New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-03
WHIMS OF SOCIETY.
SOCIAL SUCCESS: AND CURRENT FASHIONS

SOCIAL SUCCESS: AND CURRENT FASHIONS.
II IS almost impossible to anayze the Necessary
qualifications for from social point Of view.
Without being In any way better than their fellows,
certain men and women who do not entertain TO any
extent, who POSSESS salient virtues, who are not
more agreeable more goodooking more witty, better
born better bred. cleycrcr or richer than hun
dr,ds Of their contemporaries become, no one knows
why or WHEREFORE fashionable autocrats and control
their world II It IS a man. he is a power In his
club. and be to the aspirant who incurs his Dis
favor: he patIunlzos men who are lar above I'm
in power and influence for his Is an Intangible King
dom and his sway Is purely in the realms OF fashion
Nevertheless bis superiors In the hordld Affairs oil
EARTH particularly If they have social aspirations IN
varlaLly recognize hi, power and are subscrvient 10
his greatness.
II it is woman, she IS eagerly courtcd by the new
corners into society, Is Hacrcd by her iumates, ard
followed and initiated by her set In general. 1t Is
very odd, this a,ccndancy that some seem To acquire
over others in the way Of social prestige. for which
the careful observer fails to discover an adequate
reason.
Among the curious features Of the Ncw-fork OF
thirty or forty years ago were the old manor houses
In tccr spacious grounds hosos which the rushing.
advancing macStiom OF the great city surgcd against
and threatened to cngulf It spread itself upward
through the strip OF land lying between the
Hudson AMI the East rivers. Lifted remotely above
the sordid surroundings by tho nigh, cut away. clay
banks, within the shelter Of their old familiar home.
the bees Lumm,d their drowsy music, the apple trees
llo,somcd ana all the wealth and beauty Of the old
fashioned flower gardens glowcd and doomed through
the long Summer days, securely rs II they were
still nestled among the bread meadows ana fertile
fields Of the old farm Hold TO your land.
Mollyr said one of the Old Ncw-Yok merchants and
capitalists OF his day he was about To uuit ms
world Tor Il better, leaving lis wife one OF the ola
home, and but little ready money to keep II. Never
ih,cs, "Moly,7 or to speak more respectfully. Mrs
Mary, held on" with uniauntct courage and an alb
,oute filth in land and the business which Ler hus-
band had founded brcastins the oncOmlng storm OF
taxation ana assessments. and the frghtlul extorons
of tie Tweed ring. 1t weary time of struggle
for the brave woman, who chose exile and home In
florence rather than part with her home. In thosc
dav, EuroIr. was perfect Edorado for people who
wished 10 economic, and Mrs. --- rented one oil
the fines, palaces the Arno for tie equivalent OF
$500 where she lived in great style, entertaining all
Of the best people OF her Time, and lighting her battles
with the cAtortonatc city officials through her law
ycrs until She mHar up her mind that Ia" right tmc
had come, and she returned home 10 build up BAND
,,sp. block Of houses OIL the site OF her old home near
The Park. Ii the vanguard oi TIE Sraia army "'
,nperb residences Of the millionarcs which to
follow. Here tie old ildy established herself III the
largest louise Of the block and became. by virtue Of
Of the greatest social autocras OF her world strong
In her friendship, but invcterac In her pr,iudicta,
she viewed VITA extreme disfavor tire advent oil Me-"
romc- on the social Aorihon and set her face
licly against certain people. particularly against one
of the mos, clever t,solutc and populir wom"4 Of
her day Tia latter through her clhoua'l- strategy
ard attractive personality, had stormcd the ouiworhs
fiji, soiety AMI conquered all but handA OF equally
r.olt. Nex WORKERS wAo stood out against her 10 tDe
L,f. chief among thrui Naa Mn. ---.
Other people may do 10 ui"y Ike, my deafs'
size would Invariably reply 20 ur CIRCUMSTANCES 81
her Children who argued tl.at II was 10 us' rSlhs
Ia stem the tide Il may Dee fFcudiced ANA Old
fashioned ~ You say, but have my circle ana
do hot desire enlarge It, and while am alive NFs'
+. shall never come into my house
In. whrleis Of time brings strange changes, ana
in. old order ,iVcih place 10 Tie new rs surely a.
Ola. .r..oIl, follow cach other. II /, many q year
NOW since Mr. -- Joined he great majority anu
oddly enough. not long ago, when the "hcr"d' hihs
atmosphere OF the shops rendered the houses OIL
lower Ilnhayc. less desirable. Mrs. l., now IN her
turn onc Of the most admired and liked Of social
uovrr, fixed upon The stately mansion OF her I'M
.,p.ct.d enemy a, The desirable residence Tor her
needs When one - two Of the old lhdya gram
children put in "a protest against III" proposed ''h'"
the lawyers soon convinced them That II Was P'''
of ,cn,mcnallty that would l." absurd Ill thA Pf"o.'
cal age. But lie sure cnufl" said one OF ihe old
color,d family servants, that ole Mi >usS ghost Is :"
wallln, up and drown de- gram staircase. and some
dnv Mrs I. will see IT, shuah. WHY, myself seed
Mis-, Annie, spcrlt dat, old Mlssus' dead ana gone
-i.tcri comm down dat stair wiz the Snpd!'h ana
NTH. rag dat Size allcr, washed de statue wiz Oh
H.. landn' aud which she allcrs lid herself Laws
Mi, Mary says 10 Ni-,Us, i just 81" Mis- Annie OH
d.. stair wiz DC soapdI,h.' NONSENSE. Dinah.' ser
she: but knowd SAW It al de 'anc' ana no"
knows dcy's both walhin' dar toscddcr'