The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-07-05
SOCIETY IN LONDON.
Its Nucleus Consists OF Families with
Traditions Behind Them


London society Is no doubt very large
now. compared with what IL was during
the earlier years Of this century. Some
writer's have maintained that at that POI
Rod IL did not consist o; more than 400
people What are its numbers now II
We give to this word society the most
comprehensive sense here possible its
numbers cannot be more than 5000; and
even this estimate is really excessive TO
grotesque degree. II anyone in London. in
a position to command society, was 70 give
a garden party which comprised 5000
guess, though certain distinguished mem
bers Of society might be absent from II. il
would inevitably contain a considerable
contingent Of persons who, except in theig
own estimation. were hardly in society al
all; whilst il would be utterly impossible
TO give two such parties on the same day.
without including an exceedingly large
minority. with whom tins fashionable ma
iority had socially no connection-whose
faces and names would be altogether IN
known TO them, and who never by any
chance would be invited inside their
houses.
Now. compared with 400 people. 5000 is
a large body; but IL is a very small body
when compared with the inhabitants of tie
metropolis. II does not make up so much
as ore eight-hundredth OF them: whilst
TODD families of the West End, who's
names are recorded in the various court
guides-it makes up Only very small pro-
portion. The court guides contain the
names OF about so 600 families; and we may
estimate that on the average each family
contains three members old enough 10 take
part in social life. the whole body thus
yielding total OF 10000 persons O1t Of
80 0O0 then. OF the weather. inhabi ANTS of
London. It is not too much to say that
hardly one In fifteen can have the smallt st
possible claim TO even the most qualified
membership Of the body ihA Is called
society.
The nucleus of London society consists
Of families who are of old standing in the
country. and have generations of tradition
behind them; and large part OF the in
crease in the numbers of that society is
due to the fact that. owing TO increased
facilities Of travelling. county families OF
unimpeachable position and descent, who
a hundred years ago had houses in Edin-
burgh OF in York, now come to London in
stead of to their local capitals. Talent
10 doubt. when combined with social charm
and rendered independent by the increased
rewards which it can now command, has a
social career open to IL, just il has a
political; and when gilded with popularity
and especially with royal favor, finds that
want OF family antecedents brings few
social disabilities with it. II may be
doubted. however. whether the social ca
reer of mere talent is easier now than IN
the days of the salons OF Holland House
1t Is to mere wealth, without family ante
| cedents. far more than 20 mere talent. that
the essentially modern additions TO Lon
don society are due. But even the IN
| luenee Of mere wealth, great as Il is. is
exaggerated. When people say that money.
in the social world, will do anything they
! forget that the money in question must be