Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-14
| she Ma. kept that VOW 10 this day-now

forty years.
MRS. MALfIsTER.
That II the story a. the ciubmen and
Older society women tell II. Possibly there
Is but little foundation OF fact for II to
rest upon. Fearing for the future OF the
non. the gossips so on to say, ne nau
saved money for him, and used all OF MS
enormous social influence for him.. once
he dIned a certain western railroad mag
nate on consideration that he would give
Ward. Jr the counsel work for his
western roads. The son occasionally
visits New York. Mrs McAllster Is one
OF the most cultured women In the world.
She reads everything. She Is marvel
lous critic She rather has despised So
ciety, and has made sort OF scmi-in-
validlsm the excuse for not accompany
Ing her husband 10 balls and other social
functions. as we'll as for not entertain
Ing on a lavish scale great many din
ners have been given In the McAllister
mansion in the past few years. but Mrs.
McAlisicr II almost as great a stranger
90 New York society now as she was
twenty years ago. She never appeared
al her husbands receptions, and the du-
ties OF hostess came 10 be performed al
most naturally by Miss Louise McAllister,
the daughter.
The Tribune adds the following to the
numerous stories and anecdotes which arr
now told OF the late society leader: Mr..
McAlister was faithful In observing the
outward formalitlos appropriate TO a lead
err OF fashionable life he cultivated an
old-time courtliness Of French. per-
hans. rather than English school. In THE
his southern birth and French blood came
In play. lie entirely ASSOCIATED his busi-
ness from his social life. While he was
interested In piers in the lower part OF
the city and as lawyer managed seve>
raj estates, he always posed es a man
OF leisure. lie walked up Fifth avenue
with a fresh flower in his coat at IN.
same hour invariably every afternoon.
Ills mustache and goatee always had
the correct courtly point. lie was past
master in the art Of cutting people dead.
An ordinary business acquaintance,
whom he would greet affably in his down
town ONCE, he would pass with cold
stare on his walk to the Union Club. He
declared that he would not recognize
plebeidn people In Fifth avenue. Ho was
considered fine story-teller. at dinner
parties especially where the fair sex was
present, and he was "a frequent guest
among the older families OF the city. He
loved title II gave him great pleasure
IN introduce some foreign Count or Mar,
quis In Deimonico's ballroom. He him
'Vh pefsohhteu the Count de la Mole,
the lover of Margaret du Valois. at tn.
Famous fsncy-dress ball given by Mrs.
w *. Vanderbilt on March 2s, 1883. The
character and the splendid suit Of purple
ana scarlet were. Of course, his own
choice. Had Mr.. McAllister been born
In lower station he would have shone
as prince of chef. or club steward.
AS II was he was prince OF epicures.
lie could sit mp late, like George Mere
dith's Dr. Middleton. in apprecistlve COM
partnership over a bottle of rare old wine
He dwelt with JUNCTION on the terrapin.
the canvashack duck. and the pate de
foie gras In the menu at his balls. Al
one period be delighted TO do his own
marketing and would range through the
SiXth-avenue shops. selecting the choices,
birds. cuts, or vegetables The butchers
learned to respect his opinions on then
stOck