The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1892-04-29
Especial Correspondence

SfeaUneSss
Especial Correspondence
New YORK, April 14.-Almost every
email brings batch of letters to Ware
McAllister, the leader of New York's
celebrated Four Hundred, asking fol-
advice on GLOW to become a society
Header" Pretty nearly all of these let
GERS are from ambitious young gentle
men in small towns who are DESTROYS OF
forming Four Hundred of their own
Invariably they are of good family, en-.
doying excellent social privileges, but
mot knowing the ropes, they are unable
so establish themselves at the head OF
Che procession. Hence they turn to the
great arbiter of American society for
counsel, and in such numbers do their
snissives come that Mr.. McAllister, if he
attempted to answer them all, would be
compelled to hire secretary to look af-
Ser this class of correspondence alone.
Since he issued his famous ukase, di-
viding the original Four Hundred into an
S'inner circle of $50, an 'outer circle
and ''fringe," these communications
have been particularly numerous. The
8ncident served to revive general inter-
est in the peculiar hold which the chief
of the Four Hundred has on his follow
ers 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
Eis hands, Mr.. McAllister consented re-
gently to an interview on the subject of
how society and society leaders may best
be built up.
SIT is the easiest thing in the world,
tSaid he, ''for man, young OF old, to
become society leader and to build up
a 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 knowl-
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
Gheir resentment on the head of the man
who is looked upon as the organizer of
Che set from which they have been ex-
Cluded, and naturally they will do all
In their power to injure him. Therefore,
Che ability to bear the attacks of ene-
smies is particularly essential to a man
who wants to assume society leadership. |
Given this ability, and being in posses
Gion of the other qualities / have emu
Hnerated, the goal can be reached by fol-
Rowing very simple line of procedure.
-'In the first place, the aspirant wants
10 be particular in his dress. l don't |
mean that he shall be a dude or dandy, |
but he wants to be always well dressed |
and cultivate especially habit of wear
Ding evening attire with ease and grace.
There is nothing that tends so much to
Inc pleasures of society es the dress coat.
IN America the people are far behind
Europe in this matter There it is real
AZSu CldJ hOIillIS oO LII
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
who pretends to be at all fash
Aonable will think of sitting down to
dinner unless he is attired in his swal-
Cow tail, even when he dimes in his own
house surrounded only by his family.
-'tlT course this is not to be looked for
here for some time to come yet, especial
Ny in small communities, but it will be
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 to step out of the social ranks
TO the front will do well to set a good
example to the persons whom he wishes
so lead by wearing dress coat ON all
occasions. The others will fol-
dow in much less time than seems pos
@ible, and the change in bearing and de-
pertinent that will come over the com
pany is certain to be most marked.
"But as a matter of course the wear
Sng of dress coat and the habit of
for dinner will not in itself
make society leader. They are only
ancidents, 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 OF
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 d wide range and are to be
to the season. In summer they
can take the shape of picnics, excur-
eions, outdoor lunCheOns and dances.
"When fall and winter arrive, balls,
dinners and other suitable affairs may
be substituted. tits the duty of the per
son who desires to be looked up to as a
Reader 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 ms itutions of the place
To inaugurate them a list of the most
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