The morning call., 1893-03-09
AN AMERICAN MRS. MERDLE.

1t was with a sense of profound satisfac-
ton that Mr.. Ward McAllister's approval
of Mr.. Cleveland was received on Sunday.
1t was something TO have received the suf-
frages of majority OF his fellow-citiZens,
but his triumph was incomplete until his
elevation to the chief magistraey had re-
ceved the sanction of the leader of New
York society. 1t is appalling to think what
might have become of the new adminstra-
ton il McAllister had withheld his ap-
prOyal. Sooner or later Mr.. Cleveland must
have resigned and left the government to
old Mr. Stevenson, whom the ce-huHteTs
would probably have worried into his grave.
Chaos might have ensued. Everybody
5reathes more freely now that Mr.. Nc
AlliSter, speaking for fashionable So
clety," proclaims that Mr. Cleveland will do.
True, the Endorsement is conditional.
Mr. Cleveland will only do if "he performs
his social duties at Washington adequately"
lie must give balls and dinners and get
McAllister 10 superintend them, buy the
flowers and hire the music. He must show
himself at social gatherings, and it his
adipose permits take a partner in the ger
man. He must cultivate a flow of small
talk. which he has thus far neglected, his
usual conversation being of the ponderous
kind. He must learn from McAlister who
Is who, and must not allow himself to be
betrayed into making friend of any one
who is not three generations from a hod.
lie must make the White House ring with
cornwall gayeties, as Betty Taylor did, to
the horror OF that prim Presby terian, Sarah
c. Polk. He must eclipse Colonel Bona
parte and Zebulon C. Letter in the splendor
of his entertainments. so that the court of
Grover Cleveland shall coruScate as that of
Napoleon III did just before the French
began to roar, a Berlin! If Mr. Cleve-
land does all these things McAuister war
rants that she may look forward TO an hon
Ored position in society,"" and that his
social exertions will he rewarded hereafter"
he means in New York, not in heaven.
MI McAllister reminds people of Mrs.
Merda, in Dickens Little Dorrit," who
passed sentence on every one and every
thing by asking herself what will society
think Of him or of It? He is an American
Mrs. Merdle, disguised in a coat and trou-
seTs. He has spent so much time iE think
ing about balls and routs and receptions
that he actually thinks they are historical
events. and that his society" Is an empire
which can deal with monarchies and repub-
lies on footing of equality.
Here is a man who has just been elected
to the most aTduous post in the country
perhaps in the world. On his shoulders are
uiled responsibilities which would make an
ordinary man Shudder. In a measure he
holds in the hollow of his hand the pros
perity or adversely of 100000 people.
To discharge his duty faithfully during the
next four years he will find it difficult to
steal time for his meals and his sleep. 1t
will require powerful effort of the will to
drive out of his mind thoughts Of public
affairs. And it is this man whom Nj. Nc
Allister entTeats at the outset of his term to
think seriously of dancing or WALKING. and
concocting bill of fare for a dinneri Does
habitual attendance on society generally
lead to such alteration of intellect, or is
NcAllister merely following the example of
Beau Nash and Beau Brummel, and drifting
into mental hamilton?