Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-04-21
NEW YORk'S 400,
Ihey Are Remarkable Lot, But Not in
the Way They Imagine.

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 h.t-
ter because he has money? Is he any
worse hecarsn he has lost ito 4
thoughtful glance at the men and
women who are before the public in n
social sense will teach a lesson preg-
nant and most suggestive. They, in a
large majority. are men OF 10 special
headgear, and women noticeabty friv-
olous. 1t is within the memory Of
every intelligent observer when the
Nanderbilts were not asked in what is
known as society. Do You suppose
that John Jacob Astor, the original.
the good old peddler. the graduate
from a butchers shamhes, shared the
hospitality of the old Dutch knicker-
bockers or of Gotham's best people9
Still less could he find acceptance in
the giddy-headed throng, and if read
Alright, says 10 Howard in the n. Y.
Recorder, vulgar as was his origin,
meager as was his education. inc0m-
plete 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. He was
an excellent servitor in q butchers
shop. He was a competent butcher;
he developed early the trading in
stinct, 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
were regarded as the very height Of
folly. But the Astors of to-day are
actually quarreling among themselves
as to which is the Mrs. Astor. Ii the
good ladies who indulge in this knew
the mirth they excite. if they could
appreciate the hither verge of the
comical side of the situation, thev
would, let it be hoped, in the interest
of honest American womanhOod. blush
at such utterly un-American, nonsens-
zeal airs and would-be @races.
Look at rugged Cornelius Wander
bilt, the elder. Start with him on his
fat boat. Come up with him ~ that
well-paeked head of his DRAMATICALLY
ran out in various directions. and al
ways along the right line to wealth. to
usefulness, to helpfulness. See how
he grew, and then mark the procession
following. See what his son William
I'll. did and then come with me and
look at his sons, the grandsons of the
original Cornelius and Will
liam K. In society? | should say so.
WhyP 1t won't be said Because they
are Christian gentlemen" There are
several others IF that kind in New
York. 1t won't be said "Because they
are railroad experts" There are thou
sands of such in the land 1t won't be
said because they are quiet, modest,
courteous, hospitable." SUCH, thank
God, is the character of millions of
Americans. Why, then?
Obviously for the same reason that
the Astors two generations ago were
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
factor.
But where you will find one such
man as the late John Jacob Astor,
where you will find one such man rs
Cornelius Vanderbilt, YOU will find
scores of lunkheads whose aspirations
are of the McAllister stripe. Aping
the weaknesses of foreign lands. COPY
ing the eXcresences of people who live
under totally different conditions, they
have developed an obvious desire to
impress upon their fellows that they
are really 400 very uncommon indi-
yiduals.
And so they are.
But not in the way they imagine.