The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-07-23

n ppltNOl AdlAlly Ol INC same CllN. ne Is
also related in way to the Patterson
Bonaparte family the Parl1ers, and to
President Timothy Cutler, of Yale Uni
nersity. One of his aunts married DR..
John w. Francis, author of 'Old New
York" and a prominent physician of
Gotham, while another married Samuel
Ward, of the banking-hous of Primo,
Ward & King. Mr.. McAllister is there
fore cousin-german to the late Sam
Ward, and to Mrs. Julia Ward, as well as
to Mrs. Luther Terry, of Rome, the
mother of Marion Crawford, the novel
list, and to Lady Frazier, wife of the
British minister to Japan. He is also
connected by marriage with the Astors,
Chambers, and other well-knOwn New
York families
On his fathers side McAllister came
from a family distinguished for their le-
gal ability. His grandfather, Hugh Nc
Allister, was United States district at
tOrney for Georgia during Washington's
administration. His father, Hugh Ward
McAllister, was United States circuit
judge Of California, the predecessor Of
Justice Field, while his brother, the late
Hall McAllister, stood at the head of the
bar on the Pacific coast, the McAllister
family being among the first rank of San
Francisco. McAllister'S mother is de-
scribed as very beautiful woman, of en-
ergy, vivacity and social talent She
showed the trace of her French descent
the Marions being French Huguenots.
There We're some who thought she bore
likeness to the portraits of Charlotte
Corday, to whose family she was related.
Those who may care to reason it out will
probably discover that the social talent
now so prominent in Ward McAllster is
inherited from his mother and is no doubt
attributable to his French descent.
So you see McAllister can read his
title clear to social prestige He was cd
ucated at Yale, and married Miss Sarah
Gibbons, a lady of wealth and social posi-
tion, and settled in Rhode Island. AS
young man he was remarkably handsome
and even to-day, when past the meridian
of life, he is still of fine presence.
McAllister undoubtedly dates his social
leadership from the time he instituted
his famous Newport picnics, where for
a quarter of a century they have been the
feature of Newport summer life. These
plcnics are given on McAllister's own
farm where the daintiest creations of the
culinary artist are set before the swells
of the seaside city. These parties travel
by stage coach or carriage from Newport
to the farm, and the breakfasts and
luncheOns provided by McAllister are the
finest that money and good Judgment can
secure. These picnics have never lost their
prestige, despite the colossal balls and
monumental dinners which now dwarf all
ordinary entertainments at Newport.
McAllister has never made the mistake of
mixing up his guests He knows just
whom to invite for this luncheon or that
dinner, and he manages always to get the
people who are cOngenial to each other
His Newport picnics have been the means
of introducing into society many men and
women who now hold their heads very
high. At one of the earliest of these pic
MICS sad mishap occurred. The coach
man, being. after all, only human could
not resist the temptation to peep into the
basket and sample the delicacies which
lurlxed therein. While the guests were
temporarily absent viewing the farm the
servants broke into the impoverished
larder and made away with a 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 50 each
August Belmont tried farming at New
port, but found keeping a racing stable
much cheaper McAllister'S farm is evil
dence of Yankee thrift. Every inch of
the land is under cultivation The house
is not large, but the lawns are scrupu-
lousy kept and a luncheon or hunt
breakfast in the dining pavilion in the
little grove of trees is perhaps as charm
ing 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
1t 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 10000
quarts of milk year, besides 600 quarts
of cream. Besides these are sold 200
pounds of butter, 200 young turkeys, 600
chickens, 60 lambs, and 300 pounds of
wool Delicious melons, strawberries,
cucumbers, and other early vegetables
are raised. One New York dealer takes
the entire produces of this farm. The
cream brings 50cents per quart and spring
lambs sell for SO each. The turkeys are
sold to the dealers for 30 cents per pound,
and most Of them weigh thirty pounds
each.
So you will see that McAllister derives
a snug little profit from his farming.
But this view of the man Is not nearly
so interesting as is his social leadership
in New York His knowledge of gastron-
omy and his ability to judge wines has
made him IN demand among good llVerS.
He has devoted a great deal of his life to
studying theIsecrets of the culinary art.
He is an epicure, man of leisure and he
enjoys planning and promoting not only his
own entertainment but that Of other peo-
pie. That is the way he has succeeded.
il is quite natural that his advice should
be sought for when it is determined to
give big dinner, a reception, or ball.
Nothing pleases McAllister better than
to have full charge of such entertain
lments Besides, he is always plan
ming something for the young people,
and trying to arrange good
time for those whom he likes. He
has been accused of accepting favors for
introducing people into society and for
popularizing those whom he liked, but
there is probably not word of truth in
these reports McAllister is not wealthy
man. but he has a fortune large enough
to live on in Mort in a 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 Ovcrrun by
society people. Indeed Mrs. McAllister
is rarely ever seen in public. McAllister
can plan a ball. a reception, or dinner bet
ter than any man in New York and he has
helped more people ints social prominence
than any single person in Gotham.
Lately he has been devoting some timetO
newspapers writing on topics Of social in
terest. but he has not acquired his fame
in this sort OF work He has risen to the
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