The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-07-22

congenial to each other. His Newport
picnics have been the means of intro
ducing into society many men and
women who now hold their heads very
high. At one of the earliest of these
picnics a sad mishap occurred. The
coachman. being. after all. only human,
could not resist the temptation to peep
into the basket and sample the delica-
cies which lurlzed therein. While the
guests were temporarily absent view
ing the farm, the servants broke into
the improyised larder and made away
with hundred dollar game pie, the
making of which is said to have caused
McAllister many sleepless nights.
McAllister is probably the only anna
teur farmer of fashionable life in New
port who has made it pay. Others may
farm, but it is said that cabbages
raised by Cornelius Vanderbilt cost
him two dollars each. August Bel
mont tried farming at Newport, but
found keeping racing stable much
cheaper. NcAliister's farm is evidence
of Yankee thrift. Every inch of land
is under cultivation. The house is not
large, but the lawns are scrupulously
kept, and luncheon or hunt break
fast in the dining pavilion in the little
grove of trees is perhaps as charming
as anything that could be imagined.
On this farm McAllister raises his ia
nous Newport turkeys that are fed on
grasshoppers and are said to excel the
famous Florentine turkeys.
It would surprise you to know that
the products of this farm are disposed
of to fashionable people. There are
eighteen cows of good pedigree that
give forty thousand quarts of milk
year, besides six hundred quarts of
cream. Besides, there are sold two
hundred pounds of butter, two hundred
young turkeys. six hundred chickens,
sixty lambs ard three hundred pounds
of wool. Delicious melons, strawber-
ries, cucunbers and other early vege-
tables are raised. One New York
dealer takes the entire products of this
farm. The cream brings fifty cents per
quart and spring lambs sell for ten
dollars each. The turkeys are sold 30
the dealer for thirty cents per pound,
and most of them weigh thirty pounds
each.
But this view Of the man is not near
ly SO interesting as is his social leader
ship in New York His knowledge Of
gastronomy and his ability to judge
wines has made him in demand among
good livers He has devoted good
deal of his life to studying the secrets
Of the culinary art. He is an epicure,
man of leisure, and he enjoys plan
ming and promoting not only his own
entertainment but that of other
people. That is the way he has sue
ceeded. 1t is quite natural that his
advice should be sought for when it
is determined to give big dinner,
a reception or ball. Nothing pleases
better than to have full
charge of such entertainments. Be
sides he is always planning something
for the young people and trying to ar
range a good time for those whom he
likes. He has been accused Of accept
ing favors for introducing people into
society and Tor popularizing those
whom he liked. but there is probably
not word of truth in these reports.
McAllister is not wealthy man, but
he has fortune large enough to live
on in quiet way. He never gives big
entertainments except at his Newport
farm. His dinners are small affairs.
Mrs. McAllister being somewhat of an
invalid, his house is not overrun by So
ciety people. Indeed, Mrs. McAllister
is rarely seen in public. McAllister
can plan ball, a reception or din
ner better than any man in New York,
and he has helped more people into !
social prominence than any single per-
son in Gotham.
Lately he has been devoting some
time to newspaper writing on topics of
social interest, but he has not acquired
his fame in this sort of work. He has
risen to the position of a social despot |
BY the suffra Tes of those whom he has !
served. He has been accused of exciu- |
siveness, but he defends himself by |
saying that he is simply carrying out |
the views and sentiments of the con-
stituency which he voluntarily serves. |
In his famous definition of the Four !
hundred, people nave come 10 See THAT |
he was right, from this point of view, |
and he is respected for having the
courage of his opinions. In that
original declaration, moreover, there
was secondary statement to |
the effect that the center of the !
Four Hundred was surrounded by an |
adjacent margin of about one thousand |
persons, who could be relied upon for
large balls and other entertainments.
In other words he placed the Four Hun
dred in much the same position as
did the Old Guard, and the
thousand persons whom he mentioned
in his secondary statement he regard
ed as reserve force to be called upon |
in case of need. He was speaking only |
of the active combatants and not of
those who have retired from the social
fray, or could only be counted upon to
serve upon great occasions.
There are a great many people in
New York who are fond of canvas
backs and rich sauces. And McAllis-
ter is their prophet.