Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-02-21

Special Correspondence OF Gazette and Journal
New YoRK, Feb. 15.-People are discus
sing now that he is dead, the value Of
Ward McAllister. The set that he repre-.
scented was at least conservative one, and
his usefulness consisted, in as far as pos
sible. keeping from its portals those people
who lacked birth or reputation, and it cam
not be doubted that, no matter how much
money was offered to this man, he never
pushed, as he might have DONE any one
socially.
There will always be drawn line that
sivides society. This is the Interchangeable
law which all wise people recognize
There are people Us good, as handsome
as rich, as those counted in the notable
-Four Hundred but they have not achieved
the position occupied by their more
fortunate sisters and brothers., Mr.. Me-
Alllster, u man well-born. well educated,
and with curious ability for arranging
festivities of all kinds, was selected, not
by man, but by woman, to do exactly
what he did: to Sec in the case of sub
scription dances. that every one had their
rights; TO put before the committee, COM
posed OF men, the names of strange WISH
tors, and these men, not Mr. McAll5ter
alone, decided whether the invitation asked
Tor should be sent.
BUT SHE WON HER WAY.
OF course influence counted for some.
thing, but usually birth and breeding had
much more to do with it. Every New
Yorker remembers how some years ago
the entree was given to n young woman
who had nothing to commend her in the
eyes of the world but her beauty, which
was great. The pretty, but simple frocks
which she wore were earned by her, as
: her daily work was drawing designs for
carpets, u work which she did at home;
hAF, h.t, tnA h., H. ,s.N
clearinghouse. in which she lived with
her father and mother. Mr.. McAllister
met her, found her pretty and interesting,
anxious to- go into society, refusing to
accept any but that which she considered
best, and he opened its doors for her. For
number of years she was quoted as the
belle at all the swell dances, and finally
made a very rich marriage. Her acquaint-
ances in the fashionable world woHld have
been glad to have assisted her in making
her marriage function of great import
ance; but, with wonderful good sense, she
insisted on having the ceremony take place
in the parlor of the house in which she
boarded, and to it were invited only few
from among her fashionable friends, and
her own kin.
sCHEMING AND PLANNING.
Poverty was not bar in the eyes of this
man toward achieving good position
socially. and it is a well-known fact that
in many instances, where mothers begged
for Invitations for their daughters, he did
all in his power for them; but that awful
Nehmgericht, the committee, decided who
should and who should rot be among
them when there was sound of quiet
aud we'll bred revelry by night. To sit on
the top rnng of the social ladder and look
with fastidious GOODNESS through lorg-
nettes, framed in diamonds, at the other
climbers, is the ambition OF every woman
l.. ptgs lie hat -,
where She is not The scheming and the
planning that goes on to obtain what they
want, is, of course, disgusting and tends
to make the women who do it, mean and
low. The charity dodge" rs IL is called,
which meant getting All appointment on
the committee of various hospitals, giving
enormously, and, III turn, getting the
desired invitations has long ago been
played out. Women will take from Mrs.
Parvenu all the money imaginable, for
their pet charities; but this will not buy
an entrance to their houses, or anything
more than the coolest bowling acquainL-
aliCe.
MRS. FAR WEST.
A little woman who is here now and
who comes, like many other good things,
from out of the West, is determined to get
there. | have watched her with much IN
terest, and | am convinced that III she is
only patient for little longer she will sue,
coed. Having plenty of money, her house
is magnificent. Her husband probably
never read anything beyond his business
letters; but her library would be delight
to book-loVer, and she possesses volumes
bought for her by experts that would make
the millionaire bibliophilea kleptomaniac
Her pictures are by the best artists in the
world. Everything about her is ire.
proachaDle. She has given to charities
until her name is well known. Inturn, She
has received from the women she wouIr
like to so among invitations To enormou,
teas THAI are really social clearing houses
but she has been wise enough to accep
none.
un the day of the tea, she sends to hel
hostess magnificent box of orchids, anC
a little note which tells, that as She is some
thing of an invalid, she mu-t deny hersel
the pleasure OF going to large assemblies
In time she will be asked to luncheons
Then she will give one, and III littlt
longer time she will be
ASKED TO DINNERS,
and that will mean that she has accom-
plished what she has wished, and has 20
there. There" representing what sn
supposes is the land of delight. Man,
social climbers make the mistake OF belnj
satisfied with the visits OF the men of
family, and this usually means that the,
never get acquainted with the women. Nj
little Western lady is wise. She is adopting
what Is NulBdTly hhOWIl US lne 'uOuleSt
dodge" is ready to take much advice in re
gard to her little people from elderl,
DANES and is Mortified at the young mar
ried women who take away the bachelor
from the single girls. Mothers feel tina
they need not fear her. What she will d.
when she is in il is impossible to say, but
have an idea that once accepted, She will b
less domestic and more flirtatlous, les
pleasing and more positive.
SMALL CHANCE FOE NEw YnREERs
A New York woman says that an
woman who was not born or raised ii
New York can get into any set she desires
When it is realized that, from the in
Vulnerable women who have what
known as THE gossip of information,
and can tell on what questionable stree
the climber happened to be born, how sh
was willing at one time TO go to publ
dances, and who her relations are, he
chances are very slight. 70 my way Q
thinking, the cleyerost thing Du Maurie
wrote about
MRS. FoNsoNBY DE TOMKYEs
was this: After many invitations an
much toadying, the Duchess has called 9
MIR. Tomkyns. To the horror of the hos
ess, her husbands aunt, an old Scotc
woman, married to the gamekeeper on til
the Duchess estate i'll Scotland, appears
the same time. Mrs dc Tomkyns Instant
feels chat socially, she is ruined, ina
much US the conversation between the tW
is varied and extensive. When I'll
Duchess is i'll her carriage again with Lad
Alicia, she says; dear me. had no idt
the Ponsonby de romkyns had such r
spectUble relations. A nice old wonlal
the vile of my gHmekeeper, was there
does make one feel more comfortable
know that they have decent kin"