Birmingham age-herald., 1895-01-03
THE DOWNTRODDEN.
NEW YORK ACTRESSES WHO HOLD
 socIAL!STlc OPINIONS.

ters-They Object to the Unequal Diyi-
 ston of wealth-sIild American Edi-
 tions of 'Narcella."
 Plutocratic heiresses like Gertrude Van derbilt, daughter of Cornelius; Pauline Whitney whose father is William G.; Edith Shepard, Ormo Wilson and four or i've other girls, whose families arc enor- Eiously wealthy, do not believe in the rights of property On tho contrary, they are very radical young ladies and have como to the conclusion that this social sys- tenn of ours is all wrong. They hayo re- gently formed an organization for tho pur- pose of passing resolutions to that effect
 These heiresscs stylo themselves the "Downtrodden. They havo m official organized existence and meet regularly for general debate and discussion, which, at times, takes n decidedly in1ammatory tone. Were these young ladies to express some of their opinions in certain public purlieus they would bo in danger of pun ishment as anarchists.
 The trend of thought among the youn- ger element of what Is known as the Four Hundred is pronouncedly socialistic It is no uncommon thing to hear such woll becashed misses as Miss Vanderbilt and Miss Whitney dcnounce the unequal dis tribution of wealth with all the fervor of youth if not of logic. All tho Vanderbilt young ladies, for that matter, arc mark edly radical and go in for all manner of unconventional opinions. Miss Consuelo Vanderbilt, for instance, thinks thcre should be no prisons. Human beings ought to brought out of their evil ways by kindness and love. Miss Pauline Whitney iS m arflcnt ndyocnta If 1yo1,, Suffraun Miss Edith Shepard thinks thcrc should be a law against people having so much money while others have next to mono at all. All agree that the income tax is a very good thing indeed.
 It was only natural perhaps that, find ing themselves in such thorough accord, these young misses should unite on gener. al principles.
 Miss Gertrude Vanderbilt is probably the leader among her young friends. Ever since she began to think for herself this fair girl has manifested 0 decidedly origi nal turn of mind. She is well acquainted with the literature of socialism, and hsr views of tho rights of property and aggre- gated wealth are as advanced as views could well be. Her papahardly knows what to make of these tendencies. Nor do the young companions of Miss Gertrude allow neF tO OutuO lHell III nOJiOuS. A meeting of the ''Downtrodden" is some thing simply awful. The whole organiza- tion has long ago reached tho conclusion that the conditions of civilization have no ethical sanction. The members have an other grievance in tho costume of feminin- ity. Women should clothe themselves aft CT the fashion of the ancient Greeks. Miss Whitney made the address on this subject at the last meeting
 Tho "Downtrodden" do not limit their activity to talk. They mako it a rule to go about among their fellow creatures who, like themselves, arc overwhelmed by misfortune. Ono campaign will be in the interest of the flower girls. They gave dinner to a number of them. They also read to the sick in hospitals. Another good work is the investigation of special cases of misery and the preparation of TO. ports to be read at the meetings. Minutes are kept in rigid exactness. When the Sloane girls went into Salvation Army work, they were acting under orders from the 'Downtrodden." What they see and hear is duly written up for their meetings.
 Naturally the young ladies have como to be recognized as specialists in certain fields of investigation. Accordingly we have Miss Whitney an authority on the
 
 all tho men in tho country should be made to spend two years farming, on the samo principle as in foreign countries they put in the same period as soldiers. This would not only enlarge tho range of their ideas, but bring them in close touch with nature and add to their healthfulness It would also tend to relieve tho congestion of mr nicipal populations, besides subserving variety of other useful purposes, all of which Miss Whitney elucidates with skill and gracefulness. Miss Orme Wilson has a theory about animals Horses in her opinion arc unnecessarily i'll used, and they should not be continually hauling heavy wagons about tho streets. And so on through all the members of the little group.
 Tho "Downtrodden' are very close cor poration. They do not admit any Tom. Dick or Harry, or rather any Jane, Mary or Ann, who comes along. Miss Consueo Vanderbilt was refused membership be- cause she is too conservative. The young lady is not in favor of woman suffrage.
 The Downtrodden'' meet every month at the houses of those whom convention, still obliges them to alludc to as their par. ents. Amid almost oriental luxury they de. nounco the accumulatons of wealth that today makes the contrast between rich and poor so pitfully sharp, These young Ia. dies havo helped many people who would certainly be astonishcd could they know the source of their windfalls
 What the parents of tho young ladies think of all these doings may probably best bo surmised Bishop Potter, who knows all the girls quite well, does not think favorably of all their opinions. and it is whispered that he had them in his mind when he recently told his clergy to beware of the spread of exaggerated think. ing among tho majority of the youthful portion of their flocks. The mammas and papas have so far boen indulgcnt because young people are notoriously hot headed and prone to vex themselves about the universe, mans destiny, the tclos of crea. tion, and the like and to go to bed very miserable over those subjects At any rate, the existence of the 'Downtrodden" is n most unique fact in the cosmopolitan vortex that now styles itself the American aristocracy. Boston Herald.
 Thought the Skeleton Incomplete.
 A colored clergyman from the south eho was in Portland, visited the Portland