The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-02-03
nrcnnNIzHn AT NTWPoRT.


young McAllister, which was seteea y
his father on cash basis oiiy ~"
months ago.
MCCONNELL AT NEWPORT.
Mr. McAlllster was first recognized as
n leader in Newport. X. J., where ne
enent his summers. He introduced het
eral subscription picnics. more VuIsaIIs
known as Dutch treats, that oecae
wonderfully popular. 1t was ms alio a
ton 10 have them perfect or their hiiu'
and he devoted so nuch energy u V"e
,York thai he succeede' admirably.
He was only one OF many figures IN
social life in this city, though noted as
a dinner giver, until at last tine houI
fonnd the man and the man the hour,
and in the formation OF series OF
dances known as 1.-The Patriarcns, III
1872 he became for the first time uis-
tinctlye character In the society world.
There had been up TO this time put
really one set that composed New 'orh
society. There was not the same r1gln
care exercised in drawing exclusive mes
for great fortunes were comparatively
rare. and the social world was composer
for the most part Of those old famlies
OF wealth and position which had fuieu
81 for century. Now, however pesan
pressure from the outside when was le'I
i'm a more marked degree every winter
Persons
fortunes came TO New York to reside
others whose fathers had died ana Ieit
them fortunes here were coming INTO no
tice and all were knocking Loudly lot
admission at sOciety'S door -. ,.,
Most of the leaders were busy men
and women. BY an unconscious ana gen
eral agreement IL was felt that soine
steps must be taken TO band Soclety
gather There was no one 10 take the
led In this. however when Waru NC
AIllster stepped forth, known to nave
position acquaintance. competence
which gave him leisure; ana quite un-
consrdouslv the task OF banding new
york society together was put INTO ms
hands. In other words, what WIS W.
bodv's business was nobodys business
and Mr.. McAlliter, with his tastes anu
o. a. ,n'a,,,e took nm what nobody else had
tba INCLINATION or the time 70 assume
ard vbaf no one. and not even he him
self had any idea would develop INTO
nosItlon which would In time bring MN
reputation and notoriety.
He won the title of 'Autocrat OF Draw
Ing Rooms" and from 1872 to fS5 MS RUE
was unduestioned To form the Patriarch
balls he made out a list OF twenty-five
gentlemen for members. The number was
subsequently, increased to nifty, each OF
whom was to pay 500 and to be entitled
To invite five guests. An allowance was
made for a few invitations TO distih7
guished persons and strangers in the CITY
Everything was left in Mr.. McAlli5ters
hands He superintended the sending out
of invitations. the ordering OF suppeIs'
Of the decorations, and OF the wines. he
kept a list of the guests ana ne gave OUT
what he chose to the newspapers. lie
worked faithfully at his trust ana cav
to the preparation and carrying Out OF
thought and energy
tn be seen at the Patriarchs' balls q
few times, as he said, was sun! tent 70
establish q position in society Inc IA
triarchs' beng the ball distlhcuVey Vi
the older element, so much so that they
were sometimes called the DoWaser
Dances" the younger persons in society
were taken care Of by the formation under
tho same auspices Of what was known as
tho "F c. u. IS" or Family Circle
Dancing Class" in which participated The
cons and daughters of the Patriarchs,
WITH their friends. There was no list
Of patrons or patroncsses in the IF. {. d.
c." Mr.. McAllistcr reigned supreme IL
If was who prepared and revised lhe
lists. and he 1t was who sent out the IN
VitatOns.
The first serious revolt against Mr.. Nc
Allister occurred in 1882, when few
Young society women organized the Co
tllons" as an opposition TO the II. t. -.
ca" and Mr.. McAllistcr's junior organi-
zatlon was finally abandoned. The Pa
triarchs also found opposition in the As
sembly balls, which We'd with them in
splendor
4 year or more after he had won fame
through the Four Hundred interview, Mr..
McAllister attempted 10 improve on it by
saying there were but $50 in the inner
social set and the rest Of the -Four Hun
dred were In various "fringes.' This
created comparatively little comment, a
1t was a mere improve ment on the orig
nal idea Here is a definition he gave Of
gentleman:
4 gentleman Is a person free from AFRO
gance and anything like self-asseruon
conslderate of the feeling of others. and
so satisfied and secure in his own position
that he is always unpretentious, feeling
he could not DO an ungentlemanly act;
as courteous and KIND in his manners I"
his Interiors as to his equals.
Mr.. McAllister had many pecu lar man
nerisms. and usually interlar1ed his SEN
fences with And you know Don't
YOU know" "You understand" You
catch the point?" and the Ike. The story
is told that he gave an interview u
reporter a few years ego with the uoder-
standing that his name should not he
used. The reporter made the speaker
anonymous, but gave a stenographic re-
port of the conversation, in ,luling the
oft-repeated r'Don't You know and
everybody recognized who was quoted
especial Y those Mr.. MICA er objected to
having know.