The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-04-18
pATR,.Rcns Is DEAD.
4 Famous social Organization Goes
Out Of EStstcncc.

4 Famous social Organization Goes
Out OF EXistcncc.
Special to tho Times Democrat.
New York, April lo.-The Patrlarchs,
formerly Americas most exclusive social
organization. dissolved today It's death
was due to inattentlon and competition,
! 1t wns In the autumn OF 1872 that the
Patriarchs were born in room in the
Delmonico building.
Here is list OF some OF the gentlemen
who arst subscribed 500 each fer the
season:
John Jacob Astor, William Aston. August
Belmont, n. NJ. Beckwith, John w Ham
ersley, j. Augustus Hamilton, Adrian Ise-
| lin. Theodore Roosevelt, Robert G. REM
| sen, William Nemsen, Edward II. Bell.
| / Townsend burden, Edward Cooper,
smith Clift, Hugh pichey Heron john
son, Delaney Kane, James j. kerno-
chan. Archibald Oracle King, Eugene A.
| Livingston,
1t IN Impossible to reaIize In these latter
days OF social locracy what tremendous
power tho Patriarchs used to have. 10
| be asked to ono of their balls used TO bo
an open sesame to tho most exclusive
| houses In New York. Not to be asked.
while IL did not place one entirely with
out the socal bar. was a snub 80 direct
and painful that women have been known
TO move AWAY from New York rather than
subject themselves to ouch agony.
| IL was on uhe crest OF the wave OF OK
| clusvencss of those balls that the late
Ward McAlllster rode into the somewhat
| Rutocratic position he occupied In society.
| The decadence OF the Patriarchs began
| Eve years ago Rumors got into circula-
| tioH that tho terranin and turtle in 1t and
the iizz was not all that 1t should be.
| There was trouble over the supper tablea.
and unless one was in favor with the mas
ter of ceremonies 1t was n difficult thing
to get into sets for the german.
Then a lot of charming women got TO-
| gether and organized two sets of subscrip-
| ton balls which quite eclipsed the Pa
triarchs for smartness and exciuslveness.
| and, as II this was not enough the 'swells'
and "howlng swells" declared war upon
| tho Patrarchs by reason OF an alleged
slight put upon one Of their number by
| the manager of the Patrlafchs, and, dis
dalning the big function altogether. got up
dinners and dances sometimes on the very
ulsht of the Patriarchs.
Tho poor old follows made as brave a
iight Of 1t as they could, but when they
found their very wives and daughters
trimming against them. their finish was IN
sight and they could do nothing else but
turn their faces to the wall and die as
English society Unpretcntious.
George W. Smaley In the New York Her
aid.
I imagine that tho simplicity OF English
society is the first thing which would DO
most likely to impress an American used
TO the more complex methods which prevail
in New York or Washington. Tho absence
of mere social rivalry or competition would
strike him. The ambition to do something
different, to surpass oncs neghbors aud
friends, 10 introduce a new style Of deco
rntinn or Il more costly form of entertain-
incnt Is not at all characteristic of tho
English. They are content with things an
they arc Their ways OF life have long
since been settled. They arc Inherited
along with the great houses and great es-
tntes There are in England such thinss
have boon handed down from generation to
generation. II is not thought necessary TO
experiment with new methods or to Guido
somebody else in splendor,
The New Yorker, with his or her insatia-
bic appetite for novelty and superiority,
might find this spirit OF repose difficult to
comprehend He would nevertheless PRES
emily feel tho charm OF it--the delight OF
an existence which was not all hurry and
tumult and fierce energy and despeiate
pahBlOu IOT leAutIsuIp. Auo itautinh'ps W
English society are pretty well determined
for generation at q time. Social revolu-
tions occur but seldom.
Tho greatest change Of recent timea has
been due to the influences OF American wo-
men. 1t still, however. needs to be rn-
derstood that the American women who
have done most TO impart a new flavor TO
some sections of English society have done
IL by, In the first place, conforming TO the
ancient fixed customs with which they
came In contact II they had started by
announcing that they proposed to remodel
society they would have failed. They
would simply have been laughed at.
The Quiet strength,
London Echo. sS
Your quiet women are the women Of
power. The noisy. clustering. arrogant, x
self asserting among them mako the air
hot with their voices. and trouble the world
with their superabundsnt activities. But
this can not be called real strength; II ID u
more generally q sham and show which,
breaks down under the pressure OF personal
and priyRte trial. while the true power OF q
those who. as wives. influence the present.
and as mothers mold the future, lies hid- v
den from the public. all the more yaluabls
because Of its reserve. The perfume OF the U
violet steals out from the dense thicket
where 1t Hes hidden. while the sunfiowor
turns the glare OF its disc full TO the gaze
Of all passersby. scentless and coarse--pat-
pnt TO all. and without mystery or SWEET
ness for any. Isl Il