred and then into the
One Hundred and Fifty, but Cleveland
didn't have the money, do you see, don't
you know, understand? No, Cleveland
didn't have the money. He said she would
have to dress like a princess And he was
right But he didn't have the money. 1t
wouldn't be right to have the lady of the
tho la1- oF
and always. That would be building up an
,ristocracy.
Vanderbilt and Mrs. Stevens.
sNow there was Cornelius Vanderbilt.
He was the greatest man we ever produced,
10 you see-don't you know-understand? |
He made himself So did Mrs Stevens.
ind give only apollinaris water or a cup of |
ea, do you see? Catch the point? That's what |
mean. said some time ago, why don't |
you do as the comite do in Paris? Just |
invite folks in and give them syrup and |
ces. But everybody held up his hands and |
aid no one could get anybody to come a |
econd time unless they were given some
hing to eat. Mrs. Stevens did, and that's
where she was a clever woman. She was
he first after Mr.. and Mrs. Sidney Brooks,
If Boston. Mrs. Stevens held her weekly |
alons in Boston and then New York. Yes, |
rou must give them good dinners, don't you
NOW.
"Mrs Astor was said by ME, according to
he report, to be fourth in the 150.' That |
vas not right. I will say that Mrs Corne-
ius Vanderbilt and Mrs. w. c. Whitney
i've the best dinners. But that's because
hey have the best cooks, do you see-don't
,ou know-understand? They have the
,est cooks. Mrs. Astor gives the
,rettiest dinners. She has the finest
rystal and the finest silver. Oh,
res, they're in the $780, But the 15O'
o-day is not as it used to be- There was
ohm Jacob Astor; he always entertained
he Court of Appeals, the Judges of the
General Term and the men of letters and
tation. These brainy men ought to be in
ociety. Wherever they do appear they
re shining lights. Do-you-see, don't-you-
,now, ,do-you-understand, do-you-catch-the-