New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
LONDON NOTES,
SOCIAL. CLASSIFICATION. WITH RULINGS
AGAINST MERE MlI.LIONAlRES AND
TRADESMEN-THE GRCSVENOR
HOTEL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
NOTHING as AN ART
NOTING AS AN ART.


tie keeping Of Mr. Douglas Sladen AS inc
r,sponsblo editor Of the handiest and most au-
thortativc social directory he disposes of the
elem ntary question: Who's who?" lie admits
erd excludes names from his manual on broad
but definite principles OF classifica'ion ana
from his decision there can be no appeal al
least until Society takes measures TO protect
ilsrh by authorizing rival and more exclusive
list of The Best People to Know" Mcanwhh"
Mr. Sladen is master Of ceremonies. chief
index keeper in that mysterious social world
where in Mr.. Gilberts satirical phras" h' cry
body is somebody and nobody is anybody lie
ventures to assume that millionaire is not
necessarily either somebody or anybody in Lon
dcn
THE Financial Times" has issued this week
an illustrated supplement containing group
OF portraits of twenty men Of millions" whose
fortunes have been Of recent creation. nave
examined the current number of Who's Wno,'
which is also published this week for the pur-
pose of ascertanng how many Of these Few
millionaires are considered worthy Of mention
Only four out Of twenty are !nciuded ah'hS
many thousands f biographical sketches These
are Mr. Ernest Terah Hooey. fnancicr in or
binary for the British aristocracy; Sir Christie
pher Furness, thu rich shpbuildar, who recently
contested York with Lord Charles Bercsf"id;
Mr. Alfred Belt. diamond merchant in
Kimberley and now owner Of a palace in PARK
Lane and Mr.. Woolf Joel. Of Grosvenor squire
head of the South African firm Messrs Barnato
Bro; hers. These notices range from two TO
twelve lines and are exceeded in length and
Importance by the sketches Of hundreds Of
actors artists and men OF letters. The other
sixteen I'm Of Millions passed over in ST.
lence. Sketches Of four Of the Rothschilds and
other rich men appear in the pages OF Who's
Who" but the distinction is accorded to them
other grounds than that of wealth. Many
acres the West End of London occu
pied by the elegant residences. Of rich men,
whose names unknown outside Of narrow
business circles: and most Of them have costly
country houses and large estates. where they
ride and sh .ot and initiate the pleasures of no.
bity and the smart sets. Their names are
never mentioned in society jOurnals and their
wealth does not carry them within the range
Of the decisive social question: Who's Who"
Another revelation of this annual manual is
the social faint attaching to trade. Merchants
bankers stock brokers and active business men
are. with few exceptions. excluded from the
lists. Even publishers are barred out as ineligi
bic because they tradesmen The lime was
when the poor hacks of Grub Street at the
mercy Of publishers and We're patronized
well as hired fed and clothed by them. This
condition cf servitude and humiliation has
passed Grub Street has it's revenge when it pat
ronizes publishers. honors them with social at
tentons and enjoys precedence over them in
who's Who" The Blacks, who publish this d.
roctory, not included in the lists. al hOugh
they pay Mr.. Sladen. editor. a handsome
salary: and the pages will be searched in vain
for the name Of publisher. Whereas. men Of
letters. book writer's. paywrghts. illustrators
ard modest and shrinking journalists revel
In the broad daylight of-pubcity. respendent
In the tinse glories Of fame. Doors which
closed upon publisher. and million
aires opened wide to writer's. artists. actors.
whose biographies rank in Importance with
those Of peers of the realm. the great men in
Her Majesty's Right Honorable Prvy Council
and the Houses Of Parliament. and the leaders Of
West End fashion.
Mr.. Sladen. with the consent Of his publishers.
has Disseminated against money and trade and
in favor Of letters and art and he is justified in
his procedure by the recognized social practice
Of LondCn. In this volume OF sketches. the bulk
OF which are autobiographies. the leisured class
Of rank. politics and smartness is reinforced
by men and women Of brain and culture. who
have acquired distinction. in greater or less
degree. in literature and art. The magic pass
word. Who's Who" admits them into the in
ner circle. where details OF their parentage edu-
cation. active work and favorite recreations
become matter of public interest. The dstinc-
ton IL not an artificial one, based a pub
listers device for selling the manual, but IL re-
fees the liberaty and hospitality with which
men and women Of talent received in Lon
don. 1t explains why the English metropolis
has become the faVOrite place Of residence for