The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-17
The New 400.

Il
March 17.-New York has new 400" By
the calendar it dates scarcely three weeks
back, and in actual numbers it includes
scarcely a quarter as many as the original
list, which furnished metropolitan society
with name.
Prince Henry of Prussia, acting upon the
cabled command of the Emperor of Germany,
accepted the exclusive invitation Of Mrs. Cor
neius Vanderbilt, Jr, to dinner. He at once
cast the die in famous family feud and
drew lines for another society trust in New
York city.
Old lines have been wiped out and general
reorganization has been begun, says the Sun
day World. The directors of the society trust
were elected when Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt
invited them to the Prince Henry dinner.
What remains to be done is the filing in of
ranks according to the general plan laid
down in the Vanderbilt dinner.
Thirty-six New York guests, each represent
ing an American family distinguished for
wealth, social prestige, literary or artistic
values, sat down at the Vanderbilt table with
Prince Henry and his suite.
1t was an affair to which millions could not
purchase an invitation. The official roster
of invited guests, it is now claimed by those
who know the New York social register, may
be accepted as the authoritative who's who
in society. Pc. ...
Il is the pick of the most exclusive set in
America in a social way. Following are the
New Workers who were hidden to meet rep
resentative of the Hohenzollerns, and it may
be added that not single invitation was de-
clined: +
Messrs. and Mines. Ogden Mills, Lloyd
Brice Lewis Cass Ledyard, Edmund Baylies,
NJ. Orme Wilson. Clarence Mackay, Edward
&C. Post, John r. Drexel, Mines. Nathaniel
Thayer, Cass Garfield, Francis K. Pendleton,
Richard Gambrll, Lewis Chanler, G. Dana
Gibson, T. j. Oakley Rhinelander, Misses
Anna Sands Barney, Bishop. Colonel ]. J..
Astor Egerton Winthrop, Stuyvesant Fish,
August Belmont, Robert l.. Gerry and F. L..
Polk
TO these might be added Mr.. and Mrs. Frew-
en-. of London and New York. and the Count
ess Grey, of England.
A careful analysis of the list of New York
ers, with the claims to distinction by each.
reveals some interesting facts. Not the least
remarkable of the facts is that the corner
stone of the latest 400 is love story.
Had young Cornelius Vanderbilt accepted
his share of the Vanderbilt millions five years
ago. it would have meant the surrender of
his bride Miss Grace Wilson. In that event
New York society would never have divided
along the lines of the Vanderbilt and anti
Vanderbilt factions, and the Vanderbilt
HohenzolIern dinner could not have taken
place.
The second most interesting point is that,
exclusive and doubly barred as is the entrance
to the circle of the new 400, 1T has neverthe-
less opened to several whose chief claim is not
to millions but to birth or the prestige OF
brains This, however is not SO noticeable
as to alarm the conservative. Broadly
speaking, the 400 is a society Of millionaires,
although not necessarily OF multi-millionaires.
Youth dominates, and matrons who have
been heretofore among the social leaders have
become fully f1edged managers.
Lastly the new 400 is an Aston Wilson dy-
nasty, with the reigning branch of the Van
derbilt- Whitney Sloane family eliminated al
most entirely from the situation.
The list includes at least one name notable
for immense wealth-John Jacob Astor; one,
possibly two, which may be associated with
philanthropy, Mills and Gerry; literature,
Iloyd Bryce and Moreton Frewen: millions,
Belmont; art, Gibson. The rest stand vari-