The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-02
NICHOLS ON SOCIETY.
clergyman Who Takes the Question
OF American Aristocracy Seriously.

hev. DR.. Charles Nichols. who has
achieved nOtOriety by publishing a list
OF people whom Re regards as the elite
OF society in the United States. has
oeen overwhelmed with offers from "
eeuih bureaus and lecturing aSsocia-
lions TO define his views of what Amer
lean society should consist
Dr Nichols is about 40 years old
with blonde hair, which he permits TO
IAN IN bang over a lofty brow. His
voice is soft and his manner gentle.
And he is a modest man.
! was a man of leisure until I was
81 years old. he said, speaking re-
iucJantly about himself. Il was one
OF the best educated men in the Epis-
copal church in New York"
his career has followed in a measure
that OF the strenuous Rev John Storm.
some time of Soho, London.
pndl three years ago Dr. Nichols was
vicar OF ST. Luke's church, this city.
Ihen he became a convert to Catholi-
cisn, and 70 year sought peace in
a cloister in Rome. Leaving the clois-
ter ne engaged in secular studies and
writing. and IS now back in New York.
determined t. take no orders but TO
devote himself to nOn-sectarian char
liable work in the East side. Incident
ally DR.. Nichols will give an eye to
fashionable society.
. . .
The new arbIter elegantiarum's full
title is the Rev. DR.. Charles Wilbur de
Lyon Nichols of Nichols. Conn. A
friend of the late Ward McAllister. DR..
Nichols surpassas the fOHdest dreaming
of that social arbiter by announcing
that there are only 400 families in the
United States entitled to rank as fash
ionables, aud he has a list of those
families ready TO back up his asser-
ton.
His conclusions have been reached
by an altogether novel system of social
logic. Birth AMI breeding no longer
count.
The dollars the thing" says DR..
Nichols. Our social future is based
on an aristocracy of wealth." and he
accordingly puts up the bars against
all who are not possessed of gold.
Il am not such an ass" he says
modestly, as to consider myself the
successor of my f-iend. she late Ward
McAllister. I am in no sense a social
aTbiter. and while have many friends
in polite society, I would not, of my
own knowledge. alone assume to say
who We're and who were not in fash
ionable society.
The conclusions at which 1 have ar
rived are based upon many talks with
Mr.. McAllisteT. many talks with the
social leaders of today in the princi-
pal cities of the United States, and up
on my own judgment of the fitness of
things. I have moved in society some
what. but have always kept within the
confines of an ecclesiastic: therefore, I
cannot regard myself as a society
man.
Since Newport is the center of fash
iOnable life in America. 1 think that
the supreme test of ones social stand
ing is to be found in the fact that they
move in the Newport set. If they don't,
they are not eligible 10 my list"
{. . .
Dr.. Nichols here produced his list Of
fashionables.
You will note" he said, that Mrs.
William AstOr heads the iistZbecomes
the 6rst lady OF the land. so TO speak.
I think she deserves the honor. The
events Of society alone make her the
leader. Wealth is the first great reQui-
site. But there is an element of social
talent that goes with it. People are
born with this talent just as they are
with a talent for painting. music, etc.
In Mrs. Paran Stevens the talent
was developed 10 a phenomenal degree,
fer despite the silly prejudice against
her husband because he conducted
hotel BY the exercise Of her social tai
ent she raised herself TO the position Of
a real leader.
by the way, 1 have no sympathy
with those who deery lowly beginnings.
Certain of the Van Rensselaers have al
ways harped so much on trades people,
vet the first Van Rensselaer, was a
tradesman.'
DR.. Nichols admitted. however, that
though a tradesman. the first van
Rensselaer, sold pearls and diamonds.
NO woman" continued DR.. Nichols.
has been given so much honor in So
CiaI circles as Mrs William AStOr. One
hears her spoken of everywhere as a
leader-her leadership is implied. She
combines the conservatism Of the old
families and the up-to-dats ideas which
are the OutgrOwth Of great wealth.
She has marvellous tact and all the
ease of a woman of title in the old
world"
Having esta blshed Airs. AstOr's posi-
ton as head Of the latest billion dol
lar combine-the social trust-Dr. Mich
OILS proceeded to read of the others
from the list. which was most interest
ing by reason of the names which are
omitted. The RockefellerS are not in
Guided in. it. Dr.. Nichols was asked
why.
.'TTm-well.' he replied. the Rookie
fellers are in the transition stage.
They are just beginning TO become
fashionable"
How about J. Pierpont Morgan"
he was asked
We'll. yes. he replied. Mr.. Morgan
ought 10 be down. I suppose, though
he doesn't go out much, and don't re-
call that ne has ever been identified
with the Newport set.
And he GOuldsF' il was suggest
ed
George Gould and his wife. by all
means. That was an unfortunate over
sight. I have discovered that the
Goulds come from one of the oldest
New England families"
How about howard Gould -
NO: they have not materialized Yet.
But they are gaining ground.
DR.. Nichols earnestly requested that
she J. J. Van Aliens be included in the
list-he had strangely forgotten them.
And he crossed of the BiddleS Of Phil
adelphia. to make room for the A J.
DreXels.