The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-14
BY THE SUBURBAN ROUTE.
sOCTETY'y POSITION CAPTURED NJ A
TURNING ATTACK.
Rise of tho smith.J From n Flat In
Harlem 70 Social standinR-Advantages
of Hiring n House In the Country Over "a
Front Attack In Getting On In SocietN.

harlem tp Social standing
Of Hiring a House In the Country Over "a
Front Attack In Getting On In society.
The regular appearance Of the names Of Mr.
and Mrs, Smith J ones In the lists Of among those
present AT entertainments given by people OF
note has puzzled the people who knew them when
they lived In a Harlem fiat The modest little
plate on tho door Of their fat In Ono Hundred
and Stecnth street JUS, after they came 10 New
York read John s. Jones" That was only six
years ago and one family, the Browns, who used
" alternate Sunday evening teas with them 80
that each family might give It's cook every other
Sunday night out. are still living in the samo
fat underneath the one formerly occupied by
Mr, and Mrs. John S, Jones, Brown was some
thing or another in tho Wholesale voollen line,
on commission. and in the old days he used to
brag a bit to his wife after a quiet evening at
the Jonescs' playing cuchre or whist Of tho super
iority Of his business methods over Jones's and
Mrs Brown always chimed in with the slate
ment that she was sure he was much better look
Ing. Brown is still something or another in tho
wholesale woollrn business and ones. as Brown
tells everyone when his name is mentioned, after
Boosting a BIT OF his old intimacy with the family,
Is first OF all in society and, secondly, he still
has his interest in the shipping business.
u see the Smith-J oneses were at Mrs, Astor.
bilts reception" or somebody clsc's, Brown says
three OF four times q week 10 the other boys In his
Office after reading the fact from his paper, They
arc never tired Of hearing Brown conclude with:
Dear. dear. tho good times the Smith, onesee
and my wife and l used To have SIX years ago"
This always makes the other boys feel like the
man who shook the hand Of the man who shook
the hand Of Sullivan, and it excuses a certain
familiar way OF speaking 10 their customers,
when they go on the road, OF people Of the inner
circle OF New York society When, in the carpet
slippers Of his own fat, Mrs Brown says that II
Mrs Jones could 60 to this and that reception
she doesn't See why she shouldn't be there for shc
always considered herself quite as good As Mrs
John S Jones any day. Brown soothes her with
talk very different from his Boosting in the of ce.
He tells her thai New York society is a sham,
with the assurance Of u man whose knowledge
is based on close reading Of society gossip
Browns predictions Of the ultimate end OF the
smith Jnncses are enough 10 make the latter wish
that they had never been bora, II they ever heard
them. but they don't hear them The evolution
Of Mi and Mrs, ohm 5 Jones into the Smith
Joneses made 1t necessary for them 10 break away
from the few associations which they had mad
y~rTtcntly made when they first cane to New YORK
aud knew no better, and nov OF course, # any
OI' lA'IN.oIlSu OAt IluhNIl'h dLd ptitulu slrftt
the SMITH oncses would express a languid inter-.
es, in the fact that any one lived in such an out
Iaudish ncighborhouI although such fats a. they
once occupied there still rent for 81 POO. 1t isn't
that The Sm.th-Jonescs have so much more money
how than they had then, FOR Jones had q comfor.
table fortune left after buying o third interest
Ia the shipping business when lac first cam TO
New York, but they now spend their full income
and feel that they must live up TO their position.
The smith oneses made their social ten strike
in accordance with the coaching Of Mrs knIrLtr
booker. who had liked Mrs. Jones IN a ia shior able
finishing school which they botn ate nded by the su-
burbaA route, and this /, the way they did IT. They
were still dlngIng e. all their kindly Western ways,
when Mrs knickrrbocker looked Mrs. Jones
up, for the sake Of old times Jones didn't feel
quite 80 sure Of Mrs knlCkrrbockers UNI riiIsh
attitude when Col hnICherboChtt called un him
at his Office two days later, introduced himself,
and persuaded Jones To take 1900 shares Of tie
Little Horse Gold Mine stock at s. a share, but
that vas merely an incident Mrs. zones DIS.
covered that she was socially ambitious and Lar
husband was willing Ia crafty her at the eNIrnse
Of mining stock
y ou are not 50 good looking as 10 make every
other woman hate you, my dear. said Mira
hnICkcrbocker, but you are good e. look at and
you have Il nice way OF Wearing your rlpthea
MI Jones has money enough ana he Will have
more. Now II |, absurd Tor gu ~ bury yourself
In Harlem IN THIS fashion gu must get into
sucIcty
But | only know a family that lives under
US and the members ui d Whist club u which We
belong" sHid Mr.. Jones'
80 much the letter and the sooner you forget
those people the HIser You will Lc. IN stand
spJns,T lUT you If You Will follow my directions
Do you kEp " the Whites Well, sou see tlrI
names IN the society hsts every week, and YOU
know vino they are plotted them INTO so,iety
and their 'hanccs were not a. good as yours.
Mrs v hite had SOM impossible parents night
here in New York, who had u le kept IN the
background Fortunately your relatives who
are undoubtedly very moe, live IN tie hest |
want Ou 10 Lahe n nice hon G in some suburban
town and live there Tor rom three 10 five ears
During that time will ave tho way Tor you and
when YOU come bach to New York you viii be
received ev ~ wherc"
When Jones heard Of the plan that had leen
devised for them he laughed until Mrs Jones
pOuted and then he yielded.
4 don give a hang for society, he said. "and
I'm sure We are yery happy, but II il will please
you III Try ne game 1t is an interesting propo-
sition and Id like to see how IL would work OUT.
We have money enough and II We chose Il spend
II in that way it's no ones business Let me zee;
| used to know some men at Yale who are OF some
account socially in New York. ! helped ono
Of them make the crew and I've no doubt he'd
be glad 10 know US III a social way II We wished,
We w.li Try Mrs knickerbocAer's plan and SEQ
Early the next spring the Jonescs moved into
enc Of the largest houses in Suburban. lie. II
was known 10 their nclE hbOrS thdtthry came frDm
New York, and II was surmised that they were
a good deal wealthicr than they really n,re.
Jones dropped his frst nHme and bis cards read
Smith Jones" His horses had leeA sclr Ted
with care and HIS coaChman wore his clothes
like n t%allOr's model. Tho Jones establishment
was not elaborate. but the house was large and
furnished n good taste and curiosity about them
was aroused, Airs. knickorbockcr had coached
Mrs Jones well for her task
You may know many people in a suburban
tow n" she said, who would lie impoSsihle Sn-
Caily in New York. II will lie well. however,
10 restrict your calling acqlIlntancrs TO a COM
p~aratvely lev people in Sulurfanville and When
the time comes | will bring the right people from
New York up 10 your house. You can give some
sort OF unique country entertainment Tor them.
In the meantime, now that you do not live in tie
city, ! will secure some cards for you for enter
tainments and receptions in tow which viii
pave tho way for you. ! will look you upin the fall
when return and then We can begin our
campaign, lUu arc sure TO succeed"
MI Smith Jones enjoyed the life a n country
gentleman and admitted that he Was much more
comfortable than he had been in n Harlem fiat,
but he was inclined to ridicule his wifcs social
ambitions al first Mrs. Jones, however. was in
earnest and She studied the society lists until
she knew them by heart They ente rtained
q few people during the summer and Mr. Jones
felt that she, was progressing So rapidly that
You are all right, my dear, said Mrs Knick-
have acquired several little emb,llishmen ts v hich
you must tone dow your Pronunciation u been
/ tlln nttIa that IN / apt aAuv AItt