The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-28
LoNDoN,s FOUR HUNDRED.
The New Haut Ton I'm the Mefropoli,
of England.
From Vanity Fair.)


A writer in a contemporary review Is
considerably perturbed by the fact that
London society Is much larger than it was
when the century was young AT that
time, he says. snciaty was constituted by
about four hundred persons; now there
are actually about six thousand Of them.
The increase causes our writer TO nave
very grave reflections. He seems to feel
that the influx of the last five thousand
six hundred is an injury to the first four
hundred; and II we consider the subject
specifically, there is something 10 be
said In favor of his sorrow. Temper does
mark the caste Of Vanity Fair or even
that Of We're de We're. Therefore We arc
not angry with this chronicier who Ia
ments that the -Four Hundred are
swamped BY the newcomers in the world
OF fashion. We must look at the matter
nationally
The mobiles and gentry of the provinces
had grandfathers as ancient as those OF
the -Four Hundred" and antiquity Of
pedigree. OF We catch our commentator
Alright. is that which properly constitutes
| "haut ton" In Scotland in Ireland. and
in the provinces Of England there always
were, in olden days, families Of lineage
much longer than that which could be
certified Of themselves by the ruling fam
lilies who CHANGED to dwell in the neigh
borhood of London. Why, then be dolor-
GUS because the Iaying-down OF railways
has enabled them to come into their own.
as regards che world Of fashion. for three
months of the year? Most of the addi-
tional $500 members of society are per-
sons Of gentle birth whom the railways
have liberated. Why should any man OF
haut ton grumble about the presence in
London salons of persons such as these?
Their pedigrees are much more ancient
than that of the average peer who is in
digenous to Mayfair. and surely, il birth
should be the first principle in society.
society is enriched by their advent. Log
ic, however is Of little avail against the
prophet who is given to be sorrowful be-
cause the old order changeth. ANY new
conner annoys him, even If one OF the
newcomers ancestors is much less young
than Methuseiah. Oddly enough. in Ia
menting the infusion OF new families into
the society Of London. he consoles him.
self with the thought that there is thor
oughly ancient society in the shires. That
is composed OF families who would not re-
ceive into their houses more than third
Of the persons whom one habitually meets
at the most fashionable dinner parties in
town. Having tarried with them now and
then on shooting and fishing occasions we
know these families we'll enough to speak
with some precision: and we must really
write in seriousness for moment. OF all
the stupid and useless people in the world
there is none so stupid or so useless as
the country families who dwell in their
counties persistently. They are iIliterate.
penurious,- graeeless. humorIess; they
think that the people in the neighboring
towns are of inferior clay; and the con-
sideration that they vote for the Con-
servatiyc candidates does not reconcile US
to the influence which they WELD.
or course We have the new miHionaires
and the parvcnus to consider. They have
contributed a little to the expansion Of
society. Can we, however, as our contern-
pory does. bring charge against the world
on that account? We cannot IL new mil
lionaires are baleful to society. society
should have protected itself by not receive
ing them. That he Is millionaire Is pre-
sumptive evidence that he is rather good
man in some respects. Those of us who
are willing to accept and to reciprocate his
are rather caddish IL we
make remarks. to ourselves or to others.
about his lacking or misplaced aspirates.
This is pure reason. even If society Is cad.
iish. II the millionaire is injuring society.
the fault lies not with him. but with So
.iety itself. We're society worthy enough
10 preserve its own ideal, the new Million
lire, who is Objectionable for some reason
apart from his wealth, would have no share
n the whirl of fashion As that Is not the
.ase. we are driven to the conclusion that
,ature, which is wiser than even Almack's
vas Is at her familiar tricks again. Our
manners are not so ornate as those of our
were; but after all.
he lowiiest millionaire in Park Lane Is as
Upright and self-respecting fellow as was
,ir Charles Grandson