The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-16
SOCIETY IDOLS OF
GREATER BOSTON,

Years ago, when Boston was in fact
as well as in name the Hub" OF the
universe as far as the United States was
concerned, society in that city was
very exclusive and aristocratic institu-
ton indeed. But, as in many other
cities that boosted of the blue blood
and ancestry of its society folk, the bar
riers have been tumbled down in many
places during recent years.
The tide of wealth, that resistiess
food which no force. however intrench-
ed and surrounded by its own sense ot
superiority, can repel, has brought for
ward on the crest of the incoming
waves new women and new men. Grad
ually the aristocracy of the past has
been more or less engulfed.
Following in the wake OF New York
and London, the once ultra exclusive
New England city now bows down be-
fore the golden calf and embraces with
protestations of the greatest fervor and
affection the newcomers who can af-
ford to give elaborate entertainments,
swell dinners, splendid parties and thus
keep the ball of social functions and
gayeties rolling summer and winter
without a break.
What would the social leaders of the
ffties, that small but select coterie,
have said could they have foreseen the
leaders of Boston's smart set" today?
Who in those days knew the Ameses,
the Schlesingers, the Seaburys, the
| Apthorps, the Gardeners. the Sears the
Iasigis, the Warrens. the FitZgeralds.
the Nickersons or the Burnetts and
many another family in todays society
| favorites?
They would find that It is not the pre-
requisite of an entrance to have a gene
illogical tree as high as the clouds and
an ancestor who traversed the main in
the Mayf1ower. Today any one provided
with sufficient education and wealth
galore can come in a very short while
| to the fore among the society folk.
The most aristocratic looking couple
/ in Boston are perhaps Governor and
Mrs. Roger Wolcott. Indeed it would be
difficult to find, even in England with
| all its blue blood, more high bred look
! ing man and woman. In this instance
there is blood on both sides, for Mrs
| Wolcott was Miss Edith Prescott. Since
Roger Wolcott became governor he has
naturally been more in evidence and
his wife, too, is now well known and
much admired figure in all gatherings.
public or private, where she may APP
pear. Their home in Boston is exceed
| ingly attractive and is perfect in taste.
and their entertainments, whether Off
| cial or private. are most delightful. 1t
! is something to be proud of to have
such a man at the head of the state, and
all the more so when such woman is
at the head of his house.
| Mr.. and Mrs. LindaIl Winthrop are
probably the most aristocratic looking
couple in Boston, barring the Wolcotts.
Mrs. Winthrop's noble presence and
gracious manners. combined with her
lovely face, make her a marked woman
in Boston society," and her husband even
more so, for he has lived so much
abroad that he has become more Eng
lisb in appearance and dress than
American. Miss Mary Winthrop was
one of the bellies of last seasons many
debutantes. and from having passed so
much of her life abroad she had quail
ty missing in the girls brought up un-
der the shadow of the gilded dome.
The Winthrops live the greater por-
ton of the year at their beautiful nome
on the isle of Wight. Their winter
house is on Beacon street opposite the
Common, and is the charming house
where Mrs. Winthrop lived during her
first marriage, TO James Lawrence. Last
season Mrs. Winthrop gave series OF
entertainments to introduce the yOun-
gest daughter of her husband, who is
sister of Mrs. ]. G.. Minot.
The career of Mrs. Jack Gardner is
almost too we'll known for description
She was Miss Isabella Stewart Of New