The times., 1898-01-10
SOCIETY TRUST FORMED
Three Women Form Close Cor
poration.
Aided by Seven Understudies They
VIII Dictate the So
cial Code.

New York, Jan. 8. Ten New York womel
have formed what may be called tn,
Society Trust.
They do not call IL trust -wheneve
was Combinations OF the kind given it
right name by those Interested in it? Blu
that is what it is nevertheless.
The promoters are:
Mrs. Ogden Mills Representing the
Mills millions, railroads, mining and
banking interests.
Mrs. John Jacob Astor- Represent
ing the Astor millions. real esta te ano
hotel interests, securities, etc.
MIS-. Henry n SLOANE ormerly Mis-
Robbins. of BROOKLYN. daughter of one of
its weaitniest citizens, who made for
tune in drug business has large warehouse
aud wnarf properties; husband has large
carpet industries.
Tne Associate Seven:
Mrs. StuYyesa MT Fish-Represents
wealth invested in Illinois Genital and
Western raiiroad combinations ana dock
MIS- orme Wilson-Daughter of
Mrs. Astor and daughter in-faw OF K. T..
WILSON. self made southern railroad mag
nate and banker.
Mrs Harry PAYNE whitney Daugh-
/ ter OF Cornelius vanderbilt, representing
( enormous railroad interests, husband is
/ the son oI William G.. whitney, whose
/ fortune is invested in STANDARD Oil and
Traction securities.
proIaise member OF the trust. not wealthy
at present. hut viii receive a large for
tune from ner father, Irank Work; nus
band is the son or former Mayor Hewitt.
VINO made millions from the Glue Trust
and ia iron.
MIS- Almeric Paget-Daughter of
William c. whitney; husband is an Eng
lisnnlan of noble family and secretary
of the Broadway Cable Company.
Mrs. starr Miier-Was a Miss
Warren hotn sides OF the family have
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt. Jr--Was
Miss Grace Wilson, daughter OF r. i.
Wilson.
The Society Trust has no expensive Of
fices in Wall street. Its habitat is OF
the members own making. 1t should be
called Fort Exclusive. None can enter
this holy of hoIies without the consent of
the Ten. They are prepared to defend
it with all their tremendous resources.
If il We're necessary to give it an official
name, possibly this trust might call itself
society, Limited
The Ten who control it have set about
determining who compose the fashionable
world These daughters and wives OF
millionaires have enlulated in social af-
fairs the course of their husbands aud
fathers in business. While the men SIT
i'm their offices in Wall street and plan
enormous enterprises, the women sit IN
their beautiful homes uptown and make
plans to dictate To the swell world. md
the women can cause and have caused as
much mental anguish as the men have
business misfortune.
The result of the formation OF the So
ciety Trust is shown in the utter stagna
ton Of social functions this winter. Never
has there been season in New York when
there were 40 few dances, SO few recep-
tions. 50 few dinners.
The self-consttuted arbiters Of IA ashion
rule with iron hand. In the security OF
their position and wealth they declare who
shall not be admitted to the inner circle
of extra exclusives, and they declare
that those without the pale cannot really
call themselves ia ashionab bic.
The Social Register is carefully pre-
pared list of those who are entitled TO
social recognition. II contains over 5000
names.
The men named in it are members of
fashiona BILE clubs, which are supposed TO
he sponsors for their standing. The list
includes people who have villas at New
port and other re sorts, as well as hand
some town houses. There are many who
are representa- tives OF the old, historic
names which have had social influence
in New York for more than century.
The trust has scratched the majority
of these from their list. The young
women who have elected themselves mem
bers of the trust are perfectly frank in
one respect They demand that those
IL. h.ft
have millions They wish TO keep the
enjoyment Of it among themselves. They
say that anything which does not originate
in the trust is not fashiona bic.
1t can be seen at once that this is a |
very painful state Of affairs for the hun
dreds who are left out in the cold. And |
there will be war, of course, because the |
trust has already assumed an arrogance |
that is intolera BILE.
Mrs. ogden Mills originated the combina |
tion. Its organizs ton began last winter. /
She gathered coterie about her and pro-
nulgated a new set of social rules. Mrs. |
ogden Mills is a Livingston, and there is
no better name in New York. But she places
more reliance upon and apparently has more
respect for the millions OF d. O. Mills than
her i!lustrious ancestors.
Mrs. Mills began by turning her back on
the Patriarcis. She said that is was
public ball and that il was vulgar to attend
il. This was a direct and deadly blow
at one of the oldest and most exclusive
functions OF New York society. An invita-
ion to the Patriarchs had always been
ooked upon a seal OF position. 1t
,ilanceJi all queStionings
When Mrs Mills announced her position
society was aghast. But she had prepared
or it. number OF her followers also
urned their exclusive and repruving backs
lpon the Patriarciis.
II was disbandnd. This was distinct
7iciory for Mrs Ogden Mills. 1t increased
ler power aud her position to a remark able
leeree. Possibly il was not her attack
hat killed the famous body, but the credit
Il IL was given to her.
This winter Mrs. stor, Mrs. Paget and
ne first A ssen,iy bait
Mrs Ogden Mills has declared that as;
enblies are also vulgar. When people
& position heard of this they knew that
he young woman was prepa red to carry
n bitter warfare nd that She must feel
cry secure OF her position.
tits whispered about that the Omnipotent
len will withdraw from these entertain
nents- although women OF such standing
s Mrs. Cadwaila der Jones, Mrs Robert
finturn. Mrs Robert Garrison, Mrs Alex
nder Van Rensselaer, and Mrs. Frederick
ieisioa had worked hard for their success
The assemblies viii have to go. There
; no doubt about it, The ladies who
'ere most deeply Interested have tried to