The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1898-01-09

haughtily settles herself in the place.
swinging the sccptcr just as if sho had
welded it for years
Mrs. Astor's abdication was not wholly
voluntary. For some time she attempted to
hold the throne by appearing on rare official
occasions III her capacity as social leader
The Bradley Martin ball was one of these.
But Knickcrbocker society cannot be
managed by Il passive ruler. Something
more than fgurchcad is needed The
pressure of the outside thousands who arc
forever halnmcring mt tho gates is some
thlng tremendous and the social ruler who
succeeds is the ono who keeps up the bar
ricrs with the frmcst hand. McAlIistcr
realized this. When some OF the people
whom he had been kind enough to in
clude III his 100 showed Il disposition to
revolt against his leadership, hc saw that
display of authority was necessary. He
did this by revising his lists and leaving
out most of the revolutionists. Those who
remained had II new respect for his M.
thority.
Mrs. Baylics evidently thought some ac-
ton OF this sort was necessary to empha-
size her accession. So sho took the re-
viscd McAllistcr list and went ut it with
q blue pencil.
My, but what havoc she has matlel.
or the 40 and more women whom Nc
Aliistcr designated as eligible to exclusive
Manhattan society she has left only 80
She evidently thought it unnecessary to
name the masculine clements knowing
that the women would attend to that.
Either from motives of magnanimty or
discretion Mrs. Baylics included both Mrs
Astors. This pleases every body, for all of
us Americans have been brought I'D with
a tremendous amount of respect for the
namo Of AstOr, and wo should look with
suspicion upon social list that did not
begin with an Astor. But tho Bond sis
tiers, Amy and Beatrice. the Lloyd Bryccs,
tho BronsonS and the Bishops have been
eliminated.
Poor things! I wonder how it feels to
be blue pcncilcd. Do you suppose it's my
thing like having Il tooth pulled? Is il ms
painful as viviscction?
suppose Mrs. Baylics could give me n
good reason for each and evory crasurc
from the social list. do not suppose
however, that she will If she does. I'll
let you know
AS for Mrs. Baylics herself I do not
wonder that no one ever thought of OK
Guiding her, not even McAllister She
has that naughty, regal air about her
which seems to defy criticism. Asa Van
RENSSELAER, she was noted beauty, and
how Mr.. Baylics ever had tho courage to
uSk her TO marry hin cannot imagine.
She is really Of only medium height, but
her shapely head is poised so impcriously
on her beautiful neck and shoulders that.
even though q man is fully foot taller,
he cannot help but imagine that she is
looking down ON him.
Beauty and birth, however, are not the
only qualities necessary for social srlprcm-
acy. Mrs. Baylics knew what the others
were, and she cultivated them. Always
exclusive, of late years she has hedged her
self about with moro barriers than ever.
1t is said that for every invitation sho ac-
cepts she declines 30. Her drawing room
Is the one fashionable place in New York
to which access is most difficult Her so
cial circle is SO small that all its members
can meet in drawing room of ordinary
size.
These facts have been known for some
time to society folk but it has never until
now been definitely decided who were the
Persons who constitute the social cream of
tho cream. We know now that Mrs. BAY
Hes has given out her list; and when YOU
visit New York paste it in your hat so that
you may visit only the right pcoplc.