The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-01-15
SOCIETY IDOLS OF
GREATER BOSTON,

Years ago. when Boston was in fact
as we'll az in name the Hub OF the
universe as far as the United States was
concerned. society in that city was a
very exclusive and aristocratic institu-
tion indeed. But as i'm many other
cities that boasted 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 resistless
flood which no force. however intrench-
ed and surrounded by it's own sense OF
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 i'm 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 Bostons smart set" today?
Who in those days knew the Ameses,
the Schlesingers, the Seaburys, the
Apthorps. the Gardners the Sears, the
Iasigis, the Warrens, the Fitzgeralds.
the Nickersons or the Burnetts and
many another family in today's society
favoritesy
They would find that il 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 i'm
the Mayfiower. Today any one provided
with sufficient education and wealth
galore can come i'm 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 10 find. even i'm England with
all its blue blood. a 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 i'm evidence. and
his wife. too, is now a well known and
much admired figure i'm all gatherings.
public or private. where she may APP
pear. Their home in Boston is exceed
ingly attractive and is perfect i'm taste,
and their entertainments, whether oili-
cial or private, are most delightful. 1t
is something to he proud of TO have
such man at the head of the state. and
all the more so when such woman is
al the head of his house
Mr. and Mrs IindaIl Winthrop are
probably the most aristocmtic looking
couple in Boston, barring the Wolc0tts.
Mrs. Winthrops noble presence and
gracious manners, combined with her
lovely face. make her n marked woman
in Boston society. and her husband even
more so. for he has lived so much
abroad that he has become more Eng
lish 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 a 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 a their beautiful home
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 a series OF
entertainments TO introduce the youn-
gest daughter of her husband, who is a
sister of Mrs. J. c.. Minot.
The career Of Mrs. Jack Gardner is
almost too we'll known for description.
She was Miss Isabella Stewart OF New