The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1902-03-28
NEW i IYoR|Kl|I,s; |N n vi 400.

How Prince Henry Aided in ProIno-
ton Of Q New Society Trust. -
New York has az new 400 Blythe
calendar it dates scarcely three weeks
back, and in actual numbers it includes
scarcely a quarter as many as the orig
inal list which furnished metropolitans So
ciety with a name. = Is,
Prince Henry of Prussia,s acting upon
the cabled command of the Emperor of
ton Of Mrs Gapneias Vanderbif Jr to
dinner He at once cast the die in
famous family feud and drew lines for
another society trust i'm New York city.
i Old lines have been wiped out and. a
general reorganization has been begun,
says the Sunday World. The directors
Mrs: Cornelius Vanderbilt invited them
to the Prince Henry dinner. What re-
mains to be done is the filling in Of ranks
according to the general plan laid down
in the Vanderbilt dinner. .:
Thirty-six New York guests. each rep
resenting all American family distin-
guished for wealth, social prestige, liter
airy or artistic value, sat down at the
Vanderbilt table with Prince Henry and
his suite. -
1t was all 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 authori-
tatiye who's who'' in society.
1t is the pick of the most exclusive set
in America in a social way. Following
are the New Workers who were hidden to
meet the representative of the Hohen-
zollerns, and it may be added that not Il
single invitation was declined:
Mr.. and Mrs. Ogden Mills, Mr.. and Mrs.
Lloyd Bryce, Mr., and Mrs. Lewis Cass
Mr.: and Mrs. N. orme Wilson, Mr.; and
G. Post, MI: and Mrs. John R; Drexel, Mrs.
Francis X. Pendel,on, Mrs. Richard Gam
Gibson. Mrs. n. j. Oakley Rynelander, Miss
Beatrice. Mills, Miss Alice Babcock. Miss
Jay, Miss Burden, Miss Anna Sands, Miss
Barney Miss Bishop, Col / J. Aston ;to;t E Ger
mont, Robert L. Gerry, F. L. Polk.
To these may be added Mr.. and Mrs.
Moreton: Frewen of London and New
York and the Countess Grey of England.
A careful analysis Of the list Of New
Workers, with claims to distinction by
each, reveals some interesting facts. Not
the least remarkable of the facts is that
the cornerstone of the latest four hum
dred is love story.
Had young Cornelius Vanderbilt ac-
cepted his share of the Vanderbilt mil
lions i've years ago 1T would nave 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 Hohenzol-
lern dinner could not have taken place,
The second most interesting point is
that, exclusive and doubly barred as is
theI entrance to the circle of the new
four hundred, it has nevertheless opened
to several whose chief claim is not to
millions but to birth or the prestige of
brains. This, however, is not SO notice
able 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 associate leaders have become
full-fedged managers.
Lastly the new "4OO' is an Astor-Wil-
son dynasty, with the reigning branch Of
the Vanderbilt Whitney-Sloane family
eliminated almost entirely from the stu
alton. ! q -
The list includes at least One name no.
table for immense wealth-John Jacob
Astor; one, possibly two, which may be
associated. with philanthropy, Mills and
Gerry; literature. Lloyd Bryce and More
ton Frewen; millions. Belmont; art, Glib
son. The rest stand variously for vast
business enterprises, family or. beauty
and social position combined, in case the
name is that of woman.