Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-04-07

lngs whose stalrways were made OF
finer marble, whose plate glass was a
triAe heavier aud whose telephone
wires got crossed less frequently, but
they were not occupied by people with
such large incomes and such ire
proachable records as was the Rem
wood, 1t was great feather in ones
cap to have the name of living there.
There was nothing like it for gain
ing social distinction.
Families that had recently found the
way to wealth aud were still on the
lookout for the road that led INTO So
ciety's exalted sphere, had been known
to resort to every plan that could be
devised by inventive minds for reach
ing the desired haven without avail j;
but as soon as they took rooms at the
Renwood all prejudice was swept away
and they sailed triumphantly on to
their goal.
If woman gave tea and the So
ciety columns of the newspapers con-
tanned paragraphs descriptive of the
'assemblage of wit and beauty at the
home of Mrs. Mark, who is residing
at the Renwood this winter, that good
woman's reputation ss social leader
was straightway established.
When somebody else went shopping
and said, Send it to the Renwood, -
the clerks knew at once that they were
dealing with person who scintillated
as one of the most sparkling lights in
that upper world OF which they caught
faint glimpses over the counter now
and then, and they humbled them
selves accordingly.
1t was considered a great honor to
correspond with any one who was
domiciled at the Renwood, and Rem
wood women frequently received notes
which they were compelled to answer
through common courtesy. The re-
cipients of these replies, however
brief and formal they may be, always
took particular pains to show them
and to remark casually
Il received letter from my friend,
Mrs. Blank, who lives at the Rem
wood" and everybody, even in the
fourth and fifth circles of our great
complex social system, seemed to take
on an air of exclusiveness from the
little transaction and felt themselves
raised several degrees in the estima-
ton of the world
But it required great deal of wire
pulling to secure accommodations at
the Renwood, People who wished to
reside there had to put in their APP
plications months beforehand, just as
wouldbe incumbents of appointive
government offices and lucrative posi-
lions in corporations file their posi-.
tons and await their turn.
The Renwood contained but TWEEN
ty-tve apartments, and as people sell
dom moved and the list of applica-
tons was lengthy, it seemed fore
gone conclusion that there were a good
many anxious aspirants who would
pass through time and eternity with
out finding shelter beneath the Rem
woods roof.
Another thing which made admis
sion difficult to any except recognized
social lights YVES the rigid examina-
ton through which each new tenant
was required to pass. Men who had
come through civil service examina-
tons with an average of 80 per cent.
and still others who had taken their
degrees at West Point, Annapolis and
Yale fell down on the questions put to
: them by the proprietor of the Rem
wood.
Age, pedigree, occupation and
amount of wealth possessed were
sworn to before a notary public, and
those interesting family histories
were pasted in folio-siZed, morocco
bound book, which has kept on q
special table in the reception room,
where other residents of the Renwood
might refer to it at any time and see
just whom they were associatlng with
1t would be difficult to determine
who was responsible for the ultra ex'
clusiveness of the Renwood.
1t certainly was not the proprietor
He was q plain unassuming man.
whose tastes were inclined decidedly
toward simplicity rather than osten.
tation, and when he bought the site
of the Renwood and put up his fine
building he had no intention of max
ing it other than a first-class apart
ment house which should rank with
others of its kind.
He proposed to conduct his bust
ness in a modest, quiet way, and
when he found that his house was be-
coming regular Mecca for the swell
set, the shock of the surprise very
nearly incapacitated him for business
The first member OF the fashionable
clans to come to him was Mrs. Clyde
Moore.
After that the Renwood seemed tc
grow into favor without any specia
effort from any one.
Mrs. Moore unconsciousiy served a.
q brilliant orb which attracted numer
GUS satellites to circle round her, anG
before Mr.. Merrick was aware of wha
was taking place his fortune was made
The unexpected social maelstrom il
which he found himself helplessly
floating around was very bewildering
The Renwood-like many another
thing whose popularity can never b.
explained-had acquired unparalleled
celebrity without any adequate cause
so far as he could see, and it took hin
some time to learn to accept the situa
ton philosophically.
There were good many times whel
he longed for brief period during
which he could assume once more tn
careless habits of former days. but hi
business acumen babe him cater t.
Fashion, who had taken him frml,
within her grasp, and he stood valiant